The School took part at the first conference of the universities that signed with the United Nations a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in preparing candidates for the UN competitive language examinations

 

On 3-4 May, 2011, the University of Salamanca – the oldest in Spain – hosted the first conference of the universities that signed with the United Nations a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in preparing candidates for the UN competitive language examinations. Presently, there are 19 such universities, and Herzen University was the fourth to sign an MoU on August 24, 2008. Besides official delegations from the universities, the conference was attended by leading experts in the field of interpreting and translation from the United Nations, the MFA of Russia, the European Commission and the European Parliament. At the conference, a network of the MoU universities had been officially established and initial steps to strengthen cross-links among the universities, the UN and other international organizations outlined. To commemorate the creation of the network, or the so-called Consortium, each member-university had been issued a memorable symbol to signify this alliance under the UN umbrella. Mr Shaaban M. Shaaban, Under Secretary General for General Assembly and Conference Management, addressed the plenary stressing the progress of the St Petersburg School of Conference Interpreting and Translation in implementing the MoU and emphasized its successes in training  interpreters and translators for the UN and other international organizations. Vice Rector Sergey Shilov and SpbS Director Irina Alexeeva represented Herzen University.