Find out more about EU-funded research projects
The EU has funded a variety of translation-related research projects. These projects are particularly relevant to universities in the European Master in Translation (EMT) network, as scholars from their translation study programmes are involved both as coordinators and members.
Machine translation (MT) and AI Literacy
LT-LiDER
Language and Translation: Literacy in Digital Environments and Resources
The LT-LiDER project aims to: i) map the technological capabilities needed for language and translation experts, and ii) create training materials to help trainers boost their skills and adopt effective pedagogical strategies for integrating technology into their classrooms.
The project has three main objectives:
- raising awareness among language and translation experts about the importance of understanding and implementing current technologies
- creating training materials for professionals and students
- communicating early-stage results to engage the target audience and incorporate their feedback before finalising the project.
Special attention is given to language and translation trainers, including university instructors and lifelong learning educators, with resources provided for integrating these technologies into lectures.
ProMut: LT-LiDER Neural Machine Translation platform
UP-TRANS
Advancing translator skills in machine translation post-editing
This project provides lifelong learning courses in English, German, French, Spanish, Russian and Czech on machine translation post-editing.
It aims to boost the skills of translators in post-editing machine-translated texts. This involves:
- improving accuracy: ensuring that machine-translated texts are accurate and contextually appropriate
- maintaining consistency: keeping the terminology and style consistent throughout the document.
- increasing readability: ensuring the final text is clear and easy to read.
EU-funded project within a Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) EU scheme.
Recovery and Resilience Facility - European Commission
MultiTraiNMT
Machine translation training for multilingual citizens
The MultiTraiNMT project focuses on machine translation (MT) training for multilingual citizens.
It aims to:
- provide an up-to-date syllabus in machine translation
- develop a neural machine translation (NMT) platform that is pedagogically oriented.
Developed by Prompsit in collaboration with the MultiTraiNMT initiative partners, the project seeks to develop, evaluate, and share open-access materials to improve the teaching of and learning about machine translation.
In addition, it aims to create an innovative syllabus in machine translation, focusing in particular on NMT based on deep learning techniques.
UPSKILLS
Upgrading the SKIlls of Linguistics and Language Students
The UPSKILLS project aims to identify and address skills gaps and mismatches in language- and translation-related programmes.
It focuses on integrating industry-based research into teaching how to better prepare students from language-related study subjects for the job market, particularly in the language industry.
By developing a new curriculum component and supporting materials, the project introduces a research-oriented perspective to boost students' employability. This initiative equips students with the skills required to meet the evolving demands of the job market, ensuring they are well-prepared for careers in linguistics and language-related fields.
RESONANT
Research collaboration in the area of institutional translator training
The RESONANT project focuses on various types of translation, particularly within the context of institutional translator training for the EU. Here are the main types of translation dealt with by the participating universities:
- legal translation: translating legal documents, contracts, and other legally binding materials, which is crucial for EU institutions
- technical translation: translating technical documents, manuals, and reports, ensuring accuracy and consistency in specialised terminology
- administrative translation: translating administrative documents and communications within EU and national institutions
- terminology: creating and managing term bases for institutional use, ensuring uniformity and clarity in official documents.
Each university contributes its expertise to these areas to boost the training and competencies of translators working in EU and national institutions.
Scientific publication:
Institutional Translator Training | Tomáš Svoboda, Łucja Biel, Vilelmini Sosoni
DigiLing
Empowering linguists with digital skills for the modern job market
DigiLing was an Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership project (2016-2019) that aimed to meet the increasing European job market demands for digitally skilled linguists. The project’s main output was the DigiLing e-learning hub, containing online core modules covering the essential skills and competencies in digital linguistics.
As an associated outcome of the project, a new Joint Master’s Programme in Digital Linguistics was developed involving 3 university partners: University of Ljubljana, University of Zagreb and Masaryk University.
What is digital linguistics?
It’s a new interdisciplinary field which develops knowledge and skills for understanding, processing and exploiting language content in the digital era. This new discipline is a fusion of linguistics and computing, creating powerful tools at the crossroads of traditional language studies and information technologies.
InterReal
A systematic exploration of interreal translations in the media multiverse
The InterReal project suggests that the mediascape is developing towards a media multiverse, which will encompass a multi-faceted array of media-generated alternative ‘realities’ from immersive virtual reality (VR) to layers of augmented reality (AR) visualised over the physical world and the virtual worlds of digital games.
The media multiverse is permeated by mechanisms of interreal translation, which are intersemiotic transfers of objects, subjects, and spaces from one form of reality to another.
The project is funded by the European Research Council and will run for 5 years, from 2025 to 2030.
MaTIAS
Enhancing information accessibility for asylum seekers through advanced machine translation
The MaTIAS project aims to develop and implement machine translation technologies to improve the accessibility of information for asylum seekers in Europe.
