My proposal was accepted for the 10th Translation Forum at Sultan Qaboos University (6–7 April 2013), organised by the university's English and Translation Society. The abstract is below.
Forum host: Sultan Qaboos University
Abstract
Innovating in translator training: a pilot course proposal on developing professional and entrepreneurial abilities for future translators
Globalisation and technology have turned the translation market upside down. New working patterns have emerged as a result, such as tele-work, online freelancing and self-employment. This kind of practice requires a combination of academic and business competencies. Yet, as far as I know, the entrepreneurial side of our practice is not taught in university translation units or departments in the Arab world. Only a few translation programmes in the West have managed to embed such courses, usually as workshops or electives rather than core courses, even though these are precisely the competencies employers insist on in the marketplace.
Our recent review of translation programmes in the Arab world found no courses or modules addressing these new practices. The focus remains on developing linguistic skills and other cognitive abilities. In this paper I present an innovative way of embedding such a course in a translation programme, and the pedagogical approach needed to facilitate it: training students to engage in online freelancing and empowering them with metacognitive competencies that will serve them for a lifetime, for example by setting up their own business, either as a team of students (an agency or company) or as an individually owned enterprise.
NB: For logistical reasons I put the preparation of this paper on hold. I may prepare it in another context, for a different audience.
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