The 8th International Conference of the International Association for Translation and Intercultural Studies (IATIS) concluded at Sultan Qaboos University under the patronage of Prof. Amer bin Saif Al-Hinai, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research. The conference brought together scholars, practitioners and students from across the world to reflect on sustainable translation in an era marked by knowledge extraction, technological transformation and global challenges.

In her closing remarks, Prof. Kyung Hye Kim of Dongguk University, Chief of the IATIS Conference, expressed deep appreciation for the organising committee at SQU and volunteers. She thanked the international IATIS community for embodying an inclusivity that goes beyond symbolism, highlighting that the conference demonstrated a commitment to “lived experience, not just second-hand, mediated, or framed knowledge”.

Reflecting on the significance of hosting the conference in the GCC for the first time, Prof. Kim observed that seeing participants from diverse regions meet, exchange ideas and build connections reaffirmed the purpose of the association’s work. She stressed that those who were able to attend carry a shared responsibility to sustain this spirit of inclusivity and dialogue, reminding participants that “conversation does not require visas”, as the IATIS community looks ahead to its next gathering in New Zealand in 2027.

Prof. Julie Boéri, the new President of IATIS, described the Muscat conference as a defining moment for the association. She praised Dr. Kim’s leadership during a demanding period and emphasised that, although small, IATIS is “a truly global community”, a reality felt profoundly in Muscat. She noted that the Omani context offered a rare space for meaningful encounter, freeing the conference from restrictive narratives and barriers that often limit participation in global academic exchange.

Prof. Boéri underlined the political and ethical responsibility of translation and intercultural studies in a deeply fractured world, arguing that humility, determination, solidarity and care for one another constitute the most sustainable response to contemporary cultural, linguistic and socio-economic challenges. She concluded by affirming that communities themselves hold the answer, echoing indigenous perspectives on collective responsibility and resilience.

The conference concluded with a set of forward-looking recommendations that reaffirm translation as central to knowledge production, social justice and environmental responsibility. Participants called for ethical frameworks that protect translators’ well-being, intellectual property and data privacy, and for greater awareness of the environmental costs of emerging technologies, including AI. Emphasis was placed on valuing translation through sustained support for language education, protecting less widely spoken languages, expanding the range of languages taught in education systems, and strengthening links between learners, local environments and indigenous knowledge. The recommendations also stressed the importance of open-access knowledge, critical engagement with dominant concepts of sustainability, and a balanced approach that places equal weight on people, performance and the planet.

In recognition of their contributions, participating individuals, partner institutions and members of the organising and scientific committees were honoured at the closing ceremony as an acknowledgement of the collective effort behind the conference’s success, and the spirit of collaboration that defined the event.