Equipping the next generation of language professionals for the future

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming and disrupting the professional landscape of translation and interpreting. The language services industry is not dying, but it is transitioning and changing shape.

Educational institutes offering translation and interpreting study programmes therefore need to prepare students not only for the profession in its current form, but more importantly, for the demands of tomorrow’s professional practice. A solid foundation in language, translation and interpreting skills remains indispensable in this respect. This requires curricula to be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure they match the current needs of LSPs. Students intending to enter the language profession must develop the ability to work effectively with AI and other digital technologies but also understand the limitations. Skills such as critical evaluation of AI-generated texts, proofreading, terminology management, speech-to-text technologies and error detection will become even more important. These future language professionals must be aware of how to use AI responsibly and when human expertise is essential. Study programmes should also continue to emphasise human competencies such as intercultural communication, contextual awareness, creativity, ethical conduct and professional responsibility. Accuracy and human input will remain essential in specialised and sensitive fields such as medicine, law and technical communication. These human qualities will be a key distinguishing factor in an increasingly AI-driven professional environment.

As a member of the advisory committee, AgroLingua recently visited Maleen Hof and Jikke van Gosliga at Capabel Onderwijs in Utrecht. They explain how they are equipping the next generation of language professionals for the future.

“We maintain strong links with the professional field to ensure our students are well prepared for their future careers. Translation agencies and other organisations are our eyes and ears when it comes to what clients ultimately expect and need. Many of our lecturers also work as freelance translators and interpreters. We are supported by an advisory committee whose members represent the professional sectors targeted by the study programme. A Senior Lecturer in Professionalisation also monitors developments in the industry and we launched a pilot in this academic year for a partnership with the Dutch Association of Interpreters and Translators (NGTV). In addition, we organise excursions and guest lectures, offer a Skills Lab which focuses on soft skills and entrepreneurship and an internship is an integral part of the study programme. This gives our students contact with the professional field from day one.

At the same time, we are broadening the content of the programme. The emphasis remains on robust language and cultural knowledge, but attention is also given to project management, specialisation and other roles that language professionals can fulfil in their careers. These include supporting expats, the use of plain language in communication issued by government agencies and working as an International Communication Advisor at large organisations. Awareness of the latest translation technology is another important part of the programme. Students work with the latest tools so they understand when technologies such as Large Language Models or machine translation can add value and when they are less appropriate. We believe writing and translation skills are essential fundamental competencies. For that reason, we deliberately teach students to work without tools too. This ensures they develop a solid foundation regardless of future technological developments.

Unfortunately, the profession of interpreter or translator still has an outdated image. We are therefore exploring ways to showcase the diversity of our dynamic and demanding profession to attract more students. To achieve this, we are working on closer collaboration with the professional field, the public sector and other educational institutes to reach a broad target group and raise awareness of the importance and opportunities offered by our fascinating profession.”

The translators and interpreters of tomorrow will be more than linguistic specialists. They will be in demand as highly skilled language and cultural consultants with the ability to use technology for a more efficient and productive output, while combining their linguistic expertise with specialisation and in-depth domain knowledge to monitor the quality, meaning and reliability of communication.