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In alignment with the Saudi Ministry of Culture's initiative to celebrate 2023 as the Year of Arabic Poetry, the esteemed "Poetry Translator" competition took place virtually, coordinated by Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University (PNU). Teams from across the nation gathered online, ready to demonstrate their linguistic prowess in the English language track.

Representing King Khalid University, a trio of dedicated students from the Translation Club, part of the Translation Unit, took up this challenge. Comprised of Amjad Al-Qahtani, Mashael Al-Qahtani, and Nujud Asiri from the Faculty of Languages and Translation, they were prepared to display their exceptional translation skills.

As the competition commenced, participants received an English poem via email to be translated into Arabic. Previously guided and prepared by Dr. Eisa Asiri, Department of Translation Chair, and Dr. Amal Metwally, the coordinator of the Translation Unit at the female campus and a faculty member of the Master of Arts in Translation program, the students set to work independently. They had only three hours to complete the task, yet their focus remained unwavering.

Once the translations were submitted, a panel of translation experts thoroughly assessed each work. The King Khalid University team’s work was met with praise, particularly for its accuracy, fluency, and creativity, leading to their impressive first-place victory.

Amjad Al-Qahtani, one of the winning students, shared her thoughts, saying, "I owe my heartfelt gratitude to Allah Almighty for the opportunity and guidance towards this great achievement. I am overwhelmed with joy at this victory that made my family and friends proud. This is an accomplishment that I will forever hold dear.”

Similarly, Mashael Al-Qahtani expressed, "I attribute our success to Allah the Almighty's blessing. I am thrilled about our achievement and I extend my appreciation to the Translation Club for providing us with this platform to showcase our skills in translation."

Nujud Asiri also chimed in, stating, "Winning this competition represents a challenge and an extraordinary accomplishment. I am glad to have had the opportunity to represent King Khalid University and contribute to its string of accolades."

Upon hearing the victory news, the Translation Club and Dr. Eisa Asiri and Dr. Amal Metwally, who led the students, expressed their deep appreciation for the students' unwavering commitment. Dr. Asiri stated, "Our students have exhibited great persistence, confidence, and competence. Their ability to take on challenges across various translation fields is admirable. I hope they continue to be optimistic and face any obstacles with confidence and hope."

Dr. Metwally added, "Witnessing the remarkable success of our students is a profound source of joy and pride for me. From their enrollment in the competition, representing the esteemed King Khalid University, they've exhibited nothing short of unwavering persistence, undeniable confidence, and impressive competence, truly distinguishing themselves in the diverse fields of translation. My message to them is one of optimistic resilience: If every challenge is a locked door, then confidence, optimism, and hope are the master keys. So continue to believe, remain hopeful, and stay resilient, because these qualities will guide you to unprecedented heights of success."

Dr. Ahmad Ismail Assiri, the Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Translation, added his praise for the victorious students and their mentors. "This win is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved. It also shines a light on the high standard of education at King Khalid University. I am also thankful to the PNU for organizing this competition and to the judges for their fair evaluation."

This first-place victory is indeed a significant milestone for both the Master of Arts in Translation Program and the Faculty of Languages and Translation at King Khalid University. It highlights the university's commitment to academic excellence and the promotion of Arabic poetry, reinforcing its reputation as a leading institution in the field of translation.

For the Arabic versions of this story, please refer to the links provided by King Khalid University (KKU) and the Saudi Press Agency:

King Khalid University (KKU): https://www.kku.edu.sa/ar/node/102731

Saudi Press Agency: https://sp.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?lang=ar&newsid=2455349