Division I
History
Division I was one of the 3 Divisions created when The Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters was established in 1985, until when by decree N° 92/074 of 13 April 1992 the university center was transformed into a full fledged University.
The academic program in Division I of ASTI was designed for the training and further training of translators lasted for two years or six (6) terms after which successful candidates were awarded the Post Graduate Diploma in Translation and were automatically absorbed into the public service (before the university center was transformed into the University of Buea.)
A total of 12 students were admitted in 1985, and in 1987 were awarded the Post Graduate Diploma in Translation. In total 35 courses were offered in Division I of ASTI leading to the award of the Post Graduate Diploma in Translation from 1986 to 1993. Conversely, out of the 35 courses on the program, 22 (that is 63%) of them were taught in the first year. Of the 22 courses taught in the first year, 11 (that is 50%), were translation courses, 5 (that is 23.8%) were general courses and 6 (that is 26.2%) were languages courses.
The major language courses offered were: Précis writing and abstraction, Bilingualism, introduction to creative writing, comparative stylistics, creative writing, revision, editing and proofreading, translation and computer application, documentation and terminology, and advanced expository writing and Linguistics for Translators.
During this period, the official translation curriculum followed the average system from 1985-1993. In 1993 by presidential decree the university center in Buea was transformed into a full fledged university. This period saw the adoption of the credit system in 1993-2006. There was a sharp drop in the number of courses offered in both translation, general, and language courses.
From 2006-present day, higher educational reforms gave birth to the Bachelor, Master, and PhD (BMP) system which sought to focus more attention on competency-based approaches to learning. The justification for this new orientation was made patent during a two days ‘Competency-Based Seminar’ which held on the 8th and 9th July 2010 at the University of Buea. In this vein, new translation tasks should ideally be involved in satisfying a number of market-imposed requirements extrinsic to translation per se, among which, language proficiency skills and proficient use of state-of-the-art hardware, as well as software rate as strategic in terms of professional survival.
Division I has currently awarded over 900 students with Post Graduate Degrees and MA degrees in Translation since it went operational in 1985.
Objective
Division I aims at training high profile and highly talented professional translators for the local and international market who are working in the Cameroon Public and Corporate Organizations, as well as international bodies such as the UNO and the AU etc.
With over 36 years of experience in the training of translators, Division I stands out as a pace-setter and/or front-liner in the domain, producing a cream of highly talented technocrats tailored to assume the roles of highbrow professionals in the domain.
A word for prospective students
OUR DEGREE PROGRAMS
M.A. in Translation
- LEVEL OF STUDIES: POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
- DIVISION: DIVISION I (TRANSLATION)
- SPECIALITY: TRANSLATION
- QUALIFICATION OFFERED: MASTER OF ARTS IN TRANSLATION
- DURATION: 2 YEARS
- HEAD OF DIVISION: Prof. AYONGHE LUM SUZANNE
OBJECTIVES OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM
The M.A. in Translation aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Train professional translators for national, public and private sectors, and for the international market;
- Promote research in translation studies.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The course shall be open to holders of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in any academic discipline. In addition, they should fit into one of the language combinations offered by the school. Besides, they should have at least a university level mastery of reading, listening, and speaking in their working languages. A mastery of word processing technology ( including keyboarding, electronic file management, use of basic file formats such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint ), image processing as well as internet and email would be an added advantage.
TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHODS
Teaching shall be by lectures, tutorials, practicals, and internship placement. Courses shall be examined through continuous assessment, including class and take-home assignments, end-of-semester examinations, and the final examination. Throughout the course, students shall be called up to present research papers.
Tuition shall be in the face-to-face mode and a minimum of 90% effective class attendance shall be required for a student to be allowed to sit the end-of-semester examination. However, repeating students may be allowed to choose distance mode or sandwich tuition for an additional fee.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for the award of the M.A. in Translation, the candidate must:
Have earned a minimum of 120 credits ( course work, practicum, and end – of – course dissertation );
Successfully complete the final examination;
Complete the course in a minimum of four (04) semesters or a maximum of eight semesters.
Satisfy any other requirements of master’s degree studies prescribed by Senate.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates will be in a position to work as senior staff or freelance translators, copy-editors, proofreaders, audio-transcriptors, language service providers; they may also serve as translation, localisation, and terminology consultants, as well as language teachers. And depending on their elective courses, other possible career prospects include working in such areas as community translation, including translating from/into African languages, audio-visual translation, including dubbing and subtitling, literary translation, terminology management, etc.
OUR DEGREE PROGRAMS
PhD in Translation and Intercultural Studies
- LEVEL OF STUDIES: POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
- DIVISION: DIVISION I (TRANSLATION)
- SPECIALITY: TRANSLATION, INTERPRETATION AND INTERCULTURAL STUDIES
- QUALIFICATION OFFERED: PhD IN TRANSLATION AND INTERCULTURAL STUDIES
- DURATION: 3 YEARS
- HEAD OF DIVISION: Prof. AYONGHE LUM SUZANNE
OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE PROGRAM
The PhD in Translation and Intercultural Studies is a three- to five-year course which aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Enhance research on translation, interpretation, and intercultural studies with particular focus on evidence from local settings;
- Stimulate greater interest in translation and interpretation teaching and pedagogy;
- Enhance expertise and decision-making in matters of multilingualism, multiculturalism, and interculturality.
All students shall attend the same core courses. However, depending on their background, each student will have the opportunity to choose a specialist option either in translation, interpreting, terminology, and lexicography, translation and interpretation from/into African languages. Candidates will be expected to write a thesis in any of these areas or in the area of intercultural studies.
The degree will, consequently, bear the student’s specialist option in addition to the main title of the course program.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
It is anticipated that graduates of the program should be able to lead research projects in translation, interpreting, bilingual terminology, and lexicography, or intercultural studies in Cameroon, Africa, and other parts of the world. It is also expected that, in the medium and long terms, graduates of the program will contribute significantly to the improvement of the staff situation in the training of translators, interpreters, and terminologists.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Candidates for the Ph.D. in Translation and Intercultural Studies must be holders of a bachelor’s degree with at least a second class upper grade point average, as well as a master’s degree in translation, interpreting, bilingual terminology, or intercultural studies. In addition, candidates should submit an original research project in a relevant area. Working experience will be an added advantage.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
In order to qualify for the award of the PhD in Translation and Intercultural Studies, candidates must have earned a minimum of 180 credits, including 60 in course work and 120 in the thesis, The candidate must complete the course in a minimum of three (03) years and a maximum of five (05).
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Teaching, research, consultancy, translation, interpreting and intercultural studies.
SKILL TO BE ACQUIRED
Teaching and research skills.