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Learn more about the conference theme, and meet the Organising Committee (OC) and Scientific Committee (SC) behind Zagreb 2026.

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"From Experience to Credentials"

In many European countries, university-level education for sign language interpreters remains limited or entirely absent. As a result, Deaf communities often rely on informal interpreting, frequently provided by family members or acquaintances acting “out of goodwill.” While these practices are often well-intentioned, they reinforce the harmful misconception that sign language interpreting is a personal favour rather than a skilled professional service. This undermines both the quality of access and the recognition of interpreting as a profession.

In other contexts, aspiring interpreters attend short seminars or informal courses delivered by self-appointed educators rather than accredited academic institutions. Such pathways frequently lack a coherent pedagogical foundation and fail to meet the standards required for professional practice. The consequences include inconsistent interpreter quality, fragmented certification systems, and a continued struggle for professional legitimacy in countries without formal degree programmes.

Research across Europe reflects these structural disparities. While the teaching of sign languages within higher education has expanded, many programmes remain positioned within disability frameworks rather than being recognised as linguistic and cultural disciplines in their own right. In many countries, interpreter education emerged through the determined efforts of pioneering individuals, yet sustained institutional and academic support continues to lag behind these early initiatives.

At the same time, studies, particularly from the United Kingdom, demonstrate that Deaf interpreters and interpreters from ethnic minority backgrounds remain significantly underrepresented within the profession. Access to training, certification, and career development opportunities for these groups is still limited, raising important questions about equity, inclusion, and diversity in interpreter education systems.

The “From Experience to Credentials” conference seeks to respond to these challenges by creating a space for critical reflection and collective action. It aims to bring visibility to countries where formal sign language interpreter education and Deaf Studies programmes are still lacking, while also inviting those with established university-level pathways to critically examine their curricula, pedagogical approaches, and assessment practices. Central to the conference is the goal of bridging lived experience and academic credentialing, ensuring that Deaf communities and formal education systems work in partnership to strengthen professionalisation.

The conference will also explore innovative approaches to interpreter education, including hybrid and online learning, mentorship and apprenticeship models, community-centred training, and the use of new technologies such as virtual reality and remote assessment. Attention will be given to ethics, quality assurance, and the development of assessment frameworks that balance standardised testing with portfolio-based and experience-informed evaluation. The role of universities, training institutions, professional associations, and national policies in shaping certification systems will be examined alongside the impact of intercultural and multilingual realities across Europe.

Participants will be invited to engage in discussions around pathways from informal practice to formal recognition, the role of continuing professional development and lifelong learning, and the accessibility of interpreter training for Deaf students. Particular focus will be placed on the inclusion of Deaf interpreters within certification systems, collaboration between Deaf and hearing interpreters in training and assessment, and the ethical tensions between credentialing as quality control and credentialing as gatekeeping.

By bringing together academics, interpreter educators, Deaf community leaders, policymakers, professional associations, and practitioners, the conference aims not only to facilitate dialogue but to foster collaboration across borders.

More information, including the call for papers and registration details, will be shared in future efsli communications. We look forward to welcoming the European interpreting community to Zagreb in September 2026 for this important and timely event.

Organising Committee (OC)

Coming soon!

Scientific Committee (SC)

Coming soon!

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Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.

See you in Zagreb! ❤️