Prof. Zhang Ailing, Dean of the Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation (GIIT) at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) and Secretary-General of the National Steering Committee for Graduate Education in Translation and Interpreting, at the invitation of the School of Foreign Languages of TU, delivered an academic lecture titled “Professional Degree Education of Translation Under the Perspective of the Degree Law: Curriculum Design and Practical Outcomes” on April 19. The event, attended by Wang Gang, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages, Li Tao, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Foreign Languages, Cui Ruiguo, Vice Dean of the School of Foreign Languages, all faculty members of the English Department, translation research teams, and graduate student supervisors, provided critical insights into advancing translation education.

Prof. Zhang is a leading authority in China’s translation education sector. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Interpretation Committee of the Translators Association of China and holds multiple academic leadership roles.

Event highlights

During her lecture, Prof. Zhang presented key national policy documents, including the “Degree Law of the People’s Republic of China,” interpreting its major revisions and emphasizing its implications for Master of Translation and Interpreting (MTI) programs. She conducted a comparative analysis of academic versus professional graduate training models, stressing the “importance of categorized development” and the tailored requirements for professional competencies and knowledge frameworks. She outlined a four-phase roadmap for cultivating translation professionals: conceptualization, skill development, simulated practice, and real-world application.

The lecture concluded with an interactive discussion on pressing topics such as MTI competency-building in the AI era, curriculum design, and bridging academic training with industry demands.

Prof. Zhang Ailing with attendees at the lecture