The Translation and Interpreting Institute (TII), part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Goethe Institute on Thursday, May 17. TII’s commitment to facilitating the access to language training and cultural immersion will be strengthened by this partnership with the Goethe Institute.
Goethe Institute is a non-profit German cultural association commissioned and for the most part funded by the Foreign Federal Office of Germany, operating in 159 countries worldwide, promoting the study of the German language abroad and encouraging international cultural exchange and relations. It seeks to foster knowledge about Germany across the world by providing information on German culture, society and politics, which includes the exchange of films, music, theatre, and literature.
Dr. Amal Mohammed Al-Malki, founding dean of CHSS where TII was established, said: “This association with the Goethe Institute will give our students access to the many wonderful cultural events and opportunities that the institute offers within Qatar and the region, along with allowing far greater cooperation between our teaching and academic staff and the German-speaking community, which will immensely benefit our students.”
For its part, TII is a center of education and research – as well as a world-class service provider – that offers training and education in translation, interpreting, and foreign language, contributing to the growth of the knowledge-based economy in the State of Qatar. TII provides a comprehensive suite of training programs in translation and interpreting that prepare qualified graduates for the professional and scholarly worlds. It is committed to advancing research in the various fields of translation studies and serving the community by providing foreign-language education and offering high-quality translation and interpreting services.
CHSS strives to achieve academic excellence and promote cutting-edge research. This is accomplished through innovative interdisciplinary programs, recruiting and retaining the finest faculty, researchers and students, promoting a supportive environment for faculty and student research, and fostering meaningful local, regional and international collaborations.
Fareed Majari, Head of Goethe-Institut Gulf Region, commented that “Goethe Institute is dedicated to supporting the appreciation of German language and culture, and reinforcing the strong links that this region has with Germany. The Language Center at TII offers a range of comprehensive language courses that are supported by regular interactions with associated cultural elements here in Doha. The benefits of this new engagement between the Goethe Institute and the TII are obvious and instinctively beneficial to everyone involved.”