The European Master's in Translation is a partnership project between the Directorate-General for Translation (European Commission) and a number of universities from different European countries. The initial project was launched in 2006 [1] and a network was officially formed in December 2009, following a selection procedure.[2] It initially consisted of 34 universities in 16 European countries.[3] In 2011, 20 more programmes were selected to join, bringing the total of members to 54 programmes in 20 European countries. [4]
The project is unique in its approach for convergence in higher education in Europe, in the broad context of the Bologna process. The latter is far from accomplished, with large differences still existing between the national higher education systems of the European nations (see for instance the comprehensive report 'Bologna with student eyes' from ESIB)[5]
The participating universities offer a Master's degree (see also Master's degree in Europe) in line with a shared and commonly agreed curriculum, which has at its core a common set of basic skills in translation, regardless of the language combinations taught by each individual university.[6] The main aim of the approach is to create a quality label in translator training and "produce translators competent in all aspects of translation service provision, including marketing, customer relations, time and budget management and invoicing, as well as training in new technologies and specialist fields" [2] This answers the increasing institutional needs for translation of the European Union [7]
A similar approach is being tried by the European Master's in Conference Interpreting[8]