Marie Paule Wagner’s letter ‘Incompetent translators’ (February 15) has cast doubts on the academic profile of the University of Malta’s Department of Translation, Terminology and Interpreting Studies, which I represent as director. I would therefore like to clarify a few things.

The Department of Translation, Terminology and Interpreting Studies as it is known today was founded 15 years ago, in October 2003, and was designed to open new avenues of thought while providing a firm foundation in the discipline of translation, terminology and interpreting studies.

As the area of study, it combines the underlying theoretical issues involved in literary, technical, screen, legal, scientific and commercial translation, publishing, localisation and management with the practical aspects of the translation process.

The programme is of interest to all graduates whatever their future career route: commercial, legal, scientific or technical translation, literary or screen translation, localisation, research, teaching or management.

The programme caters for a wide range of students who wish to acquire a critical understanding of contemporary issues in translation alongside the practical skills required in today’s fast-evolving translation industry. Versatility and employability are, thus, enhanced. In fact, many graduates of the department have found work as freelance/permanent translators and interpreters for EU institutions.

Research is an essential component of the department as can be witnessed by the many publications of the staff members. Moreover, the department has accumulated over these years a rich database of terminologies related to different sectors that will have been transferred to the digitisation of Maltese terminological collections for special purposes as part of a termbases project.

The department has established links with several foreign universities and European programmes such as the European Masters in Translation, Optimale, Eulita, EMCI.

The whole question is about granting a warrant to qualified translators and interpreters as I had written in this newspaper on November 5, 2016 ( https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20161105/local/introduce-warrant-for-professional-translators-and-interpreters.630085 ).

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