The benefits of being a member of AIIC Switzerland

Membership of AIIC brings numerous benefits to conference interpreters.

Visibility

The database of members is up-to-date and always available online. Here clients can find all AIIC members and details of their language combinations. The online database offers a practical search engine, so potential clients can quickly find what they are looking for.

Well represented

AIIC and its committees represent the profession at national and international level.

By explaining the professional profile of conference interpreters, required qualifications, professional conduct and technical requirements, AIIC guides clients in selecting qualified service providers and at the same time positions AIIC members on the market.

AIIC representatives are active in various committees and working groups – for example on the development of ISO standards for interpreting equipment, and in national professional associations.

As the only international association of conference interpreters, AIIC also acts as “workers’ representative” in negotiations with major clients such as the United Nations, the European Union and others. These Sector Agreements negotiated by AIIC’s negotiating delegations apply worldwide to all interpreters working in the signatory organizations and their subsidiaries. AIIC’s professional delegations provide support to interpreters who work for these organizations in matters of interpretation of the Agreements and also act as mediators in the event of disputes. They thereby contribute to the provision of high-value interpreting services and to the protection of the health and safety of conference interpreters who work for the signatory organizations.

Networked

As a professional association with over 3,000 fellow-interpreters across five continents, AIIC provides many opportunities for effective networking. Here are some examples of recent international networking opportunities. Dates of future meetings can be found under Events.

Assembly

The Assembly takes place every three years. Recent meetings:

  • 2009 – Nice
  • 2012 – Buenos Aires
  • 2015 – Addis Ababa
  • 2018 – Valencia
  • 2022 – Geneva
Prims/SMTP Meetings

Meetings of the Private Market Sector for interpreters who work outside the international organizations. The sector usually meets twice a year – a winter and a summer meeting.

Recent meetings:

  • July 2014 – San Francisco
  • January 2015 – Addis Ababa
  • July 2015 – San Remo
  • January 2016 – Madrid
  • July 2016 – Warsaw
  • January 2017 – Casablanca
  • July 2017 – Cartagena de Indias (Colombia)
  • January 2018 – Valencia
  • July 2018 – Rio de Janeiro
  • January 2019 – London
  • August 2019 – Montreal
  • January 2020 – 1st AIIC PRIMS Donut
  • May 2020 2nd AIIC PRIMS Donut
  • July 2022 – Lecce
Sectoral meetings

UN World Sectoral Meeting –  December 2018,  May 2019,  September 2021

Well informed

AIIC uses various channels to provide members with information about the profession and the market. The AIIC Extranet, for example, is reserved for members and covers interpreting, the Association, business practice, professional development and upcoming events. AIIC members can also obtain the latest news from AIIC committees (Executive, regions, private market committee, etc.).

Many regions offer a wide range of professional development opportunities for members. These include language training, special courses on current events in a given country, interpreter training (refresher courses in a given working language) and business matters such as marketing and negotiating skills. AIIC members get preferential rates for such events and discounts on events offered by partner organizations. Members are kept informed about upcoming training opportunities via the AIIC website under Events and via the Newsletter.

Of equal importance are the guidelines developed by AIIC working groups, such as the Technical Guidelines or the Information on Remote Interpreting. These guidelines provide information on the equipment specification required to achieve high-quality interpretation whilst protecting the health and safety of interpreters.