BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT IN TRANSLATION - 2023/4

Module Overview

This module provides students with opportunities to develop a variety of professional, 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 industry practices. In this module, students will study translation as a professional and 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

None

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 (1,500 words) (40%)
  Students will have to write an essay demonstrating their understanding and critical engagement with key issues facing the modern translation industry.


• Reflective Commentary (1,500 words) (40%)


• Students will be required to write a reflective commentary demonstrating insights into their learning process, as well as their professional and personal development.


• A group or individual presentation (20%)
  Students will be required to prepare and present a presentation based on the group work.

 

Formative assessment
Students will have an opportunity to discuss essay ideas. Formative feedback will also be provided on specific deliverables such as a CV.

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

• This module aims to: enable students to understand the various aspects of translation as a professional and business activity
• epquip 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, and 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

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• 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

The Centre for Translation Studies is  committed to developing  graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Employability: This module provides ample opportunities for students to develop skills and capabilities in preparation for employment within the language industry and beyond. Apart from the business-oriented content of the module, the students learn a host of transferable skills such as working in a team, presentation skills, advanced research skills and communication skills. With the focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, this module aims to empower students to think of themselves as future leaders, problem solvers and agents of change within the industry. 

Digital Capabilities: Through engaging with the module content related to digital economy, students will develop a critical engagement with the latest trends and technological developments and how they shape the socio-technical and economic landscape of the language industry. Students will also develop digital information seeking skills through extensive use of online search tools, digital libraries and databases.

Global and Cultural capabilities: This module enables students to reflect on issues related to the local as well as the global business aspects of translation and how these are inextricably linked to support multilingual communication around the world. Students receive training in MBTI as related to groupwork, and as part of the assessment, they reflect on group work, taking into account individual and cultural differences of the group members. By considering tangible and intangible value of translation students can reflect on their future roles as global citizens enabling the world to communicate better.

Sustainability: Students are encouraged to think about areas of sustainability within the language industry; how can business be more sustainable, especially with regard to new business models and technological developments affecting sustainable working practices within the field. Students are also encouraged to consider sustainable and ergonomic work practices as well as sustainability issues surrounding digital platforms used in business practices.

Resourcefulness and Resilience: This module develops a range of skills to help build resilience and resourcefulness through exposing students to genuine business scenarios and concrete business problems and enabling them to go beyond their comfort zone when researching possible solutions to the problems and presenting these solutions to senior colleagues acting as consultants.  The reflective commentary at the end of the module acts as an reinforcement by prompting students to assess their strengths and their weaknesses and to reflect on how they would have done things better.

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 2023/4 academic year.