"There are no borders between Brussels and Ukraine"
Last week, trainers from Ukrainian universities offering courses for conference interpreters attended – either in-person in Brussels or online – a ‘Training for trainers’ seminar, organised by the Commission. Training sufficient interpreters and translators is one of the obligations linked to enlargement, so that all citizens can have their voices heard in the decision-making process. A look behind the scenes.
On 23 June 2022, Ukraine was given a European perspective and granted candidate status. Its integration into the EU calls for comprehensive support mechanisms designed to help Ukraine acquire the linguistic resources it needs to fully participate in the EU. These mechanisms are designed to support capacity-building for the national administrations of countries on the enlargement path.
After a first outreach and mapping exercise in the context of the 'Questionnaire for the Commission Opinion', following Ukraine's application to join the EU, DG SCIC contacted several potential partner universities in the country. 10 trainers from eight Ukrainian universities offering courses for conference interpreters were then invited to Brussels to attend, together with 14 online participants from the same universities, a dedicated 'Training for trainers' seminar. The event took place from 10-14 July.
Organised in close cooperation with DG NEAR (European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations) and the EU Delegation to Ukraine, the seminar's principal aim was to ensure that the universities' curricula align with the standards for the European Institutions, allowing their graduates to sit the inter-institutional accreditation tests for freelance interpreters.
Over the course of the week, participants received guidance on interpreting techniques, how to design and implement interpretation courses, the effective use of online tools, and more. DG NEAR delivered a comprehensive presentation on the accession negotiation process and EU-Ukraine relations, and DGT contributed with a presentation on their activities and tools, providing the Ukrainian trainers with a glimpse into the world of translation at the Commission.
“There are no borders between Brussels and Ukraine": these are the words of one of the Ukrainian trainers, which capture the participants' impression of unwavering support and solidarity shown to Ukraine by the EU since the outbreak of the war.
To which a Ukrainian colleague working in SCIC added: “What I liked most is that this is a premiere, something happening for the first time. The fact that this training focuses on interpretation and education in Ukraine sends a strong signal that our country is aligning with the EU. That's what I appreciate the most – the emphasis on education and the opportunity for us to come together, the EU and Ukraine."
The seminar took place in the context of the outreach and support activities to universities organised by DG SCIC and was organised thanks to logistical support from the capacity-building component of the inter-institutional 'Association4Ukraine' consortium. It showed once more that we are all standing together with Ukraine.
By forging partnerships in training conference interpreters in Ukraine, DG SCIC can leverage its expertise in conference interpreting to help lay a solid foundation for the future of Ukraine's linguistic services. According to DG SCIC's Director-General Genoveva Ruiz Calavera, the seminar “emphasises the paramount importance of DG SCIC's cooperation with Ukrainian universities in preparing for enlargement in the field of conference interpretation."