Director of the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting and Translation Takes Part in a FIT Council Meeting of 2019
Olga Egorova, Director of the ASU Project Office of International Cooperation & Development and Director of the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting and Translation, participated in an annual meeting of the Council of the International Federation of Translators (FIT) which was held on March 27-28, 2019.It is to be recalled that last year an annual meeting was held in Astrakhan: Astrakhan State University had the honour of hosting the most representative delegation of leading translators and interpreters from all continents and countries, from China and South Korea to Australia, the USA and Panama. By the way, it was Panama that hosted this year’s meeting. In order to hold it, all 17 members of the Council were to get together, but sometimes it is quite difficult to travel such a distance physically, that is why modern technologies were used and this time Olga Egorova participated in the meeting remotely. At the meeting, which lasted two days, Olga Egorova represented the Russian Federation, Astrakhan, Astrakhan region and Astrakhan State University with the use of ZOOM technologies. Every day she was a full participant of voting, discussions and decision-making, which was quite difficult due to the 9-hour difference between Astrakhan and Panama. Olga Egorova had to work till 4.a.m., but actually there was no choice because a FIT Council meeting is a matter of international importance. Moreover, in the FIT Council Olga Egorova is responsible for development of international cooperation like she is in her own university. 
Prof. Egorova is in charge of international partnership, which in case of the International Federation of Translators means cooperation with leading international organizations from the UN and UNESCO to European Commission, European Parliament and AIIC, as well as associations that protect the rights of language professionals, as along with professional development it is crucial to develop a strategy of what the profession of translator and interpreter will be in the coming decade. In fact, one of the main goals of the International Federation of Translators is to understand what our profession is about now in different countries and on different continents. Therefore, the Council develops a strategy for representatives of all continents and all areas of our profession – for researchers, teachers and heads of T & I companies and associations in different countries, etc. In addition to professional development strategies, FIT also protects the rights of representatives of this profession: at the meeting, for example, its members discussed how interpreters should work in flashpoint areas, how they can be protected in difficult situations, etc. Another important area of work of the Council meeting was to comprehend a strategy of how to build cooperation with FIT partner universities.
Prof. Egorova is in charge of international partnership, which in case of the International Federation of Translators means cooperation with leading international organizations from the UN and UNESCO to European Commission, European Parliament and AIIC, as well as associations that protect the rights of language professionals, as along with professional development it is crucial to develop a strategy of what the profession of translator and interpreter will be in the coming decade. In fact, one of the main goals of the International Federation of Translators is to understand what our profession is about now in different countries and on different continents. Therefore, the Council develops a strategy for representatives of all continents and all areas of our profession – for researchers, teachers and heads of T & I companies and associations in different countries, etc. In addition to professional development strategies, FIT also protects the rights of representatives of this profession: at the meeting, for example, its members discussed how interpreters should work in flashpoint areas, how they can be protected in difficult situations, etc. Another important area of work of the Council meeting was to comprehend a strategy of how to build cooperation with FIT partner universities.
Olga Egorova also heads the Education and Professional Development Task Force and pays much attention to discussion on opportunities for partner universities of FIT. This includes an access to different international databases, ongoing consultancy and guidelines, traineeships for students and teachers of the universities, an opportunity to improve cooperation on all languages of the world, participation in webinars, including free of charge, etc. During those very busy days, the International Federation of Translators outlined a plan of their activities for 2019.All the members and the President of the International Federation of Translators remembered very warmly the last year meeting, when they spent several unforgettable days in Astrakhan. The delegates once again shared their impressions of visiting Astrakhan State University and the Caspian Higher School of Interpreting and Translation, and also of ASU Acting Rector Konstantin Markelov’s personal hospitality. The FIT Council thanked Konstantin Markelov for his support of development of translation, interpretation and teaching of foreign languages and for his understanding of the importance of linguistic competence for future professionals in all areas.
Photo: 2018 Meeting of the FIT Council with the ASU administration, Astrakhan State University, Astrakhan
ASU TV Media Centre