University of Buea - Cameroon :: Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI)

The Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI) is the pioneer school of the University of Buea. It was created by presidential order in 1985, as part of what was then known as Buea University Centre; it effectively took off in January 1986, i.e. about 7-8 years before the shift from the University Centre to the University of Buea in 1993.

ASTI has sustained an open-door policy since its creation. It is through cooperation that the School was set up and has continued to grow, notably with the collaboration of partners from Western Europe and North America.

The School has therefore kept good working relations with partner institutions, particularly in the areas of student and staff training, curriculum development as well as exchange of services and consultancy.

Training of students. ASTI students have the opportunity to spend six weeks on internship under the supervision of experienced professionals in accredited institutions in Cameroon or abroad. Partnerships include government ministries, state-owned and private enterprises, international institutions with organised translation and interpretation services.

The School also has long-standing relations with external partners, especially with renowned specialists in the Diaspora, for the co-supervision of M.A. dissertations and the exchange of experience in handling of certain courses and programmes.

Training of staff. From inception, ASTI has been training its academic staff mainly with the assistance of partner institutions and, more especially, renowned training institutions in Europe and North America. Such staff development is done either at ASTI with the help of visiting teachers or in specially chosen host institutions abroad. Besides, staff research has benefited immensely from the School’s membership of such professional associations as the International Federation of Translators (FIT).

Partnership with African universities. The School has been assisting a growing number of universities in Cameroon and in Africa for specialist training and the development of curricula in the areas of translation, interpretation and terminology; in this way, the School has contributed significantly to the expansion of the network of training programmes and professionals across the African continent

Exchange of services and consultancy. As the local job market becomes increasingly aware of the need for quality translation and interpretation in fostering efficient communication, the School is increasingly under pressure for partnership with the corporate world, NGOs, the civil society, etc. for consultancy in translation, interpretation, terminology, etc.

Major partner institutions from inception to date

Cameroonians seeking admission into ASTI must sit and pass a competitive entrance test which is organised once every year, before the beginning of each academic year. Foreign candidates are requested to submit their application files to the School for examination. Admission is highly selective and potential trainees are expected to have sound general knowledge and a mastery of their working languages.