Preamble

The undersigned institutions, partners in the project for the joint development of a university programme at advanced level (Masters type) in Conference Interpreting - hereafter called "The European Masters in Conference Interpreting"(EMCI),

Noting that Europe's political landscape has changed fundamentally over the past decade and that the states in Europe are moving towards closer integration,

Mindful of Europe's resolve to preserve and promote multilingualism and multiculturalism,

Being convinced that the aim of a multilingual and multicultural united Europe can only be achieved if language professionals of the highest quality ensure day-to-day communication at every level of policy-making and decision-making,

Convinced that the growing complexity of political decision-making and political debate at the highest European level requires language professionals whose educational background matches that of policy-makers and decision-makers,

Aware of the shortage of high-quality language professionals working with less widely used languages, herewith agree to form an independent Consortium, whose principal aim will be the implementation of the "European Masters in Conference Interpreting" (EMCI). This agreement will take effect as of 1 October 2001.

1. Consortium - core activities

1.1 European Masters in Conference Interpreting (EMCI)
The members of the Consortium will offer the European Masters in Conference Interpreting as an intensive postgraduate course (as defined in the core curriculum) designed to equip young graduates with the professional skills and knowledge required for conference interpreting at the highest level.

Member institutions will optimise their use of resources through transnational co-operation in the delivery of the programme. They will regularly review changing needs and new developments with a view to keeping the programme up to date.

1.2 Staff and student mobility
To foster the exchange of information and experience and the dissemination of good practice, participating institutions will develop a structured approach to visits from staff, students, and recent graduates from member institutions. Members will invite staff from other institutions in the Consortium to sit on juries for aptitude tests and final examinations to ensure adherence to the highest level of quality.

1.3 Life-long learning
Member institutions commit themselves to engage in continuing education for the purpose of upgrading conference interpreters' professional skills. Distance-learning technologies will be employed where appropriate.

1.4 Teacher training
In order to maintain a high level of quality in interpreter training, member institutions will provide the Consortium with a well-structured education programme for teaching staff designed to meet the needs of both young and more experienced interpreter trainers.

2.1 Clearinghouse and consultancy
The Consortium will act as a clearinghouse for information and advice

• to students;
• to applicant institutions of higher education in the process of setting up new and/or revising existing conference interpreter training programmes; and
• to employers of conference interpreters and to the conference industry at large.

2.2 Market research and needs analyses
Consortium members regard it as one of their tasks to analyse professional requirements (language combinations, working conditions, the use of new technologies, etc.) and evaluate the results jointly with employers of conference interpreters, professional associations of conference interpreters and industry representatives.

2.3 Research
Consortium members will engage in research relevant to the training of conference interpreters and to the profession of conference interpreting. In particular, they will seek to assess the implications of and the benefits to be derived from the new technologies for training programmes and for professional practice.

3. Structure of the Consortium

3.1 Council of Representatives
The Consortium will convene a Council of Representatives made up of the representatives of the member institutions. Each member institution will be represented on the Council by one representative. The Council of Representatives decides on all issues of common concern such as admission to the Consortium, regular financial contributions, quality control, revision of the curriculum, and joint grant applications. The Council of Representatives meets at least once a year. As a rule, the meetings of the Council of Representatives are chaired by the representative of the co-ordinating institution(s). Each member institution is to cover the travel expenses incurred.

3.2 Co-ordinating Institution(s) and Secretariat
The administrative and financial affairs of the Consortium (inquiries for information, internal and external dissemination of information, etc.) will be conducted by the Co-ordinating Institution(s), chosen for a period of three years, from among the member institutions by the Council of Representatives.

4. Membership and membership requirements

4.1 Membership

4.1.1 Founding members
The Consortium is established by those members of the project partnership signing this Agreement.

4.1.2 Full members

4.1.2.1 Conditions of membership

Full Member institutions must

• offer the EMCI at least every third year
• observe all the criteria set out in the core curriculum and
• meet their financial contribution towards the Consortium

4.1.2.2 Admission of new members
Institutions whose training programmes meet the basic requirements set out in the core curriculum (Annex 1) may apply for admission to the Consortium. The Consortium may grant applicants 'observer status' (see 4.1.3 below) for a period up to one year to enable them to bring their programmes fully into line with the core curriculum. If at the end of the said period an institution has not achieved complete compliance with the core curriculum, observer status will be revoked. Unsuccessful applicants may subsequently reapply.

4.1.3 Observers
To apply for observer status, an institution must have a substantial postgraduate programme in conference interpreting (but not necessarily a full MA in interpreting) and organize aptitude tests and final examinations. The Consortium may grant observer status by a simple majority of members present and voting on the application file. An EMCI representative will attend admission and final examinations and report to the next, regularly scheduled meeting of the Consortium. Observer institutions have to report every year to the regularly scheduled meeting of the Consortium on their training activities and must request applicant membership at the latest two years after having been granted Observer status.

4.1.4 Applicant members
Applicant members are observers who have fulfilled all conditions set out in the core curriculum. They have one year to demonstrate full compliance with the core curriculum, failing this their applicant membership will be revoked. The consortium will vote on this application by a 2/3 majority of members present and voting. If at the end of said period an institution has not achieved complete compliance with the core curriculum, its applicant membership will be revoked. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply once.

4.1.5 A ssociate members
Associate members are members who cannot comply with all conditions set out in 4.1.2 They cannot offer the core curriculum at least every third year, but participate otherwise fully in the work of the Consortium and pay the membership fee.

4.1.6 Voting rights
Associate and full members (one per country) have the right to vote. Observers and applicant members do not have the right to participate in the decisions of the Consortium.

4.1.7 Withdrawal
Member institutions can withdraw from the Consortium on the 30th of September of any one year provided they have notified the Co-ordinating Institution(s) of their intention in writing six months in advance.

4.2 Membership fee

Member institutions are required to pay an annual membership fee, as defined in Annex 2, towards the administrative co-ordination of the Consortium. This amount is agreed annually by the Council of Representatives. The co-ordinating institution will be responsible for preparing an annual budget and an annual financial report.

Signed on this day of 30th May 2001

Brussels, Belgium

Amended on October 14, 2006 (14 member institutions present and voting; result of vote: 14 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstentions)

Page modified Aug 8th, 2007