European Masters in Translation (EMT) Network

European Masters in Translation (EMT) Network:

The newly formed European Master’s in Translation (EMT) network is an initiative of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Translation (DGT). Membership of the network acts as a kind of quality mark for masters-level translation studies programmes, and offers considerable benefits: for example, member programmes are entitled to use the designation ‘member of the EMT Network’ and to use the EMT logo. Their representatives also have access to high-level networking and planning forums organised by the DGT, most notably the annual EMT Conference. EMT-designated programmes will also have priority in the DGT’s Visiting Translator Scheme. Graduates may receive an EMT certificate confirming that they have acquired the competences required by the network, and current students may have prioritised access to certain types of placements with the EU Institutions.

To be admitted to the EMT network, translation studies Master’s programmes must meet strict eligibility and admission criteria laid out by the DGT. These criteria are mainly focused around the human, infrastructural and technical resources available to each programme, as well as the programme’s ability to deliver on a number of core competences required of translators in an increasingly globalised and technologised profession.

It is estimated that there are currently some 400 postgraduate translation studies programmes across the EU. In March 2009 the DGT issued the first call for membership of the EMT network. 93 universities from across the EU (and three non-member states) submitted applications, of which 34, including Dublin City University’s MA in Translation Studies, were successful. DCU’s programme is thus now in the top flight of such programmes across Europe, and at the heart of decision making in the area for the foreseeable future.

Dr. Dorothy Kenny’s application (on behalf of DCU) was supported by a number of industrial partners (Comunicación Multilingüe, S.L., Labrador, lexsys, Sanas, SAP, SimulTrans, Symantec, TALK finance) and public bodies (Fiontar, Translation Section of UNESCO), all of whom employ graduates of the MA in Translation Studies at DCU, and could attest the professionalism and technological competence of DCU’s translation graduates.

Please contact Dr. Minako O’Hagan for further information on the Masters programme. Please contact Dr. Dorothy Kenny for further information on this network.