The University of Alicante launches the first micro-credential for Russian and Ukrainian translation and interpreting in Torrevieja.

The University of Alicante, through its Torrevieja branch, has launched the first micro-credential on translation and interpretation focused on Russian and Ukrainian, entitled Fundamentals for the practice of Interpreting in Public Services.

This innovative training program was inaugurated last Friday by Catalina Iliescu, Vice-Rector for Culture, Sports and University Extension, and by Ricardo Recuero, Councillor for Universities and Education of the Torrevieja City Council, accompanied by Jesús Segarra Saavedra, Director of the UA Headquarters in Torrevieja, Juan Miguel Ortega Herráez, Director of the micro-credential, along with its coordinators, Elena Pérez Estevan and Silvia Sánchez Ferre, teachers from the Department of Translation and Interpreting of the UA.

The developers of the new micro-credential explain that it is “primarily aimed at people with advanced knowledge of Russian and Ukrainian who need initial training in interpreting and translation, as well as those working as interpreters in social settings but lacking formal academic training in this field.” This training offers a combined theoretical and practical format and has a strong professional focus for interpreting and translation work, particularly in public services.

The province of Alicante ranks third nationally in percentage of foreign residents, and municipalities like Torrevieja demonstrate a strong multicultural and multilingual character. In the Vega Baja region, the foreign population reaches 36%, and half of that, 49.5%, is concentrated in Torrevieja and Orihuela. Specifically, Torrevieja, with a population exceeding 110,000, has 49.74% of its inhabitants from 122 different nationalities, with Ukrainians and Russians making up the largest groups.

Given this situation, those responsible for the micro-credential explain, "the training of professional interpreters is an optimal solution to reduce the linguistic and cultural gap in the access of non-speaking citizens to services, both public and private."

Microcredential “Fundamentals for the practice of Interpretation in Public Services”

The training consists of 100 hours of instruction, equivalent to 10 ECTS credits (elective credits). The language of instruction will be Spanish, and practical sessions will incorporate Russian and Ukrainian as working languages. Students will acquire knowledge and develop skills that will provide them with a professional framework and ensure the rights of non-native citizens to access public services, as well as providing them with in-person university training.

The classes are held in person at the Virgen del Carmen Cultural Center training room in Torrevieja, on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. The training program will conclude on February 27, 2026, and features an interdisciplinary faculty from across the university and professional backgrounds, including representatives from the Universities of Alicante, Granada, Jaume I of Castellón, La Laguna, and Murcia, as well as professionals from the business sector and municipal technicians.

More information at: https://cfp.ua.es/es/microcredencialesua/2025-2026/fundamentos-para-la-practica-de-la-interpretacion-en-servicios-publicos.html