Pedagogical assistance
While the general responsibility for training lies with the educational institutions of the Member States, the interpretation services of the European Parliament engage in a practical cooperation with universities to offer pedagogical assistance, promote knowledge transfer and help bridge the gap between academic training and the real-life requirements for conference interpreters in international organisations.
The benefits of this cooperation are twofold: graduates have better opportunities for recruitment after their studies and the interpretation services of the Parliament can count on highly skilled graduates to fulfil their recruitment needs and sustain the multilingual services.
The different types of pedagogical support offered encompass:
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Virtual master classes
Virtual Classes are videoconferences where experienced interpreters from both the European Parliament and the Commission observe and assess the performance of interpreting students. They allow students to practise interpretation of speeches similar to those required at EU accreditation tests and get first-hand feedback and advice from experienced interpreters of the European Institutions.
There are two types of virtual classes:
- Multilateral Virtual Classes are videoconferences and/or web-streamed classes organised by the European Parliament in co-operation with up to three universities. The performances are assessed in Brussels by staff interpreters from the European Parliament, the European Commission and other international organisations.
- Bilateral Virtual Classes are videoconferences with one university at a time, where students are assessed by EP staff interpreters offering expert input. There is usually one observer from the European Commission.
Universities must be equipped with a videoconferencing system to participate in this kind of coaching.
Virtual classes require detailed scenario planning and close cooperation between the participating Institutions and universities. Participating students should be selected according to their potential and language combination. -
Participation of EP staff interpreters at final exams
Where possible, an EP staff interpreter will be present as a full jury member during final exams for conference interpreting. This presence and expertise reinforces a jury panel and can have positive effects for the university in terms of benchmarking and standard setting. It demonstrates to students and university authorities that major employers are involved in the assessment process and have an interest in graduates.
It also makes it possible to maintain links and monitor developments on the different courses.
Universities should take account of the EP calendar of meetings when planning exams and avoid the plenary sessions when staff is generally not available for outside tasks. -
Seminarium Programme
The Seminarium Programme is part of ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between university and professional life for graduate conference interpreters.
The objectives of the programme are- To increase the pass rate at the accreditation tests and help to ensure that the graduates with the language combinations we are most interested in have the best possible chance of succeeding
- To enhance the profile of the EP as an attractive workplace
- To try to ensure that the most talented individuals are not lost to the EP and to the profession because they fail their first test and subsequently find employment elsewhere.
Selection criteria for participants:
- Language combination which must fit the desired profile
- Performance in the final exams as documented by our external examiner.
Participants are coached over a three-week period in Brussels by staff interpreters and/or outside trainers prior to their first accreditation test.
The programme only runs if a real need has been established. Once the need has been identified contact is made with universities offering the language combinations we seek. -
Seminars for course leaders and trainers
The EP interpretation service is keen to foster links with the universities training conference interpreters to the standards we require.
Seminars and workshops bring together course leaders and trainers from the universities with staff from the EP and other international organisations. They discuss issues of mutual interest such as testing and selection procedures, attracting talented youngsters to the profession, using new technologies for training etc.
The aim is to develop best practice and to ensure that there is a mutually beneficial flow of information between the universities and the institutions that employ their graduates. -
Passerelle Programme
Participants are interpreters who have recently passed an accreditation test. They are proposed by their Head of Unit based on their language combination and the quality of their work.
The programme takes place in Brussels over a two-week period with staff providing guidance and acting as mentors. The programme is scheduled according to needs.
The Passerelle programme is designed to meet the following objectives:- To ease the transition into a complex workplace
- To ensure that new colleagues can become fully operational in a reduced period of time
- To guarantee quality standards by providing additional support
- To enhance the profile of the EP as an attractive workplace
