BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN TRANSLATION - 2021/2

Module Overview

This module provides students with opportunities to develop a variety of industry-specific and transferable skills as well as knowledge and attitudes that will enable them to work in the translation industry. It is based on theoretical foundations from the area of Business Studies and Translation Industry Studies, and offers insights into real-life practices of a language service provider. In this module, students will study translation as a business practice. They will be encouraged and supported to develop interdisciplinary and innovative thinking about the future of the translation profession and the language industry.

Module provider

School of Literature and Languages

Module Leader

GOUGH Joanna (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

n/a

Module content

Indicative module content:
• Overview of the modern language industry: current trends, challenges and opportunities
• Various roles in global business and in the language industry
• Business management
• Project management
• Managing global supply chains
• Working with people and managing people
• Business development
• Innovation and entrepreneurship in the language industry

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Students unable to complete the oral group presentation, will be required to deliver a fresh presentation (with the same weighting), 10 minutes plus questions during the late summer assessment period

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• Reflective, critical and analytical skills, and the ability to comment on the current state of the translation industry and the various challenges and opportunities within it.

• The ability to work individually and in a group to solve business problems using conceptual tools from business studies, and industry data and reports.

• The ability to communicate successfully and deliver an effective presentation to clients, peers and experts. Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Essay Students will have to write an essay demonstrating their understanding and critical engagement with key issues facing the modern translation industry.  


• Reflective Commentary  Students will be required to write a reflective commentary demonstrating insights into their learning process during the workshop.  


• A group or individual presentation Students will be required to prepare and present a presentation based on the group work during the workshop.  

Feedback Students will receive feedback for their classwork and homework during the semester, and individual written feedback for the summative assessment assignments. Furthermore, students will receive oral feedback from peers and mentors during the group work. Written feedback on their final presentation will also be provided.

Module aims

• Enable students to understand the various aspects of translation as a professional and business activity
• Equip students with knowledge and conceptual tools to understand the local and global business structures and processes in which translation activities are embedded
• Provide students with an opportunity to engage critically with different narratives within the language industry, and the current issues and trends impacting the translation profession
• • Empower students to think critically and creatively to unlock their enterprising potential as future professionals of the language industry
• • Enable students to work out solutions to problems collectively, and to be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses when working as a team

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Develop a strong grasp of concepts from Business Studies and Translation Industry Studies.

• Engage students with diverse perspectives and competing narratives within the language industry, and foster critical thinking.

• Provide experience of authentic, project-based learning in a collaborative environment.

• Develop self-reliance, resourcefulness, and leadership skills through research, problem-solving and relationship building.

• Foster attitudes of pioneering change and innovation to make a positive impact on the language industry and society at large.

• Seminars providing opportunities for group and whole class discussions  


• Workshops providing opportunities for team work and collaboration 


• Materials and activities for guided study posted on SurreyLearn 


• Self-study 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: TRAM499

Other information

n/a

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.