Five students and a lecturer from the FTI take part in a BIP in Romania

28/03/2025

A BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) is a type of Erasmus mobility programme that enables lecturers and students to spend a week participating in teaching and cultural activities at a foreign university. In this case, the BIP was organized by the Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza (UAIC) in Iași, Romania, and ran from 10 to 14 March 2025. Its title was “Developing competences for literary and non-literary translation” and, among other content, it covered the translation of neologisms, metaphors and cultural references; literary, legal and song translation; interculturalism; and quality control.

The organizers invited FTI lecturer Patricia Rodríguez-Inés, principal investigator of the FORTI research group, to give the programme’s opening lecture, in which she spoke about the current situation of translation and interpreting training, with particular emphasis on the impact of AI. She also took part in a presentation of the results of EFFORT, a project coordinated by the Department of Translation, Interpreting and East Asian Studies, the aim of which is to establish a European framework of reference for translation (similar to the CEFR for languages).

The five FTI students who travelled to Romania for the BIP found the experience highly satisfactory. Nuria Álvarez Martínez, who is studying Romanian as a third foreign language, described the experience as unforgettable and said it had enabled her to grow as a person. She felt it had been a unique opportunity to get to know different cultures, new perspectives and people who have left an indelible mark on her life.

Alina Dzhioeva, from Russia, found many things in Romania familiar, despite never having visited the country before. “I noticed quite a few similarities with my country of origin, but what struck me most was Mărțișor, a celebration that reminds me of International Women’s Day, on 8 March, in Russia,” she remarked. “Both celebrations are associated with renewal, femininity and the beginning of spring,” she continued. “On both occasions, women are honoured, it’s traditional to give tulips or any other type of flowers as gifts, and there’s a special connection with the arrival of spring. However, the celebration in Romania is more folkloric; women are given a symbolic gift, a small amulet attached to intertwined red and white strings, which I find very original and meaningful.”

Francesca María Diaconu Moțoc, who was born in Spain to a Romanian family and is studying Romanian as a third foreign language, said the BIP had broadened her outlook on career prospects for Translation and Interpreting degree holders. She not only appreciated participating in a valuable cultural and academic exchange, but also the quality of the teaching she received and the fundamental role of lecturers in the initiative. After almost a decade without setting foot in her family’s country, her return was emotional and she felt a great deal of nostalgia and pride. She said the experience had been even more special because she had shared it with a group of exceptional classmates, making the trip unforgettable.

Aina Garrido Martínez described the experience as a very positive surprise. She had never considered the possibility of participating in a BIP or visiting Romania, but the programme turned out to be an incredible opportunity. “We bonded with the other students straight away, as we shared an interest in learning about translation and new cultures,” she stated. “Although the stay was short, it was intense and enriching, and gave us a chance to listen to lecturers from different countries and disciplines. It was certainly a great experience.”

Aleia Jou Vergés said the BIP had allowed her to discover a different perspective on the world of translation, explained by lecturers specializing in the field. She also found the experience both culturally and emotionally enriching.

The week-long stay in the city of Iași was clearly highly worthwhile. It was possible thanks to the organizational work of many people, including the FTI staff responsible for different aspects of exchanges. We hope the FTI will be able to participate in many more BIPs in the future.