The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF) has announced scholarships for professional Arab translators to help them gain a Master’s degree in translation from top-tier regional universities.

Launched under the Culture sector of the Foundation, the new initiative is part of the ‘Turjuman’ programme which aims to boost the translation industry across the Arab World through honing the professional skills of translators and equipping them with up-to-date tools and techniques for enhancing the quality and volume of translated works.

In line with the initiative, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has sealed a cooperation agreement with the American University in Sharjah to offer scholarships for Master’s degrees in translation to deserving Arab translators.

The Foundation has also signed similar cooperation agreements under the programme with the Algiers-based High Institute for Translation and the Jordanian University in Amman. Other leading regional institutes and universities are expected to join the programme soon.

'Translation is not like other professions that involve team work. It is a unique industry that solely depends on the translator’s professional skills and intellectual capabilities,' said Ali Al Shaali, director of Publishing, Culture Sector, at the MBRF.

'While seeking to accelerate knowledge transfer processes, the Foundation’s Master’s programme will help translators sharpen their skills, resulting in enhanced quality within shorter timelines.'

The scholarship programme is designed to help the Foundation open new avenues for highlighting the Arab region’s rich cultural heritage, and its classical as well as contemporary thought trends on the global landscape.

Applicants to the Foundation’s Master’s programme are required to be professional translators of Arab nationality with substaintial years of experience in the field. Interested translators may also be asked to provide proof of financial need.

In an earlier initiative under the ‘Turjuman’ programme, a group of 20 emerging translators completed a 6-week intensive course from the American University of Sharjah. As an incentive to promoting their skills, the Foundation helped them publish their works in collaboration with leading publishing houses.

Following a multi-pronged strategy to reverse the falling number of creative works in the Arab world, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has launched  several programmes, including ‘Tarjem’ that aims to translate 1,000 bestsellers in three years.-TradeArabia News Service