Transforming Traditional Translation Training: The Role of Policy, Practice, and Institutional Support in Student Skill Enhancement

Globalization has revolutionized translation training, and English education policies have encouraged more practical, innovative, and, in this regard, oriented teaching approaches. This study investigates the multi-level effects of English education policies on translation training at the national (macro), institutional (meso), and classroom (micro) levels, with particular attention to how policy influences the adoption of innovative instructional models and students’ perceived learning-related outcomes. Using a mixed-methods design, qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 78 respondents, including policymakers, administrators, instructors, and students, whereas quantitative data were collected through a survey of 436 translation students (undergraduate and postgraduate). Qualitative data were analyzed using NVivo, and SPSS and SmartPLS were used to analyze quantitative data. The results indicate that translation training (β = .373, p < .001) is significantly associated with English education policies. Moreover, translation training is positively related to innovative training models (β = .302), career readiness (β = .268), perceived training quality (β = .318), practical skill acquisition (β = .292), and intercultural competence (β = .285), all at p < .001. These findings illustrate the focal point of translation training as one of the critical mechanisms through which policy is connected to various perceived academic and professional outcomes. University cooperation and pedagogical development at the institutional and classroom levels are also associated with perceived quality and applicability of translation training programs. Its uniqueness lies in that it combines several dimensions of outcomes in one analytical framework and provides a clear understanding of policy–practice alignment. The results suggest that translating students need effective policy–practice integration to be associated with students’ perceived preparedness for global professional contexts.