Canadian University Dubai announces pioneering new program to meet the UAE's growing need for skilled translators
Dubai July 2, 2012:In a bid to satisfy a growing demand for quality translators across the UAE, the Canadian University Dubai is to launch the emirate's first BA program in English and Translation.
The four-year program, which starts this September, will focus on translation between Arabic and English. Future professionals will be helped to master every facet of the two languages, as well as gain an understanding of different types of translation, the art of public speaking, the cultural aspects of language and psychology.
"The world revolves around communication and translation is very much a growing industry," said Dr Kathy O'Sullivan, chair of the program. "The Canadian University Dubai tailors its academic programs to the real needs of the world. This is one program that students are pretty much guaranteed to immediately get a job as soon as they graduate.
"Translation is a degree that many people tend to do when they are already working as translators, and often they have been working in the field for some time. However, wouldn't be far better if they started out by learning their profession on an academic level as well as practical level?"
The program, which is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, will offer students a general introduction to language and linguistics in both English and Arabic. Subjects including Islamic culture and UAE society will help them to understand the cultural and social elements to the skill of translating.
In later years, more complicated and specialised subjects will be introduced as the program progresses. It will move into more technical subjects such as phonetics and semantics.
Dr Kathy, who has lived in the region for more than 12 years and has a wealth of experience within the UAE's education sector, added: "We will also include subjects from diverse fields like ethics, psychology and public speaking, because although translation often deals with the written world, translators will be asked to interpret in meetings and other activities,"
We will also get people who are working in the translation business to come and speak to the students about their experience and the techniques they use."
Dr Kathy said the Canadian University Dubai believes in the importance of the Arabic language to the world and feels a responsibility to help protect it. She added: "We are aiming to pay equal attention to Arabic and English. Translation has to be both ways, because that is what happens in organisations across the public and private sectors."
Interest in the new program has been strong so far, and The Canadian University Dubai expects classes to be full when the program launches in September.