On May 20 and 21, 2025, SCIT Director Angelque Antonova participated in the CIUTI conference (Conférence internationale permanente d’instituts universitaires de traducteurs et interprètes) at the Pontifical University of Comillas, Madrid.

CIUTI is one of the oldest university associations uniting time-tested translation university programs with a recognized reputation in the world. The 2025 conference on “Language Mediation in Flux: Assessing the Impact of Generative AI” brought together T&I professionals and T&I teachers to discuss the impact of generative artificial intelligence and language technologies on the profession. The forum became a venue for the interdisciplinary dialogue between the representatives of CIUTI member universities, where they were able to discuss a variety of viewpoints, and identify the latest trends in the development of the T&I industry. The participants analyzed and discussed the evolving T&I landscape, focusing on the integration of AI into the job practice and the teaching process. Specifically, the participants focused on the AI models and mechanisms in the T&I industry, new professional competencies of T&I graduates, ethical aspects of AI, and many more issues.

SCIT Director Angelque Antonova made a presentation on T&I training. She noted that modern educational programs should train a universal translator with a wide range of professional skills and abilities, which will enable graduates able to find their place in the continuously changing professional world.

“At Herzen University, we have been training specialists who can do translation and interpreting for 17 years. This allows our graduates to survive in a competitive environment. In many international organizations such specialization in translation and interpreting is a job requirement today.”

It was especially gratifying  that Angelique Antonova’s report aroused great interest not only among colleagues from the CIUTI universities, but also among the Comillias university teachers of Russian, who came to listen to her presentation though not being the conference participants.