NTU launches master’s programme in translation and interpretation

SINGAPORE — To meet the rising demand for professional translators, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is launching Singapore’s first postgraduate programme in translation and interpretation.

Focusing on English to Chinese and Chinese to English translation, the new master’s degree programme will start in January next year with an initial intake of 25 students, NTU said in a news release today (Aug 25).

Students in the new programme, managed by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) at NTU, will be jointly taught by NTU professors of different fields ranging from translation studies, linguistics and journalism to science, technology and medicine. This will help students acquire an extensive yet in-depth set of industry-relevant translation skills, the NTU said.

“NTU is sensitive to the needs of industry, and there is strong demand for a high quality, postgraduate programme in translation and interpretation. Through this interdisciplinary programme, we are also keen to develop new research in translation, leveraging the university’s strength in technological innovation and interdisciplinary research,” said Professor Alan Chan, Dean of NTU College of Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences.

The curriculum will also include a six-week immersion programme at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, a major training centre for diplomats and United Nations interpreters that is recognised for its translation courses in law, finance and economics.

According to a straw poll conducted by HSS for students of past translation classes at NTU, 85 per cent of respondents were interested in enrolling in the new programme.

The new Master of Arts programme comes at a time when the government is highlighting the need to build up translation skills. Last year, the Ministry of Communications and Information set up the National Translation Committee to raise standards and foster future translation talents.

This year, translation is offered as a new subject at four junior colleges — Hwa Chong Institution, Nanyang Junior College, Jurong Junior College and Dunman High School — creating a new pool of teachers and students who may wish to advance their knowledge in this area.

Since 2004, the NTU Division of Chinese has offered a minor in translation, with more than 3,300 students completing the minor so far. From 2005 to 2010, it also offered a Graduate Diploma in translation and interpretation. The Confucius Institute at NTU has been offering a Diploma in business translation and interpretation skills since 2010.

Application for the Master of Arts in Translation and Interpretation opens on Sept 1 and ends on Oct 31.