News

Herzen University as the Leader in Training UN Interpreters

On 20 and 21 April UN Headquarters in New York hosted V Anniversary UN MoU-Universities Conference. The Herzen University delegation was headed by Yulia Komarova, Acting Vice-Rector for International Cooperation. Angelique Antonova, SCIT Deputy Director, was the keynote speaker reporting on the universities’ activities under MoU. This privilege was justified: Herzen University is either ahead or on par with the world’s leading T&I schools, based on the results of ten years of MoU work. Irina Alexeeva, SCIT Director, put forward a suggestion for the universities with the Russian language to join efforts in training specialists for the United Nations. Within the framework of the conference the Herzen University delegation had a meeting with the Chief of the Executive Office of the UN Secretary General and with six Ambassadors to the United Nations representing the six official languages. On the margins, the Herzen delegation had meetings with Catherine Pollard, Under-Secretary General for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM), Movses Abelian, Assistant Secretary General for DGACM, Igor Shpiniov, Chief of USG Office, Olga Kazanli, Head of the Russian Verbatim Reports Service in UNHQ, Dmitry Sapsai, Head of the Russian Translation Service in UNHQ, Sergey Kochetkov, Head of the Russian Interpretation Service in UNHQ and others.

Fifth Conference of the Universities that signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations on cooperation in the training of candidates for United Nations Language Competitive Examinations (organized by the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM))

TranslAcademy Webinar on SCIT

On 13 April SCIT successfully participated in TranslAcademy webinar taking questions from Internet audience. The viewers noted methodological coherence of all SCIT trainers, as well as their personal attachment to the project, something that is essential to SCIT’s achievements. The webinar will soon be available on Youtube.

Transfer concepts and communicative practices – in the focus of Johannes Guttenberg university conference

On 6 and 7 of April the University of Johannes Guttenberg in Mainz – an international partner of Herzen University – held a conference which brought together specialists in Slavonic, Romance and Germanic studies. Herzen university was represented by Irina Alexeeva, SCIT director. Her presentation on Russian as a mediator language in teaching translation and interpretation with Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Turkmen languages drew a wide response from the audience. Within the frame of the cooperation agreement between SCIT and Johannes Guttenberg university the partners also are planning to  organize a series of virtual T&I conferences.

All thumbs up to Polina Volkova!

On 17 March 2017 г. the Humanities Institute of St. Petersburg Polytechnical University (SPU) held the first international interpretation competition for students. The organizers are Maria Stepanova, SPU, and Boris Naimushin (New Bolgarian University, Sofia).

The first prize went to Polina Volkova, SCIT student  (64 points), the runners-up with 63 points were Alexander Kussul (SPU) and Arthur Khaidarov (Herzen university), the third  place  with 57 points was shared by Alexander Verkhoglyadov (SPU) and Nikita Yakovenko (Herzen university). Congratulations to the laureates!

Master-classes by Liam Long

From 13-17 of March 2017 SCIT hosted Liam Long, Senior Interpreter of DG SCIC, European Commission. Liam arrived at SCIT to participate in the aptitude tests as an observer, but found time to hold intensive training sessions in English and French with this year’s students. He held 9 master classes in consecutive and simultaneous interpretation. We heartily thank Liam for his extraordinary industry and great contribution to the training process at SCIT.