Religious professionals, including Bible translators, face an uphill climb as they seek to master and retain all the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their calling and profession. Whether you’re a minister or pastor, a biblical scholar or translator, you know how difficult it is to stay sharp in your essential fields, for example, social sciences and humanities or linguistics and biblical studies. The Nida Institute’s program of professional development stands out as a vigorous and fresh response to this need, with graduate-level course work offered in both the USA and Europe.

For religious professionals who seek to earn a DMin degree, the Nida Institute has collaborated in designing two programs, each with a special focus. At New York Theological Seminary, the program centers on course work dedicated to Bible engagement. Course elements include modules in globalization, new media translation, orality and performance theory, research methodology, and biblical studies. The Nida Institute works closely with Seminary staff and students during the three weeks of residency required for the degree.
 
For DMin students enrolled at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary’s Bible translation program, the Institute offers course work at its Misano Adriatico (Rimini), Italy campus. This program of studies, incorporated into the annual Nida School of Translation Studies provides one of the three two-week residencies required by the degree. It incorporates the seminary students into a class of 25-30 students from around the world, many of whom have earned PhDs and wide experience in teaching and translation.
 
Nida Institute staff lecture for six weeks biennially at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome which is a professional and graduate school of theological and biblical studies for Roman Catholic clergy and religious. Staff also lecture at the Evangelical School of Theology in Wrocław, Poland.
 
To meet an urgent need for professional development within global translation agencies such as the United Bible Societies and SIL-International, the Institute brings Bible translators to its Misano Adriatico campus for course work, tutoring, and interaction with leading trainers and scholars. The Nida School of Translation Studies serves as one venue for their professional development. A regular series of week-long seminars on topics ranging from globalization, new media translation, and translation tools to semiotics, technology, and biblical studies brings these professionals up to date in fields crucial to their success in the field.