ABSTRACT
The final chapter in this book summarises the turbulent period of change and transformation of interpreter training over the last three decades in Central European countries. Interpreter training is now once more at a crossroads. This can be seen in changes in the demand for interpreting services; new skills and competencies required from interpreters, most notably the rising recognition of community interpreting in the region; the rise of artificial intelligence; and wider geopolitical and social trends, such as the migration crisis, the evolving expectations of students, and, last but not least, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter asserts that the traditional concept of training interpreters for conference settings is no longer viable. As it demonstrates, the European Union, which played a vital role in developing and shaping the formats of interpreter training in Central Europe, now has a decreasing demand for new interpreters. Combined with social distancing, which (re)moved interpreters from conference venues to their homes, this presents a major paradigm shift for interpreter training in Central Europe and elsewhere. In conclusion, possible scenarios are outlined for the future development of interpreter training in the post-pandemic era.
