European Language Industry Association (ELIA) is a professional organization that represents and supports businesses and professionals working in the language services industry throughout Europe. Its purpose is to create an inclusive business community of language professionals where the sharing of experience and knowledge provides the tools for growing together. And one of ELIA’s tools for achieving that mission is ELIA Exchange (EE). 

ELIA supports and encourages cooperation among language service providers and professionals to help drive the industry forward and address common challenges. The association is committed to promoting high standards of quality, ethical conduct, and professionalism within the European language industry. ELIA Exchange bridges the gap between the academic and business worlds in the language industry. ELIA Exchange aims to facilitate collaboration and communication between language service providers (LSPs) and educational institutions that offer language-related programs, such as translation, interpretation, and localization.

The EE program was revived through the efforts of Indre Leleviciene, CEO of Baltijos vertimai UAB, and one of the directors of ELIA Board. Interacting with the faculty and students at a nearby Lithuanian university where she serves as a guest lecturer, it became clear there is a huge need for better communication and collaboration between language service providers (LSPs) and educational institutions language-related programs, and to introduce the students to the wide spectrum of the opportunities our industry can offer. 

The ELIA Exchange program offers several benefits, such as:

• A database of experienced speakers that universities can benefit from, featuring different people covering various topics, allowing for a diverse range of industry perspectives.
• Presentations in multiple languages, providing options for universities to choose from based on their specific needs.
• Free access for universities, making it an affordable resource for institutions looking to enhance their language-related programs.
• A great opportunity for new speakers to gain experience and practice their presentation skills in front of an engaged audience.

The main objectives of ELIA Exchange are:

• Enhancing the quality of language-related education by fostering dialogue and collaboration between academia and industry professionals, which will help to better align curricula with real-world needs and expectations.
• Providing students with opportunities for internships, work placements, and practical experience, which will help them gain valuable insights into the industry and increase their employability upon graduation.
• Establishing a platform for sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices among participating organizations, thus promoting continuous improvement and innovation in both the academic and business sectors of the language industry.

Under Indre Leleviciene’s guidance, ELIA Exchange will organize events, workshops, and webinars that bring together academic institutions and language service providers. They will provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration, ultimately aiming to improve the overall quality and effectiveness of the European language industry.

For more information on the ELIA Exchange program and how to get involved, you can visit their website: https://elia-exchange.org/.