Maria Abad Colom

Maria Abad Colom is an Associate Professor at Oslo Metropolitan University, affiliated with the Department of International Studies and Interpreting within the Faculty of Education and International Studies. Her academic work centers on Interpreting Studies, with a strong focus on public service and conference interpreting, pedagogical innovation, and the impact of English as a lingua franca in multilingual professional environments.

Her research interests include:

• Public Service Interpreting (PSI)
• Simultaneous and Consecutive Interpreting Training
• English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) in health and academic contexts
• Virtual Reality (VR) and simulation in interpreter education
• Pedagogical challenges in heterogeneous student groups
• Professionalization of interpreter qualifications

The recent publications and dissemination activities highlight a clear trend toward integrating technology into interpreter training, especially through the ERGOTOLK-VR project, which uses immersive simulations to prepare future interpreters and public sector professionals. Her work also addresses broader systemic issues, such as the marginalization of translation in public administration and the evolving demands on interpreters in ELF-dominated domains like health sciences.

Maria Abad Colom has not received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided text.

She has been actively involved in curriculum development and digital teaching solutions, contributing to semi-online and blended learning models in interpreting education. While no grants are explicitly named, her participation in projects like ERGOTOLK-VR suggests involvement in funded research and innovation initiatives. She collaborates with colleagues across Norway and internationally, particularly in Spain, reflecting a transnational research approach.

She is involved in research groups focused on Interpreting, Language, and Communication and contributes to both academic and professional dissemination through conferences and publications.