The Massification of Master’s Degree in Translation in China

May 4, 12:30pm - 2:00pm
Mānoa Campus, UHM College of Education 1776 University Ave Wist Hall 131 Honolulu, HI 96822

In this seminar, Dr Meng Liu offers an overview and critical discussion of the training of translators and interpreters across the Chinese and English languages, with a particular focus on the Master’s level training in universities in China. Until 2007 only a few elite universities in China had been allowed to provide such training, and those received the training were referred to as “golden-bowl” holders those days. However, this very modest elitist training scale could not meet the country’s increasing demand for many more trained translators and interpreters, as China is deepening its opening-up policies and economic reform. To address the shortage of translators and interpreters, a new professional program, the Master of Translation and Interpreting (MTI) was set up by the State Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council of the People's Republic of China in 2007.

By 2017, a total of 215 universities across China have been given the permission to provide such programs. Within a decade, Chinese universities have graduated close to 35,000 translators and interpreters. While achieving significant accomplishments and making impressive contributions to China in many ways, this massification of training has, however, presented many problems which include the quality of the training associated with low entry-level requirements. What’s more, many trainees have used the training as a shortcut to the teaching profession, given the perceived easy access compared to other Master’s programs offered by Chinese universities. Putting these problems in perspective, several suggestions for future training in terms of policy and practices will then be provided as possible ways forward.

Join us for this fascinating brownbag — bring your lunch!


Event Sponsor
College of Education, Mānoa Campus

More Information
Nezia Azmi, (808) 956-4280, azti@hawaii.edu, https://coe.hawaii.edu/about/events/2018/04/talk-massification-master%E2%80%99s-degree-china

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