About ESSE

Q. What is ESSE?

A. See what we do.
Q. How long has ESSE been in existence?
A. A: ESSE was founded in Rome in January 1990. Its first Constitution was adopted in 1991. Changes were introduced in 1995 and since then it has been placed under Swiss law. See the ESSE Constitution as it stands now, including the amendments added in 2006 and 2009.

Q: Is ESSE a service of the European Union?
A: No. Although academics in English studies in all current EU countries have access to associations affiliated to ESSE, we are not in any way linked to the EU, and we welcome Associations from the whole of Europe in the geographical sense, from Portugal to Russia, from Norway to Armenia. See the current list of the National Associations that are part of ESSE.
Q: What is the  membership of ESSE?

A: Currently about 7,200.

Membership

Q: How do I join ESSE?
A: You do not join ESSE as such: you become a member of ESSE by joining your National Association of University (or Higher Education) teachers and researchers in the field of English studies. In most European countries, if you are a fee-paying member of your National Association, then you are a member of ESSE.

Q: How do I know if such an Association exists in my country?
A: The list of National Associations that are members of ESSE is available on this site, as well as the name of the person who sits on the ESSE Board for that association. Many of those associations run their own websites.

Q: What should I do if no such Association exists in my European country?
A: Get together with your colleagues and found one under the laws of your country. If this should prove impossible, then join the National Association of another country which accepts foreign members.

The ESSE logo is available to be used by the national Associations that are members of ESSE, on documents, websites, leaflets, posters, etc.
The final logo as used should preferably be in the colours of the original, that is white on a dark blue background.

The logo is available in several diffrent formats:

1. a large-scale image (1200 x 900 px) of the ESSE logo in jpg format.
2. a large-scale image (1200 x 900 px) of the ESSE logo as watermark to a page or to a website page in jpg format.
3. a large-scale image (1200 x 900 px) of the ESSE logo in black and white on a transparent background in png format.
4. the logo in eps format, to be used for very large formats.

The standard colours of the logo are

• letters in white (RGB 255 255 255 / Hexadecimal ffffff)
• background in dark blue (RGB 0 51 153 / Hexadecimal 003399)

2023, August, Milano:
Executive, Board

2022, August, Mainz:
Executive, Board and
ESSE 16 Conference

In 2022 there were several meetings of the Executive, all of them carried via Zoom

2021, August, Lyon: Executive, Board and ESSE 15 Conference (postponed from 2020 because of the covid-19 pandemic)

