16 Graduates of ASU Caspian Higher School of Interpreting and Translation Receive Their Diplomas

Yesterday, Astrakhan State University held an official graduation ceremony for MA students of the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting and Translation (CITS). This time, the ceremony format has been non-traditional — it was held online in Zoom. Along with English, the ASU Masters in linguistics, who are top-class linguists and professionals in translation and interpretation, are proficient in Spanish, German, Turkish, Chinese and Azeri.

Because of the unfavourable epidemiological situation, the ASU administration and CITS top management made a decision to hold the event fully online instead of a traditional beautiful ceremony in the Centre of Conference Interpreting. However, it should be noted that it gave a unique opportunity to bring together representatives of CITS partner organizations from all over the world and the consulates of foreign countries, represented in Astrakhan, as well as the ASU top management, professors and, of course, this year’s Masters in linguistics.

“Congratulations, dear graduates! Today the professions of translator and interpreter are getting new formats. The ability to combine digital technologies and professional linguistic training is the most important call of our times. I know that you’ll be in-demand in Russia and abroad because you’re intelligent, talented and hardworking. I know how hard it was for you to study here, that’s why I wish each of you comprehensive self-fulfillment. I express my sincere gratitude to the trainers of the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting and Translation and our partners, who help us implement one of the best projects in Russia,” ASU Rector Konstantin Markelov congratulated the students with their successful completion of the MA programmes.

The CITS graduates also received greetings from Deputy Director of the Department of Linguistic Support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Aleksey Fedorov, Deputy Head of the Agency for International Relations of Astrakhan Region Ilya Toropitsin, CITS Founder Olga Egorova, Head of the Support Section of PCT Translation Service of the World Intellectual Property Organization Geoffrey Westgate and representatives of the Directorate-General for Interpretation of the European Commission Patricia Mortelmans and Rita Nikolajeva.