Oman prepares to host groundbreaking international translation conference centred on sustainability and technology
The Sultanate of Oman will host the 8th International Association for Translation and Intercultural Studies (IATIS) conference from 10 to 13 December 2025 at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), organisers said, under the auspices of the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth. According to the original report, the four‑day gathering is themed “Sustainable Translation in the Age of Knowledge Extraction, Generation and Reproduction” and will bring together scholars, researchers and students from more than 60 countries. Organisers say the event seeks to place translation and intercultural studies at the centre of contemporary debates about knowledge flows, sustainability and technology.
The conference programme, published by IATIS, frames translation as a vehicle for disseminating knowledge across linguistic and cultural boundaries amid rapid technological change. Keynote speakers listed include Maria Cristina Caimotto, Philippe Lacour, Joss Moorkens, Nancy Piñeiro and Mustafa Riad.
The agenda combines academic panels, workshops and artistic initiatives with a public exhibition. SQU’s exhibition is billed as exploring the role of translation in sustaining identity, heritage and culture and will highlight intersections with artificial intelligence and other knowledge‑generation tools. The exhibition and associated seminars are being organised by SQU’s College of Arts and Social Sciences in collaboration with the IATIS organising committee
Beyond disciplinary discussion, organisers emphasise real‑world applications: panels will address translation’s role in heritage conservation, peacebuilding, public health knowledge transfer, legal justice and tourism diplomacy. The conference prospectus frames these strands as part of a broader effort to show how translation contributes to international understanding and soft power in times of regional and global flux.
The event also includes an educational strand for students and an intensive media programme coordinated with the Ministry of Information, offering a platform for capacity building and public engagement. IATIS has published logistical information for delegates, including travel, venue details and special arrangements for attendees during the conference period.
Calls for papers and specific panel proposals reflect the field’s concern with automation and translator education; partner organisations and university consortia have announced themed panels on sustainable language service provision and adaptive translator training in an age of automation. Deadlines for submissions varied across organisers’ calls earlier in 2025, signalling broad international participation in shaping the programme.
Hosting IATIS 2025 reinforces Oman’s public diplomacy positioning. Official communications and the Oman News Agency cite the country’s reputation as an advocate of dialogue, coexistence and international understanding as factors in the selection. According to the original reports, the conference is intended both to advance scholarly exchange and to showcase Oman as a venue for intercultural dialogue.