they actually listened and the course is staying open which honestly feels surreal right now because I still have so many tabs open on my laptop about this but we really did it. it is just amazing that 639 of you put your names down to save this program and …
September 2, 2011
Final supporters
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Geoffrey Petts
The Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Languages, Prof. Jeremy Colwill
The Head of the Department of Modern and Applied Languages, Prof. Paul Robertson
University of Westminster, London
We the undersigned, members of the global conference interpreting community, were shocked to hear of the abrupt decision to close the flagship conference interpreting course at the University of Westminster.
The decision is all the more surprising since the PCL/Westminster interpreter training course had been in existence for almost 50 years, making it one of the longest-established interpreting courses in the world. The interpreter training course at the University of Westminster is known in the profession to be a high quality course in terms of both academic content and practical preparation for working life, and regularly produces graduates of the high standard required by international multilateral organizations and the private market.
The course is moreover the only EMCI (European Masters in Conference Interpreting) member course in an English-speaking country and one of the few to meet the stringent training criteria established by AIIC (the International Association of Conference Interpreters). Its demise may have severe consequences for the training of conference interpreters.
The European Commission has already spoken out against this closure; we wish to add our voices to that of Marco Benedetti of the Directorate General for Interpretation, who expressed his concern at the closure of the course in a recent letter to the Minister for Europe and the Minister for Universities and Science.
With this letter, we wish to register our deep disappointment at this decision and hope that the University will actively explore ways of reopening the course in the very near future.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
July 13, 2011
June 27, 2011
I honestly cannot stop checking my screen and seeing this groundswell of support is just making my head spin (in the best way possible). It is quite overwhelming to realize how many people recognize the legacy of this program and refuse to let fifty years of history just disappear without a fight.
Reached 100 supporters
June 23, 2011
6 Comments
Please dont do this. I was planning on applying next year. Where are we supposed to go now?
Such a shame. This school is famous for interpreting and they just want to throw it all away for what? Money? Joke.
KEEP THE COURSE OPEN. Westminster used to be the gold standard. Really disappointed in the management right now.
Absolute madness to cut this. The world needs good interpreters now more than ever.
This course is vital for the industry. Westminster is killing its own reputation by binning such a high quality program.
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they actually listened and the course is staying open which honestly feels surreal right now because I still have so many tabs open on my laptop about this but we really did it. it is just amazing that 639 of you put your names down to save this program and …
September 2, 2011
Final supporters
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Geoffrey Petts
The Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Languages, Prof. Jeremy Colwill
The Head of the Department of Modern and Applied Languages, Prof. Paul Robertson
University of Westminster, London
We the undersigned, members of the global conference interpreting community, were shocked to hear of the abrupt decision to close the flagship conference interpreting course at the University of Westminster.
The decision is all the more surprising since the PCL/Westminster interpreter training course had been in existence for almost 50 years, making it one of the longest-established interpreting courses in the world. The interpreter training course at the University of Westminster is known in the profession to be a high quality course in terms of both academic content and practical preparation for working life, and regularly produces graduates of the high standard required by international multilateral organizations and the private market.
The course is moreover the only EMCI (European Masters in Conference Interpreting) member course in an English-speaking country and one of the few to meet the stringent training criteria established by AIIC (the International Association of Conference Interpreters). Its demise may have severe consequences for the training of conference interpreters.
The European Commission has already spoken out against this closure; we wish to add our voices to that of Marco Benedetti of the Directorate General for Interpretation, who expressed his concern at the closure of the course in a recent letter to the Minister for Europe and the Minister for Universities and Science.
With this letter, we wish to register our deep disappointment at this decision and hope that the University will actively explore ways of reopening the course in the very near future.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
July 13, 2011
June 27, 2011
I honestly cannot stop checking my screen and seeing this groundswell of support is just making my head spin (in the best way possible). It is quite overwhelming to realize how many people recognize the legacy of this program and refuse to let fifty years of history just disappear without a fight.
Reached 100 supporters
June 23, 2011
6 Comments
Bad move. Everyone in the field knows how good this training is. Dont ruin a legacy.
Please dont do this. I was planning on applying next year. Where are we supposed to go now?
Such a shame. This school is famous for interpreting and they just want to throw it all away for what? Money? Joke.
KEEP THE COURSE OPEN. Westminster used to be the gold standard. Really disappointed in the management right now.
Absolute madness to cut this. The world needs good interpreters now more than ever.
This course is vital for the industry. Westminster is killing its own reputation by binning such a high quality program.
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Bad move. Everyone in the field knows how good this training is. Dont ruin a legacy.