With the support of the British Academy, in conjunction with the Centre for British Research in the Levant, Professor Mona Baker led the first of a series of workshops on Translation and Intercultural Studies, designed to build capacity among the younger generation of university academics in the region. The initiative, launched by the Middle East and North Africa Panel of the British Academy, then under the chairmanship of Professor Clive Holes of the University of Oxford, recognises that early-career scholars in the region tend to face problems in terms of knowledge of latest developments in the field and ability to follow the literature, and in terms of access to resources. Capacity building at this level aims to create an environment where Arab, Turkish and Iranian colleagues might be able to strengthen their research profile and publish in international outlets.
The Workshop took place from 5 to 7 September 2011 in Amman and was attended by delegates from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine (both Gaza and the West Bank), Turkey and Yemen. Delegates from Syria were unable to attend due to political upheaval in the region. Among the delegates, three were former CTIS doctoral students: Dr. Mahmoud Al-Herthani (Palestine, Gaza), Dr. Amer Al-Adwan (Jordan), and Dr. Jehan Zitawi (Jordan). Dr Şebnem Susam-Sarajeva of the University of Edinburgh and Professor Myriam Salama-Carr of the University of Salford also delivered presentations at the workshop.
One of the highlights of the Workshop was a surprise visit by HRH Prince Hassan bin Talal, who gave a brief presentation in which he shared some of his thoughts on translation and intercultural dialogue with delegates, attended a number of presentations by workshop leaders and participated in the debate.
The next workshop, also to be led by Professor Baker, is likely to take place in Iran.