By leveraging advanced natural language processing techniques, the project seeks to provide accurate and reliable translations of essential information, helping asylum seekers navigate through information on legal, medical and social services more effectively.
This initiative is part of the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) postdoctoral fellowship programme, which supports innovative research and training.
MaTIAS: Machine translation to Inform asylum seekers
Publications:
MaTIAS: Machine Translation to Inform Asylum Seekers, the study
Ghent University – Academic bibliography
DUAL-T
Developing user-centred approaches to technological innovation in literary translation
The DUAL-T project focuses on developing user-centred approaches to technological innovation in literary translation. It aims to speed up the translation process by integrating advanced technologies that cater to the needs of translators and end users. This project is part of the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) postdoctoral fellowship programme, which supports innovative research and training.
DUAL-T: Developing user-centred approaches to technological innovation in literary translation
AI Write
Integration of advanced technology in academic writing within university curricula and student support structures
The AI Write project, funded by an Erasmus+ grant (159450), aims to embed advanced AI tools into university courses and student support services to enhance academic writing.
The project focuses on strengthening students’ writing skills by leveraging AI technologies to provide personalised feedback, improve writing processes, and support multilingual academic writing. Key objectives include:
- developing AI tools: creating AI-based tools that assist students at various stages of the writing process, from brainstorming to final editing
- curriculum integration: incorporating these AI tools into university curricula to support academic writing courses and workshops
- student support: providing additional resources and support structures to help students use AI tools effectively
- research and evaluation: conducting research to evaluate the impact of AI tools on student writing outcomes and refining the tools based on feedback.
Hack-IT
Hackaton and innovative methodologies in higher education
The aim of this Erasmus strategic partnership project is to apply innovative methodologies such as hackathons, augmented reality, AI, design thinking, as well as others for online and blended learning.
The project focuses on creating a sustainable network of educational institutions that operate both online and face-to-face, improving digital readiness and innovative teaching methodologies.
HACK-IT home page
HACK-IT: Hackathon and ICT-based Innovative Methodologies in Higher Education | Haaga-Helia
HACK-IT: Hackathon and Innovative Methodologies in Higher Education - Kaunas University of Technology | KTU
University West - HACK-IT - A network for educational institution
Modernising translator training
OTCT
Optimising translator training through collaborative technical translation and real-world practices
The OTCT project is an Erasmus+ strategic partnership that aims to improve translator training by integrating professionally oriented practices into university translation degree programmes. This project is a spin-off from the ‘Optimising Professional Translator Training in a Multilingual Europe’ (OPTIMALE) project.
Project objectives:
- Optimising translator training through collaborative technical translation: the project involves intensive collaborative technical translation sessions (Tradutech) where students work in simulated professional conditions. These sessions help students become familiar with managing the different stages of a translation project, from customer requests to project delivery
- Integrating professionally oriented practices: by incorporating real-life translation industry situations into the curriculum, the project aims to increase students’ employability and strengthen relationships between European universities.
OTCT Background and Objectives
Cooperative Network Philotrans
Creating flexible learning paths in applied linguistics and translation studies
The project aims to create a comprehensive network of philological and translatological didactic modules. These would allow for different flexible learning paths and lead to joint degrees that combine key competencies from foreign language philology (with a stronger focus on literature) and translation studies (with a stronger focus on language for specific purposes and technology).
This project explores various types of translation within its framework. Here are some key areas:
- specialised languages and technical texts: this includes translation of texts related to specific fields such as medicine, law and technology
- literary and cultural translation: this focuses on translating literature and cultural texts, which often require a deep understanding of the source and target cultures
- terminological translation: involves creating and evaluating term bases for translation tasks and identifying translation equivalents in corpora.
- AI-based machine translation (MT): integrates research on AI-based machine translation, exploring how AI can help in translation tasks.
4EU+ Alliance
Cooperative Network Philotrans project
The METS (Mobilité Européenne en Traduction Spécialisée) programme
Enhancing specialised translation skills through European academic cooperation and mobility
The METS (Mobilité Européenne en Traduction Spécialisée) programme, is a unique 2-year MA with a year abroad, spent studying at two different partner universities in the METS consortium.
Established in 2004, the METS programme aims to boost specialised translation skills through academic cooperation and mobility among European universities.
These institutions work together to provide a comprehensive and immersive educational experience, increasing intercultural understanding and professional expertise in specialised translation.
The METS focuses on developing specialised translation skills in various fields, including:
- legal translation
- technical translation
- medical translation
- financial translation
- literary translation
- audiovisual translation
These skills are developed through a combination of coursework, practical training, and mobility among the partner universities.
METS (Mobilité Européenne en Traduction Spécialisée) programme
Public service interpreting and translation (PSIT)
TRAMIG
Promoting migrant inclusion through intercultural mediation and healthcare interpretation
The TRAMIG project focuses on healthcare interpreting and intercultural mediation, enabling communication between healthcare providers and migrants to ensure that language barriers do not hinder access to medical services and support.
