On Wednesday 29th January, the Languages and Intercultural Studies Department held one of its two flagship career events: the now well-established SWATI – Starting Work as a Translator or Interpreter. This event, co-organised by Fanny Chouc and Maria Capobianco, from Career Services, has been running for 14 consecutive years!

Learning from the successful adaptation of this popular event online during the pandemic, SWATI 2025 offered participants a mix of sessions, with an online panel of industry experts and practitioners, followed by an in-person speed networking on campus.

All the speakers were LINCS graduates, keen to share their stories and insights into the many routes into the Translation and Interpreting industry. Many of them had attended SWATI as students, and kindly agreed to contribute themselves, having established their own careers.

As a result, students learnt how to build up careers in European Institutions, such as the EU Commission interpreting booths or the EU Parliament from Ross Noble, Adam Williamson and Camille Penman. They also gained an insight into the world of subtitling, audio-description and techniques used to increase media accessibility for all from translator, subtitler and entrepreneur Elena Zini, founder of Screen Language. Participants also found out about specialised freelance translation with Daniel Williams, AITI, MCIL, who carved his own niche as motor sports and football translation expert. Students also had a chance to exchange with freelance conference interpreters Roxane Schuller-Green and Rebecca Ritchie, who worked on international events such as COP26.

With Beth Hickey, they gained an insight into the daily life of BSL interpreters working for the NHS. With award-winning translator Vineet Lal , they were able to learn about the perks and challenges of literary translation. Vineet is also a regular contributor to the Edinburgh Book Festival and Society of Authors Translators’ Association Co-Chair. And last but not least, Ramon Inglada, convenor of ScotNet, the regional network of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, gave students an insight into the role of professional bodies, and shared some of his expertise in the translation technologies and AI.

Both sessions were well attended, and insightful for students, who enjoyed “seeing the variety of career paths” in the T&I sector, and enjoyed a “great mix of speakers with lots of very useful advice”.