Capacity building

Types of public service interpreting courses

Public service interpreting courses are increasingly offered across EU Member States, reflecting the growing importance of this field in diverse societal contexts. These courses are designed to equip interpreters with the skills and knowledge required to facilitate effective communication in public service settings such as health, legal and social services.

University-level courses

Many public service interpreting courses are offered at university level, either as standalone programmes or as modules integrated into broader interpreting or translation studies. The European Masters in Conference Interpreting (EMCI) plays a key role in promoting high-quality interpreter training in the EU. While the focus is primarily on conference interpreting, several EMCI member universities also include public service interpreting-related courses or modules in their curricula.

In addition, several other universities in and around the EU provide specialised public service interpreting training. Here are a few examples:

University of Alcalá (Spain): It offers a Master’s degree in Intercultural Communication, Public Service Interpreting and Translation. This programme is tailored to those looking to work in public service settings such as healthcare or legal interpreting. It includes practical training in cultural mediation and the use of interpreting technology.

University of Leeds (UK): The Centre for Translation Studies offers a Public Service Interpreting module as part of its interpreting programmes. This module equips students with practical skills and theoretical knowledge for interpreting in legal, healthcare and community settings. It emphasises real-world application through role play and scenario-based training with real-life materials.

These university programmes represent a growing recognition of the importance of professional training in pubIic service interpreting, with a strong emphasis on professional standards that address the specific challenges of working in multilingual, multicultural environments.

Community-led public service interpreting training initiatives

Public service interpreting training is not confined to academic institutions. Community organisations and non-governmental organisations across the EU provide courses to enable individuals to interpret in public service contexts, especially in response to migrant and refugee needs. These may include short courses or workshops to equip bilingual people with interpreting skills for use in health, social and legal services. These programmes often complement formal education by addressing immediate community needs.

InDialog and Critical Link have highlighted the need for localised training for interpreters in fields like healthcare, education and legal systems. These conferences address the diversity of public service interpreting practices and highlight regional initiatives for training translators and interpreters.

For more information on minimum requirements and recommendations for the core competences taught in community interpreting programmes, see Standards, Regulation and Ethics.

Flexible and inclusive training options

Public service interpreting training programmes can vary widely in format and accessibility. They can range from intensive short courses to part-time programmes, ensuring that they are inclusive and adaptable to the diverse backgrounds of aspiring interpreters. The availability of such training reflects the growing recognition of public service interpreting’s crucial role in strengthening social cohesion and ensuring equitable access to public services.

For example, in the UK the Level 6 Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI), managed by the Chartered Institute of Linguists, is a nationally recognised qualification for aspiring public service interpreters. This programme is available online and focuses on key domains such as health, legal and local government settings.

Institutions like Herts Interpreting & Translation Services (HITS) offer preparatory courses for the DPSI exam. These courses are often delivered online, making them accessible to a broad and diverse audience.

HITS provides practical and skills-based training, ensuring that interpreters are well prepared to meet the professional demands of working with the public service. This approach underscores the growing trend towards flexible training models that accommodate learners from various geographic and professional backgrounds.

Broader European support from representative bodies in public service interpreting

The European Network for Public Service Interpreting and Translation (ENPSIT) plays a pivotal role in advancing public service interpreting across Europe. ENPSIT brings together a diverse community of stakeholders, including public service interpreting service providers, training institutions, interpreters, translators, educators, assessors and researchers from various European countries.

ENPSIT’s key contributions include:

• Policy advocacy: ENPSIT actively works towards establishing a cohesive European policy and securing funding for public service interpreting and translation. It formulates policy recommendations for the European Commission and engages in dialogues with Members of the European Parliament.
• Standardisation and training: The network is instrumental in developing minimum standards for public service interpreting training and assessment. Through collaborative projects like the EU-WEBPSI initiative, ENPSIT helps create e-training modules and IT tools aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of public service interpreting services.
• Community building: By strengthening connections among professionals and institutions involved in public service interpreting, ENPSIT promotes the exchange of best practices, research findings and innovative approaches to interpreter and translator training.

ENPSIT’s efforts significantly contribute to the professionalisation and standardisation of public service interpreting across Europe. This ensures that interpreters and translators are well equipped to meet the diverse linguistic needs of public service users.

The European Legal Interpreters and Translators Association (EULITA) is a pivotal organisation dedicated to improving the quality and recognition of legal interpreting and translation across Europe. EULITA brings together national associations, individual practitioners and academic institutions to advocate for professional standards and training in legal settings.

EULITA’s key contributions include:

• Advocacy and policy development: EULITA actively engages with EU institutions to promote consistent standards and practices for legal interpreters and translators. It represents the interests of national associations and works towards the recognition of legal interpreting and translation as specialised professions.
• Training and professional development: The association supports the development of specialised training programmes and resources tailored to the needs of legal interpreters and translators. By facilitating workshops, conferences and collaborative projects, EULITA promotes continuous professional development and the exchange of best practices among practitioners.
• Standardisation and certification: EULITA contributes to the creation and dissemination of guidelines and certification processes aimed at ensuring that legal interpreters and translators are competent and reliable. This includes involvement in the development of European standards and the promotion of ethical codes of conduct.

Through these initiatives, EULITA plays a crucial role in strengthening the infrastructure for legal interpreting and translation in Europe, thereby improving access to justice and upholding the rights of individuals in multilingual legal proceedings.

In addition, the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe supports language education and the professional development of interpreters and translators. Through projects, workshops and research initiatives, it encourages best practices and innovative approaches to language and intercultural training, aligning with the goals of many public service interpreting programmes across the EU.