The project focuses on creating proposals for occupational standards and vocational qualifications for these professions. In addition, it:
- develops teacher-training modules based on best practices from consortium partners
- trains migrants for collaborative teaching in healthcare community-interpreter and intercultural-mediator training programmes.
This initiative is funded by the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme.
DIALOGOS
Addressing communication barriers for migrants through public service interpreting and translating
The project focuses on public service interpreting and translating with an emphasis on languages of lesser diffusion (LLD).
The goal of the project is to address communication barriers for migrants, especially those who speak less widely spoken languages in host countries, such as Greece, where there is a shortage of qualified translation and interpreting professionals in public facilities.
It aims to produce learning modules and educational materials targeted primarily at people who work in public services.
MHEALTH4ALL
Enhancing mental healthcare access for migrants through multilingual and culturally sensitive digital solutions
The MHEALTH4ALL project aimed to develop and implement a digital platform to promote access to mental healthcare for non-EU nationals in the EU who have low proficiency in the host country's language.
This project, funded by the European Commission's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), ran from 2022 to 2024.
The platform was multilingual and culturally sensitive, designed to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers that migrants and refugees face in mental health settings. It included resources for intercultural communication, interpreting, and translating, ensuring that mental healthcare services were accessible and effective for these groups.
Educational Translation
APATCHE
Adding plurilingual approaches to language teacher competences in higher education
The APATCHE project, funded under the Erasmus+ KA 220 programme, aimed to strengthen the competences of language teachers in higher education by integrating plurilingual approaches into their teaching practices.
Running from 2021 to 2023, the project focused on developing innovative methodologies and training materials that support the use of multiple languages in the classroom. By promoting plurilingualism, the project aimed to:
- improve the quality of language education
- increase intercultural understanding
- better prepare students for a multilingual world.
Unlock: Creativity through game-based learning at higher education
Fostering creativity and employability in higher education through game-based learning
The ‘Unlock’ project aims to stimulate creativity in higher education through game-based learning methodologies.
The project focuses on equipping higher education institutions with the tools and methodologies needed to design and facilitate educational escape rooms (EERs) and other game-based learning activities.
These innovative approaches aim to increase creativity, entrepreneurial skills, and employability among students. The project also emphasises the development of digital skills and the use of augmented reality, AI, and design thinking in educational settings.
ColLab
Collaborative platform for teaching innovation in higher education
The ColLab project aims to:
- create an educational platform where higher education teachers from different countries can exchange knowledge and experiences
- share information on the latest trends in teaching and learning
- develop new initiatives and innovations.
The platform is designed to enable collaboration and the sharing of best practices among educators, ultimately raising the quality of higher education.
ColLab Project Website
ColLab: Collaborative Platform for Teaching Innovation in Higher Education - Kaunas University of Technology | KTU
Sociological Translation
RAINBOW
Researching stereotypes towards LGBTQIA+ community members with multilingual natural language processing
The RAINBOW project aims to investigate stereotypes directed at LGBTQIA+ community members by using multilingual natural language processing (NLP) techniques. This research seeks to understand and address biases in language and communication that affect LGBTQIA+ individuals.
By leveraging advanced NLP methods, the project will analyse and mitigate harmful stereotypes, promoting more inclusive and respectful communication.
This project is part of the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) postdoctoral fellowship programme, which supports innovative research and training.
ARENAS project
Analysis of and responses to extremist narratives
The ARENAS project primarily deals with translation and cross-cultural communication. It focuses on addressing radical and extremist narratives through translation and cross-cultural communication efforts.
Translation supporting new skills and inclusion
CUDIS – Cultural Knowledge and Digital Skills in Globalising Working Life
Enhancing cultural and digital competencies for global success in North Karelia
The CUDIS project, titled ‘Cultural Knowledge and Digital Skills in Globalising Working Life,’ aims to boost the cultural and digital competencies of companies in North Karelia, Finland.
The project focuses on equipping businesses with the necessary skills to navigate through and thrive in a globalised work environment by improving their understanding of cultural diversity and digital tools.
About CUDIS - CUDIS - Cultural Knowledge and Digital Skills in Globalising Working Life
NewWorkTech
From the margins to the masses: standard practices and innovative uses of technology in augmenting different abilities of people in the world of work
The NewWorkTech project primarily focuses on increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities through empirical research and the innovative use of technology.
It aims to improve workplace practices and interaction, and provide more job opportunities by leveraging assistive technologies.
This project does not specifically deal with interpreting or translation. Instead, it centres on accessibility, inclusion, and the increase of different abilities in the workplace.
The project, funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme, seeks to define innovative practices for the use of technology for all.