In 2020 and 2021 there were frequent meetings, all of them carried via Zoom

2019, December, Zurich: Executive

2019, August, Wroclaw:
Board, Executive

2019, January, Cluj-Napoca: Executive

2018, August, Brno: Board, Executive, ESSE 14 Conference

2018, March, Ljubljana: Executive

2017, August, Thessaloniki:
Board, Executive

2017, March, Brno: Executive

2016, August, Galway: Board, Executive, ESSE 13 Conference

2016, March, Paris: Executive

2015, August. Braga: Board, Executive

2015, March. Galway: Executive

2014, August. Košice: Board, Executive, ESSE 12 Conference

2014, March, Košice: Executive

2013, August, Cluj-Napoca: Board, Executive

2013, May, Paris: Executive

2012, December, Alcalá de Henares: Executive

2012, September, Istanbul:
Board, Executive, ESSE 11 Conference

2012, May, Ljubjana: Executive

2011, August, Prague: Board, Executive

2011, April, Vlore: Executive

2010, August, Torino:
Board, Executive, ESSE 10 Conference

2010, June, Alcalá de Henares: Executive

2009, August, Szeged: Board, Executive

2009, March, Torino: Executive

2008, August, Aarhus:
Board, Executive, ESSE 9 Conference

2008, April, Aarhus: Executive

2007, December, Amsterdam: Executive

2007, September, Vilnius: Board, Executive

2006, December, Lyon: Executive

2006, August, London:
Board, Executive, ESSE 8 Conference

2006, May, Lisbon: Executive

2005, December, Berlin: Executive

2005, August, Krakow: Board, Executive

2005, April, Istanbul: Executive

2004, December, Portoroz: Executive

2004, September, Zaragoza:
Board, Executive, ESSE 7 Conference

2004, May, Portoroz: Executive

2003, December, Lyon: Executive

2003, September, Oxford: Board, Executive

2003, May, Timişoara: Executive

2002, December, Santiago: Executive

2002, August, Strasbourg: Board, Executive, ESSE 6 Conference

2002, May, Lyon: Executive

2001, December, Amsterdam: Executive

2001, September, Vienna: Board, Executive

2001, April, Lyon: Executive

2000, December, Ciudad Real: Executive

2000, August, Helsinki: Board, Executive, ESSE 5 Conference

2000, May, Zaragoza: Executive

2000 January, Cologne: Executive

1999, August, Timişoara; Board, Executive

1999, April, Leicester: Executive

1998, December, Lleida: Executive

1998, September, Berlin: Board, Executive

1997, December, Sevilla: Executive

1997, September, Debrecen: Board, Executive, ESSE 4 Conference

1997, September, Budapest: Executive

1997, May, Zaragoza: Executive

1996, December, Barcelona: Executive,

1996, September, Sheffield: Board, Executive

1996, April, Logroño: Executive

1995, December, Vigo: Executive

1995, September, Glasgow: Board, Executive, ESSE 3 Conference

1995, April, London: Executive

1995, March, Cologne: Board

1994, October, Lisbon: Board

1993, September, Bordeaux: Board, ESSE 2 Conference

1993, May, Thessaloniki: Board

1992, October, Madrid: Board

1992, March, Berlin: Board

1991, September, Norwich: Board, ESSE 1 Conference

1991, January, Paris: Board

1990, January, Rome: Founders’ meeting

1989, July, London: Founders’ meeting

1. NAME

The name of the organisation is ‘The European Society for the Study of English’ (ESSE). It is an association (Verein) conformable to articles 60ff of the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB) with its seat in Basle.

2. CHARACTER OF THE SOCIETY

The Society is a European federation of national or joint-national higher educational associations for the study of English languages, literatures in English and cultures of English-speaking peoples. Membership of the Society is open to national or joint-national associations in other European countries subject to approval by the Board, provided they are the only eligible associations in their respective countries. The Society shall endeavour to reflect the cultural and geographical diversity of Europe in its institutions.

3. AIMS

The aims of the Society are non-commercial. They are to advance the education of the public by promoting the European study and understanding of English languages, literatures in English and cultures of English-speaking peoples. Any change to these aims requires the written consent of all member associations.

4. ACTIVITIES

In furtherance of the aims stated in clause 3, but not further or otherwise, the Society endeavours:

4.1 To arrange regular conferences for those researching and teaching English languages, literatures in English and cultures of English-speaking peoples in Europe.

4.2 To foster research-networks in specialist topics which will bring together higher education teachers, scholars and writers and facilitate intellectual cooperation.

4.3 To provide an information network, in the form of a newsletter, about the matters related to English studies in Europe, for example curriculum developments, national conferences, specialised research projects.

4.4 To assist higher education teachers in different countries with course development, documentation and resourcing.

4.5 To provide information which will facilitate faculty and student exchanges under international cooperation programmes, especially those of the European Union.

4.6 To provide the basis for a scholarly journal articulating the interests of European teachers of English in higher education.

4.7 To enter into such arrangements with any authorities or persons, nationally, internationally or locally, as may be thought beneficial for carrying out the objectives of the Society.

5. MEMBERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION

5.1 Individual membership of the Society shall be via the corporate membership of national or joint-national constituent associations, each of which shall elect one person to serve on the Board and in whom shall be vested the right to vote on behalf of the members of the constituent associations. In accordance with the Society’s charitable purposes, participation in the Society’s conferences and publications shall not be formally restricted to members of constituent associations.

5.2 Commercial organisations and other institutions who share the aims of the Society and wish to further them shall be eligible for the status of ‘donating member’ at a fee and under conditions to be decided by the Board.

5.3 The Board may authorise the Executive to charge members or third parties with the execution of its decisions.

5.4 If given good cause the Board may decide to suspend the voting rights of a constituent association or annul its membership subject to a two-thirds majority.

