OYLA Talks: From Knowledge to Profession – New Career Opportunities for Translators

On October 22, 2026, the Department of Foreign Philology and Translation Studies at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University hosted a meeting between fourth-year students of the educational programme ‘Translation Studies’ and Editor-in-Chief of OYLA, a popular science magazine, as well as an external stakeholder and employer representative collaborating with the department Gamzat Biyarov.

The event was held as part of the OYLA Talks series under the theme "From Knowledge to Profession: Steps Towards a Successful Career." It focused on professional development prospects, evolving labour market requirements, and emerging career opportunities for future translators.

During the meeting, participants explored opportunities to apply linguistic and translation competencies beyond traditional translation practice, including journalism, publishing, science communication, media, and digital content creation. Particular attention was paid to emerging professional fields shaped by digitalisation and advances in artificial intelligence.

Gamzat Biyarov shared insights from his professional experience, discussed the specific features of working in popular science publishing, highlighted the skills currently sought by employers, and emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary competencies for successful career development.

The meeting took the form of an open dialogue, allowing students to discuss employment prospects, employer expectations, and opportunities for professional growth and self-realisation.

Engagement with employers and external stakeholders is one of the key priorities of the Department of Foreign Philology and Translation Studies. Such meetings help ensure that educational programmes reflect the needs of the professional community, strengthen the connection between theoretical knowledge and practical application, and broaden future employment opportunities for graduates.