Prof. (Dr.) Kalyani Samantray is the Head of Department of Arts, Communication and Indic Studies at Sri Sri University, Odisha. She has more than 38 years of experience as an Educator, Syllabus designer, Curriculum developer, Textbook writer for OUP, CUP, Orient Black swan, NCERT. She has won very prestigious scholarships which includes TCTP award of the UK government fully funding the MA TESOL and Applied Linguistics Programme, University of London and Ray Tongue Scholarship for Best Workshop conducted at International Conference in UK in the year 2009.

Sri Sri University

What are the new programs introduced in your University?

“Amalgamation of Interpretive Studies with translation”

The latest inclusion into our syllabus is ‘Translation and Interpretive Studies’.

Translation and Interpretive Studies is a field that deals with the theory, description, and application of translation. With an interdisciplinary approach, this course touches other diverse fields of knowledge as well, including comparative literature, cultural studies, gender studies, computer science, history, linguistics, philosophy, rhetoric, and semiotics.

Why is this program best suited for the students?

“Multiple specializations and training programs are available”

Students can opt from a wide range of available specializations under this course, such as technical translation, audio-visual translation, literary translation, translation project management, translating for international organizations and so on.

Training is also given to students in the latest translation technologies, including translation memory, terminology management and, if possible, machine translation which prepares an effective prospect in jobs, and also for independent professional journey.

What best practices are followed for the mentioned courses? 

“Trainings and interdisciplinary work go hand in hand”

The best practices which are followed in these two disciplines mainly help to focus on translator and interpreter discipline and behavior, the rewards involved in personal fulfillment and professional achievements, the types of discipline related autonomy, the huge possibilities of the application-oriented training. 

What are some of the valuable acumens of this program?

“Provision of a polyglot lifestyle is most important”

The course offers a multilingual cultural mediation to students to create understanding of and tolerance towards others’ cultures, and helps students to gradually develop an inclusive attitude towards others’ languages and values.

Check Sri Sri University Courses & Fees

How do you ensure training of your faculty?

“Trainings in respective domains help to achieve this goal”

I am a translator, and have practical experience of non-literary translation. Members of the Department are generally trained in multiple domains such as translation theories, and translation in practice in their postgraduate studies.

How does this program help to meet industry demands? 

“This helps to build an industry to support trans-interpreters”

The 21st century has been like no other century in the sense that it has an explosive development in technology, and it suffered from the Covid-19 debacle. These two contexts have created as many setbacks as advantages for translators and interpreters, and hence they need a new identity. The demand now for the translators is to be capable of interpreting, and interpreters must be qualified in translation.

At the same time, the existing group of translators and interpreters, who would not opt for a change, can operate in some niche markets as the experts in their fields. However, they have to upskill themselves with 21st century technologies.

What challenges came while inculcating this program in the curriculum?

“No such challenges came due to tremendous support from faculties”

The university authorities have been more than supportive in promoting this course for which the Sri Sri Centre for Translation and Interpretive Studies could be inaugurated in 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Click Sri Sri University Placements

What projects students are currently working on?

“As of now it is in planning stage for the new joiners”

The programme will start with the current admission class. The students will be asked immediately to decide on their projects and start working on them.