Shaping developments in the language industry
The Institute of Translation and Interpreting has aligned its vision, curriculum and identity with the future of the profession. It is now called the Institute of Multilingual Communication.
Whether at work, at university or while travelling, anyone who wants to understand or use a foreign language can now make use of AI tools. With just a few clicks, they can produce impressive results and are therefore widely used. The professional field for translators and interpreters is undergoing a profound transformation.
The ZHAW is actively helping to shape this development. The former Institute of Translation and Interpreting (IUED) has been renamed the Institute of Multilingual Communication (IMK). The new name reflects both the institute’s current expertise and its future trajectory, says Alice Delorme Benites, head of the institute. “We ensure successful multilingual communication and make communication more accessible. We conduct research and train professionals in these fields.”
Human expertise remains important
According to the institute head, the industry has been using language technologies for over 20 years. This does not mean, however, that language professionals are any less in demand. “They have linguistic and cultural expertise that enables them to assess the quality and suitability of machine-generated output.” In the future, more specialists will be needed to work at the intersection of language and technology. The Institute of Multilingual Communication has adapted its degree programmes accordingly. At the Bachelor’s level, a new specialisation in Language Engineering has been added alongside the existing specialisations in Multimodal Communication and Information Design. At the Master’s level, leadership and change management now play a key role. At the IMK Forum 2025, an industry event, representatives from the industry welcomed this approach.