Yuan Yuan

Tell us a bit about yourself, your background and what made you choose the University of Leeds?

Before going to the University of Leeds, I had never been abroad, nor had I studied translation. I had already been pursuing postgraduate studies in China, but I decided to apply to Leeds because I wanted to broaden my horizons and experience studying overseas. I also wanted to explore a new field that I hadn’t studied before – translation, which has always been an area of great interest to me.

Why did you choose to study your particular course?

I find human language truly fascinating, and I wanted to explore it from a deeper perspective. The University of Leeds has a highly ranked translation program, making it a natural choice among my top options.

What aspects of the course did you enjoy the most?

My program combined theory with practice. We not only studied many outstanding translation theories and cases, but also gained hands-on experience through various practical projects.

What does Leeds as a city have to offer students? 

In my mind, Leeds is a quintessential British industrial city – it still bears many traces of the Industrial Revolution while also showcasing a distinctly modern side. Compared with most Chinese cities, Leeds is not very large, but it’s a very convenient place to live. I especially enjoyed visiting the Leeds City Museum in my spare time.

What would you say about the learning and the career support facilities in your academic School or Faculty and at the University in general?

When I was about to graduate, I asked a teacher from the Career Development Office to guide me on how to write my résumé, and that résumé turned out to be very helpful in my job search. At the time of my graduation, the university swimming pool hadn’t been completed yet, but I later saw photos of its excellent design and facilities – I really hope I’ll have the chance to go back and experience swimming there someday.

What have you been doing since finishing your studies?

After graduation, I became an international news journalist. The language skills and global perspective I developed at the University of Leeds provided a strong foundation and have continued to benefit me throughout my career.

What company are you working for, what is your role, and what does it involve?

I currently serve as the Director of the International Department at International Financial News, a media outlet under the management of People’s Daily. My work involves conducting interviews with foreign political leaders, executives, and enterprises, as well as overseeing the department’s daily operations.

How do you think the skills and knowledge you developed at Leeds whilst studying your Masters helped with your career? 

First of all, interviewing foreign figures requires strong language and communication skills, as well as an understanding of different cultures. More importantly, it demands a global perspective when engaging in dialogue with political leaders and business executives. My studies at the University of Leeds equipped me with precisely these abilities.

Now that you’ve graduated, what would you say to students thinking about studying your course, do you believe your investment into the course was worthwhile for your career?

I highly recommend that everyone take the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone – to go beyond their home, and even beyond their country – to face new challenges. Before coming to the UK, I wasn’t a student of translation or linguistics, so during my year at the University of Leeds, I truly had to work hard to overcome the challenges of cross-disciplinary study. But it was a period of tremendous growth. Moreover, studying Applied Translation has greatly benefited my career after graduation.

Although AI is developing rapidly and some people question the future of translation studies, I believe that no matter how advanced technology becomes, it must still rely on human analysis and understanding. AI is ultimately an assistive tool – humans remain irreplaceable. That said, we should embrace a new perspective and explore how translation studies can evolve and improve through the integration of AI.