Public service interpreting and translation training: a path towards digital adaptation to machine translation and post-editing

The ever-increasing demand for immediate access to information means interpreters and translators are increasingly using, and relying on, digital technology in their work. In the migratory context, machine translation (MT) and post-editing (PE) have the potential to greatly increase the efficiency of public service interpreting and translation (PSIT), which is currently experiencing huge demand. This article describes and evaluates the implementation of a module focused on MT and PE within a postgraduate PSIT programme at a Spanish university. A mixed-methods methodology was used to collect both quantitative data (via a questionnaire) and qualitative data (via a reflective essay) from a group of 42 students during the 2020–2021 academic year. The results show that students were satisfied overall with both the content of the module and its implementation. However, they also felt that the module needed to be better integrated within the postgraduate PSIT programme as a whole in order to fully prepare them for their professional careers.