Governor of Astrakhan Region Presents Diplomas to Newly Qualified Interpreters & Translators of ASU

MA students of the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting & Translation have completed their studies. At the official ceremony, they have been congratulated by Mr. Alexander Zhilkin, Governor of Astrakhan Region, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, specialists of the European Union institutions, and our guests from the countries located at the Caspian Sea.

Over the past two years, eighteen students have been studying interpreting and translation at Astrakhan State University. Renowned experts and specialists working with international organizations and institutions gave them master classes. According to one of our graduates, one of the main features of the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting & Translation is a large amount of practical work. Our future interpreters and translators are trained at a highest level: our training facilities have the best equipment in Russia; regular contacts with our foreign colleagues make it possible for our students to cover training programs outside our country. Now our first-year MA students are in Brussels, where they are mastering the secrets of everyday activities of interpreters who work with the European Commission and the European Parliament.

A number of distinguished guests have come to the ceremony: Mr. Andrey Lopukhov (Director of the Department of Linguistic Support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation); Mr. Geoffrey Westgate (Head of the Support Section of PCT Translation Service of the World Intellectual Property Organization); Mr. Ali Mohammadi (Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Astrakhan); Mr. Adalyat Guseynov (an Honorable Citizen of Astrakhan, Chairman of the Astrakhan Regional Public Organization “Azerbaijani Center of Assistance to Social Economic & Cultural Cooperation).

Mr. Konstantin Markelov, Acting Rector of ASU, pointed out in his welcoming speech: “Today the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting & Translation is one of the best schools in Russia, and we are proud of that. It is crucial for our graduates to work not just in Russia, but also in countries that are our partners. Our graduates are Russia’s worthy representatives at the international level”.

In his turn, Governor Alexander Zhilkin addressed our graduates: “You made the right choice when you started studying at the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting & Translation. Your parents were right to support your choice, as conference interpreters are unique professionals; they are highly demanded all over the world”.

Prof. Olga Egorova, Director of the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting & Translation, said that there are two paths for our graduates’ further careers. They may join international organizations and institutions, but they will also be demanded in Astrakhan Region and in neighboring countries. In particular, ASU trains qualified interpreters and translators jointly with the Republic of Kazakhstan to meet the needs of the Kazakhstani Ministry of Foreign Affairs and large companies.

Mr. Andrey Lopukhov, who represented the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the ceremony, reminded everyone about the historically important mission of an interpreter in international communications. Since the times of Kievan Rus, their skills have always been of great value and demand to provide the development of trade and foreign affairs of the young state. “Now the profession of an interpreter and translator has become far more important”, he said, “Our epoch is a multilingual one; this profession is an essential item on the international community’s agenda. Our task is “to invite” all the languages to the international scene and eliminate any barriers in mutual understanding”.