On 20 April, 2019 in Beijing, Grouphorse Group and the Chartered Institute of Linguists signed a cooperation agreement. Several of Grouphorse’s branches across China have become authorized test centres for the Advanced Diploma in Translation (DipTrans).

The Chartered Institute of Linguists, based at its London headquarters, is an internationally renowned academic organization with 109 years of history. The Institute has over 7000 members worldwide and is considered one of Europe’s most historic and distinguished linguistic research institutes. Its royal benefactor is HRH Prince Michael of Kent. The Institute’s Advanced Diploma in Translation (DipTrans), launched globally in 1986, has gained the reputation of being the “Golden Diploma” in the world of international translation, with test centres in over 40 countries, and courses for over 50 languages (paired with English). The Diploma has provided Chinese exam candidates who aspire to become high-end professional translators with a broad platform for international exchange.

The signing ceremony was attended by: Mr. Tang Xing, the Chairman and President of Grouphorse  Group; Mr. Wen Yi, the Vice-President of Grouphorse; Mr. Klink Zhou, Assistant to the President of Grouphorse, General Manager of the Grouphorse Global Center for Translation and Interpreting (GCTI); and Dom Hebblethwaite, Head of Business Development at CIOL. 

Ann Carlisle, Executive Director of CIOL sent her words of gratitude via video message.

In her speech, Ann Carlisle briefed the Institute’s mission and vision, as well as the wealth of recognition that the DipTrans qualification brings as an internationally credited translation certificate, approved by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation for Britain (Ofqual). She was delighted to represent the Institute in formally announcing the start of the new union with Grouphorse Translation Group as cooperative partners.

Dom Hebblethwaite, Head of Business Development at CIOL, also expressed his sincere gratitude and positive expectations for the partnership going forward.

▲Dom Hebblethwaite, CIOL’s Head of Business Development, delivers a speech at the signing ceremony

Mr. Tang Xing, Chairman and President of Grouphorse Group, expressed his gratitude to CIOL and his great expectations for the partnership. He also introduced many benefits the DipTrans qualification can bring to students studying abroad (credit transfer with elite foreign schools), seeking employment (finding jobs worldwide), immigrating (gaining more points as a skilled immigrant), and pursuing academia (successful applications).

▲Tang Xing,  Grouphorse Chairman and President, delivers a speech at the signing ceremony

Klink Zhou, assistant to the President of Grouphorse, general manager of the GCTI, looked back over the course of negotiations between the two organizations. He stated that efforts would be made to speed up the implementation of relevant projects for the partnership and to provide the talent and intellectual support necessary for economic and social development.

▲Klink Zhou, Assistant to the Chairman of Grouphorse, and General Manager of the Grouphorse Center for Translation and Interpreting, delivers a speech at the signing ceremony

At the signing ceremony, the cooperation agreement was signed by Wen Yi and Dom Hebblethwaite on behalf of Grouphorse  and the Chartered Institute of Linguists, respectively.

Present at the signing ceremony were also some officials and experts, including: Chen Mingming, Executive Vice President of the Translators Association of China (TAC), Former Director of the Translation Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and former Ambassador to New Zealand and Sweden; Yao Bin, Vice-Dean of the School of Advanced Translation at Beijing Foreign Studies University; and David W. Ferguson, Member of the Organizing Committee for the Translators Association of China’s International Translation Seminar and celebrated English translator and proof-reader. The signing ceremony was presided over by Zhang Tingguang, a full-time translation trainer of Grouphorse.

▲ Group photo of the participants at the signing ceremony 

From the left: Yao Bin, Vice-Dean of the School of Advanced Translation at Beijing Foreign Studies University; David W. Ferguson, Member of the Organizing Committee for the Translators Association of China’s International Translation Seminar and celebrated English translator and proof-reader; Dom Hebblethwaite, CIOL’s Head of Business Development; Chen Mingming, Executive Vice President of the Translators Association of China , former Director of the Translation Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former Ambassador to the New Zealand and Sweden; Tang Xing, Chairman and President of Grouphorse; Wen Yi, Vice-President of Grouphorse; and Klink Zhou, Assistant to the President of Grouphorse, General Manager of the Grouphorse Center for Translation and Interpreting.