Local and International Partners
Strong relationships with local and international partners are integral to the teaching, learning, and research taking place within the School of Modern Languages.
The Association of Programmes in Translation & Interpreting Studies
Founded at Newcastle University in 2017, APTIS comprises nearly 30 members.
The main aim of APTIS is to improve the quality of learning, teaching, and research on translation and interpreting (T&I) programmes. Participating institutions can attend the APTIS annual conference and regular webinars. This allows T&I educators to learn from each other and stay up to date with the latest research.
The APTIS annual awards ceremony rewards T&I students who have demonstrated great learning gains. It also encourages and rewards innovative pedagogical practice at APTIS institutions.
British Film Institute (BFI)
The BFI is the leading organisation for film in the UK.
Through its Screen Heritage National Lottery Fund, the BFI is supporting the Chinese Independent Film Archive (CIFA).
CIFA is based in the School of Modern Languages at Newcastle University. The BFI is helping CIFA to:
- expand its collection
- engage with diverse local communities
- encourage wider use of its unique archival resources beyond university settings
Centro de Língua Portuguesa (Instituto Camões)
The Centro de Língua Portuguesa of Camões Institute offers students, researchers, and the wider community, valuable opportunities to deepen their understanding and actively engage with Portuguese language and cultural activities.
Key Objectives
- to support the development of Lusophone Studies in close collaboration with the section of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin-American Studies.
- to promote and assist research in Portuguese Language, History, Literature, and Culture, aligning with the goals of both the University and the Camões Institute.
- to provide tailored support and resources for students, teachers, and researchers, helping them expand their knowledge and complete academic or personal projects related to the Portuguese-speaking world.
- to design and publicise a range of events and initiatives that celebrate the Portuguese language and the Lusophone culture.
- to strengthen ties with the local Portuguese-speaking community in Newcastle through the Clube de Português – Newcastle, a heritage language club, and by organising community-focused gatherings.
The Centre is coordinated by the leitora of Camões IP at the University of Newcastle.
For more information, please contact Dr Conceição Pereira, the coordinator of the Centro de Língua Portuguesa: conceicao.pereira@ncl.ac.uk
The coordinator of the Centre is the leitor of the Camões Institute at the University of Newcastle and Durham.
Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI)
The School of Modern Languages is a long-standing member of the UK’s Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI).
We work closely with ITI to make sure that our programmes reflect current industry trends and needs. We also organise events with ITI – such as our famous Translation Slams, which introduce translation to a wider audience.
It’s not only our students who benefit from our ITI collaboration but also professional translators and interpreters. Indeed, some of our cutting-edge research into the language industry also has an impact on ITI’s members. We help to inform ITI's policy-making and ongoing professional development offerings.
Institut Ramon Llull
The Institut Ramon Llull is the public institution responsible for promoting Catalan language and culture internationally. Its headquarters are in Barcelona.
The main objectives of the institute are to:
- promote Catalan culture, creating networks to encourage mutual understanding and recognition
- encourage collaboration and provide support for artists, organisations, and institutions
- foster exchange in the field of Catalan studies – from translation and music to architecture, visual arts, and beyond
- encourage the teaching and study of Catalan at higher education institutions, via XarxaLlull
XarxaLlull is a university network made up of 130 universities from across the world. It also includes more than 7,000 enrolled students.
Dr Josep Cru, Senior Lecturer in Spanish and Sociolinguistics in the School of Modern Languages, is the Director of Catalan Studies.
The Japan Foundation Nihongo Network ("Sakura Network")
Since 2007, the Japan Foundation (JF) has been developing The JF Nihongo Network ("Sakura Network"). This network is a collaboration with Japanese language education institutions around the world.
"Sakura Network" members play a significant role in enhancing Japanese language education. They do so by utilising various programmes provided by the Japan Foundation.
Newcastle is one of only four universities in the UK awarded exclusive membership by the Japan Foundation. With support from JF grants, our Japanese Studies degree has promoted Japanese language and culture since 2015. We carry out this promotion across Northern England via:
- school outreach
- community organisations, such as libraries
- popular culture events
These Japanese language activities offer valuable extra-curricular opportunities for students. They also allow for collaboration with exchange students from Japan and native-speaking instructors.
During the pandemic, we launched a video series with local Japanese artist Noriko Matsubara. This series helps us share Japanese language and culture with a wider global audience.
If your school or organisation wishes to host a Japanese club or taster session, please contact Kumi Casey (kumi.casey@newcastle.ac.uk). Kumi is the Project Director of the Japanese outreach project.
Photos from the Japanese Art and Culture workshop
Linguapax
Linguapax is an international NGO based in Barcelona. The organisation works towards the promotion of language, diversity, and social justice. It is in consultative status with UNESCO.
Linguapax's objectives are to:
- offer specialised support and assessment on language policy
- aid with the planning of multilingual and multicultural education
- collaborate on international projects concerned with the protection of linguistic human rights
- participate in linguistic revitalisation programmes
- disseminate good practices of language revitalisation
- carry out awareness-raising campaigns about linguistic diversity
- produce publications for both specialist and non-specialist audiences
Linguapax's Secretary is Dr Josep Cru, Senior Lecturer in Spanish and Sociolinguistics in the School of Modern Languages.
North East German Network
The North East German Network (NEGN) brings together people across the North East to promote German and German-speaking culture in the region. The aim of the network is to:
- support the teaching and learning of the German language at schools, colleges, and universities in the region.
- facilitate and support links between institutions interested in German-speaking culture
- promote collaboration between academic, business, and cultural partners in the region.
You can get in touch with the network by emailing Rich McClelland (richard.mcclelland@newcastle.ac.uk)
