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The BQTA fully supports initiatives that promote best practices and sustainable relationships between language service providers and professional linguists. However, we would like to highlight some key principles in order to protect the interests of language companies and linguists in the language industry. We do not claim to represent the Belgian language industry or its language service companies, whose opinions may vary and whose agreements and contracts are freely negotiated and concluded with their individual language service providers in accordance with national and international regulations. Interpreting and translation are essentially international professional language services that are not covered by local tariff agreements, collective labour agreements or industry-wide framework agreements. We believe that there is great potential to improve the market value and public image of interpreting and translation services, especially in light of the transformation of applied language technology with artificial intelligence that is affecting language providers and practitioners worldwide. In this regard, a mutual exchange of views and opinions between language practitioners and language service providers is part of a shared corporate social responsibility to add value and build trust. We would like to emphasise our common interest in improving the public image of translators and interpreters, increasing the market value of language services and building sustainable relationships. Dimitri Stoquart President BQTA Joint Statement

This year’s edition of the ELIS survey continues on the path set out by the 2022 edition, complementing the traditional ELIS core areas by optional questions that drill down into specific operational topics such as strategy, HR, finance or technology.   Participants are given the option to activate the topics in which they are particularly interested in by selecting them at the start of completing the survey. ELIS 2023 puts additional focus on human resources, accessibility and young professionals, but also continues to assess the impact of the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis on language industry stakeholders.   Visit https://elis-survey.org for more information.

The board of the Belgian Quality Translation Association (BQTA) recently held its first face-to-face board meeting since the pandemic. For the EUATC’s Belgian member it was the first opportunity since the lockdown for the new board to meet in person and, according to BQTA President, Dimitri Stoquart, it was an appropriate moment to step back and reassess the purpose of the association. The result was the publication of an association overview, which states: We are a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1995 with the aim of: promoting and organising networking between translation companies, always in compliance with a strict professional code of ethics enhancing awareness and recognition of the language services industry as a whole and the added value offered by translation companies in particular standardising specific business practices in order to increase transparency for language service consumers representing its members in their dealings with Belgian public authorities in all areas related to language services playing an active part in international debate on the subject of language services exposing unfair competition in the language services industry and in the translation industry in particular promoting and defending the interests of the Belgian translation industry and taking action against any plans which might be detrimental to them In addition to our organisation’s formally declared goals, as set out above, we are committed to increasing inclusiveness and plan to reach out to peer companies so as to increase our membership. This, in turn, would enable us to expand our forum through which we promote the exchange of ideas and best practices amongst peers, rather than competition in the small Belgian market. While this may seem idealistic, it does work in practice. We also seek to raise awareness of the gap between academia and the industry through liaison with various universities. We are, therefore, looking to develop an internship programme to promote placements in Belgian translation companies. This will provide valuable work experience for future graduates and give them a better insight into the various careers open to them in our industry. Every year, in spring, we organise a major event – our Job Fair. It brings a wide range of industry players together with students and recent graduates who are looking to enter the industry. The event provides networking opportunities for students, jobseekers and employers, and has become a platform for companies to share their vacancies. Photo-caption: Left to right top row: Jean-Michel Douret, Tradas, BQTA Vice-chair, Dimitri Stoquart (Stoquart, BQTA Chair), Isabelle Hardeman, Akira Translations, Stefan Vanluyten, Atrado. Left to right bottom row: Jacques Permentiers, Belga Translations, BQTA Secretary, Ruben Lancksweerdt, Wilkens, Geert Vanderhaeghe, Lexitech. https://euatc.org/news/belgian-association-meets-to-reaffirm-strategic-objectives/

The Belgian Quality Translation Association (BQTA) and the Belgian Chamber of Translators and Interpreters (CBTI) have joined forces to produce a guide for public authorities that write and publish calls for tender in this industry. The Vade Mecum for Authors of Tender Specifications is the result of unprecedented collaboration between two branches of the same sector which have sometimes been seen as rivals, but which both understand that the entire profession can gain from such a partnership. To that end, the BQTA and CBTI decided to produce this guide to help authorities write their calls for tender by listing the factors that contribute to a high-quality translation. In it, they detail the different types of services available to the contracting authority, stipulate those essential items that must feature in the specifications and clearly and concisely explain the relevant quality standards for the translation market. To download the Vade-mecum on Translation Services, click on this link. To download the Vade-mecum for Conference Interpreting Services , click on this link. Appendices are also available below. The Vademecum is accompanied by annexes, which may be updated regularly, and which include the following documents Introduction – Updated: October 2021 (only available in French and Dutch) Sample Terms of Reference – Updated: October 2021 (only available in French and Dutch) Test Translations & Methodology Working Group – Updated: October 2021 Library – Updated: October 2021 Your comments are welcome and can be sent to info@bqta.be

With 1404 responses, it beat its previous record from 2018. The analysis results are expected by end March and will be presented at the EUATC T-Update conference in Tallinn (see under Events) as well as other national and international events.

With 1285 responses, this was the most successful edition of the survey by far. The high number of reactions from individual language workers will allow the organisers to get a better insight in the concerns of this important segment of the translation industry.

Rudy Tirry, president of BQTA, participated in a panel with representatives of the Dutch association of translation companies and the Dutch and Belgian associations of individual translators and interpreters to discuss the possibilities of working towards a similar agreement in Belgium and The Netherlands.