Academics from the University of Malta played a leading role in the Essays Beyond Borders Easter School andย International Conference 2026, held at the Centre Congressi Le benedittine in Pisa between 7 and 10 April, as part of theย Erasmus+ funded project, Essays Beyond Borders.
Led byย Prof. Mario Aquilinaย (Department of English), withย Prof. Adrian Grimaย (Head of theย Department of Maltese) as project partner, Essays Beyond Borders is a multi-institutional European initiative that explores the essay as a form of critical and creative engagement, with a particular focus on civic participation, environmental awareness, and interdisciplinary thinking. The project brings together partners from across Europe, including the University of Pisa, the University of Groningen, Ghent University, and the Slovenian Writersโ Association.
The Easter School (7โ8 April) and the conference (9โ10 April), hosted by the University of Pisa, brought together around one hundred scholars, writers, postgraduate students, and practitioners from Europe, the United States, and South America. The conference was convened by Prof. Mario Aquilina, Prof. Roberta Ferrari, and Dr Paolo Bugliani.
Reflecting the projectโs interdisciplinary ethos, participants included scientists, artists, writers, and academics, as well as students and researchers from fields such as literary studies, writing studies, media studies, philosophy, and political studies. The programme featured lectures, workshops, and panel discussions addressing themes such as the planetary essay, essayistic thinking, ecological engagement, and writing as a form of activism.
Prof. Mario Aquilina delivered a keynote lecture on the essay and on the planetary essay, in addition to leading creative writing workshops on these themes. Prof. Adrian Grima presented research on the planetary essayism of Omar N’Shea, and also conducted writing workshops focusing on the literary qualities of the essay.
A strong group of participants from the University of Malta contributed significantly to the academic programme. Alongside Prof. Aquilina andย Prof. Grima, participants from the University of Malta includedย Prof. Maria Frendo,ย Dr Aaron Aquilina,ย Prof. Ivan Callus,ย Dr Marija Grechย , andย Dr Kurt Borg, all of whom presented research papers reflecting the projectโs core concerns with literature, culture, and the evolving role of the essay in contemporary thought.
As part of its commitment to widening participation and fostering inclusive intellectual exchange, the project funded 43 participants to attend the Easter School, including 14 from Malta. The contingent from Malta included University of Malta students and alumni, members of the general public, and staff from various departments. Participants ranged in age from 21 to 80, reflecting the projectโs engagement with diverse communities beyond the traditional academic sphere.
The University of Malta, through the Departments of English and Maltese, plays a central coordinating role in the project, contributing to both its research and pedagogical strands, including the development of workshops, publications, and international collaborations.
Theย PISA Easter Schoolย and Conference marked a key milestone in the project. Funded by Erasmus+ of the European Union, the initiative continues to cement the University of Malta as a centre of excellence for research on the essay and essay studies, while highlighting the contribution of its academic community to ongoing debates on writing, creativity, and critical thinking in a global (and planetary) context.
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