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The Department of Theory and Practice of Translation at Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University has a strong tradition of training professional translators and interpreters. Its academic, methodological, and staffing foundations were laid by scholars from the school of Doctor of Sciences in Philology, Professor Valeriia Kukharenko. From 1986 onwards, they worked together with the Institute of Linguistics of the Academy of Sciences on the nationwide research project “Communication and Translation.” In 1996, the first students enrolled in the Translation degree programme, and in 1998, the Department of Theory and Practice of Translation was established.

The founder of the Department, its long-standing Head, and a mentor to several generations of teachers, researchers, translators, and interpreters is Doctor of Sciences in Philology, Full Professor Olena Matuzkova.

Today, the Department combines a strong academic tradition in Translation Studies with modern, practice-oriented training, international cooperation, research, and active professional translation and interpreting.

Staff

• Kateryna Bezpalova - PhD, Associate Professor;
• Anzhela Boldyreva - PhD, Associate Professor, Vice-Dean for Research, Faculty of Romance and Germanic Philology;
• Yuliia Chernova - Senior Lecturer;
• Olga Grynko - PhD, Associate Professor, Head of the Department;
• Maryna Kyryllova - PhD, Associate Professor;
• Olena Matuzkova - Doctor of Sciences in Philology, Full Professor;
• Iryna Rayevska - PhD, Associate Professor;
• Anastasiia Savkova - Lecturer;
• Olena Semenova - PhD in Education, Senior Laboratory Assistant;
• Daria Strashchenko - Lecturer;
• Liudmyla Yarovenko - PhD, Associate Professor.

One of the key strengths of the teaching staff is the combination of strong academic qualifications and substantial professional experience. The Department’s lecturers include practising translators and interpreters with many years of professional experience.

They provide consecutive and simultaneous interpreting at international conferences, training sessions, expert meetings, and other events; work with representatives of European institutions and international organisations; and carry out legal, academic, socio-political, audiovisual, and other specialised translation.

This combination of academic expertise, research, international experience, and professional practice enables the Department to keep its teaching closely aligned with the current demands of the translation and interpreting industry.

Degree Programmes

The Department runs two degree programmes:

• Bachelor’s Study Programme “Translation from English and a Second Foreign Language into Ukrainian”
  Programme Lead: Olga Grynko, PhD, Associate Professor.
• Master’s Study Programme “Translation from English and a Second Foreign Language into Ukrainian”
  Programme Lead: Anzhela Boldyreva, PhD, Associate Professor.

Both programmes are specifically designed to prepare students for professional translation and interpreting and have a strong practical focus. They combine fundamental academic training with the development of professional translation and interpreting competences. Particular emphasis is placed on practical work, modern technologies, profession-oriented tasks, and students’ involvement in real-life translation and interpreting activities.

Grant Projects

Two European Parliament grant projects have been implemented within the Master’s Study Programme:

1. “Master’s Degree Programme in Conference Interpreting - Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, Semesters I and II of the 2023-2024 Academic Year and Semester I of the 2024-2025 Academic Year”, Grant Agreement EP 12/2023-2024.
2. “Master’s Degree Programme in Conference Interpreting - Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, Semesters I and II of the 2024-2025 Academic Year and Semester I of the 2025-2026 Academic Year”, Grant Agreement EP 12/2024-2025.

Within the projects, masterclasses in conference interpreting were delivered by European Parliament interpreters, and the Department’s technical capabilities for interpreter training were upgraded.

A further important component of the projects was the opportunity for lecturers and students to take part in international study visits to leading European institutions and university centres specialising in translation and interpreting, including:

• the European Parliament, DG LINC, Belgium;
• the Institute of Translation Studies, Charles University (EMCI network), Czech Republic;
• the Institute for Interpreting and Translation Studies, Stockholm University (EMCI network), Sweden, in May 2025.

The international experience gained through the projects is integrated into the content of the study programmes, teaching methods, and students’ practical training.

Research

In recent years, the Department’s research has been carried out within two research projects:

• Research Project No. 354 “Current Issues in Modern Translation Studies and Linguoculturology in the Socio-Humanitarian Space” (State Registration No. 0124U002522, 2024-2028);
• Research Project No. 198 “Linguoculture and Identity in Cognitive-Discursive Research” (State Registration No. 0119U002440, 2019-2023).

The Department’s research interests include contemporary Translation Studies, linguoculturology, linguistic and cultural identity, literary, audiovisual, legal and specialised translation, terminology, translation transformations, localisation, and modern translation technologies.

Research is closely integrated into the teaching process and informs the topics of course papers and qualification theses, teaching and learning materials, and publications by lecturers and students.