5.5 A member association can leave the Society only if it has given due notice at least six months before the end of the calendar year.

5.6 Member associations that have been expelled or have left the Society are liable for contributions for the full calendar year in which their membership has ceased.

5.7 Sub-clauses 5.5 and 5.6 do not apply to member associations leaving the Society because of a change of aims (Clause 3).

6. MEANS

Constituent associations shall pay to the Society an annual subscription which is based on the number of their members or on the number of members of their sub-organisations (e.g. departments). The amount of this subscription will be negotiated between the constituent associations and the Society’s Treasurer and has to be approved by the Board. The Society is free to obtain other contributions.

7. LIABILITY

The Society is liable for its debts with its own assets. Personal liability of members, both corporate and individual, is excluded.

8. THE BOARD

8.1 The governing body of the Society will consist of a Board comprising representatives nominated by the constituent associations of the Society. Decisions of the Board will be taken on the basis of one association, one vote. The Board decides on all matters that have not been entrusted to other organs or members of the Society.

8.2.Under exceptional circumstances an electronic vote by e-mail or equivalent technology can be organized by the President to decide on urgent matters. The resolution will be valid and immediately effective if at least 2/3 of the Board members have taken part in the vote by the given deadline and an overall majority (2/3 of the votes cast) has been obtained.

8.3 The Board cannot take decisions on items which do not appear on the agenda of its meetings. At the beginning of a meeting the Board can add items to the agenda only if the majority of the Board agrees.

8.4 Decisions which violate Swiss law or the statutes of the Society can be contested in court by any member that has not voted for them within a month after taking cognizance of them.

8.5 No Board member has a right to vote on a legal transaction or legal dispute between the Society on the one hand and him/herself, his/her spouse or linear relative, or the association which he/she represents on the other.

9. THE EXECUTIVE

9.1 The Board will appoint and charge with the responsibility of running the Society, an Executive Committee comprising a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer and such other members as may be appropriate. Membership of the Executive Committee is not compatible with acting as a representative of a member association.

9.2 The tenure of Executive Officers will be for three years, renewable for one further period only, unless required by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board to relinquish office at an earlier time.

9.3 Executive Officers of the Society have the right of full participation in Board discussions but no voting rights.

9.4 The Executive may appoint other persons to assist them in the day-to-day running of ESSE by undertaking specified tasks as necessary. Such appointments shall be confirmed at the Board meeting after they are made. The Board may also make such appointments of persons to assist the Executive, or to otherwise undertake tasks on behalf of the Society. Appointments may be made for a fixed term, or indefinitely. Where appropriate, such persons may be invited to join in the discussions of the Board and/or the Executive, but shall have no voting rights. The period of office of such persons shall be terminated upon the completion of their fixed term of office, their resignation, or by vote of the Board.

10. THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR

10.1 If the Society publishes a regular Newsletter or similar periodical, the Board will appoint an Editor and charge said Editor with the responsibility of running said Newsletter or similar periodical.

10.2 The tenure of the Editor will be for three years, renewable for one further period only, unless required by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board to relinquish office at an earlier time.

10.3 The Editor has the right of full participation in Board discussions but no voting rights.

11. MEETINGS AND REPORTS

11.1 The Executive Committee shall convene a meeting of the Board at least once in every year and deliver an annual report to the Board orally and in writing unless two-thirds of the Board members write absolving it of its responsibility to do so. In such case the annual report will be circulated in writing.

11.2 Any member of the Board may convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Board on obtaining the support of one-fifth of the Board members. The Extraordinary General Meeting must be convened at a mutually convenient location and time within two months of the Chairman’s receipt of the request.

11.3 At each conference, the Executive shall organize a General Assembly of individual members participating in the conference. This Assembly may make recommendations to the Board.

12. SUB-COMMITTEES

The Board shall appoint such sub-committees with such terms of reference as it sees fit, provided that all acts and proceedings of such sub-committees are reported fully and promptly to the Board.

13. THE CONSTITUTION

Amendment to this constitution shall require the assent of two-thirds of the members present and voting at an ordinary or extraordinary meeting of the Board. A resolution for the amendment of the constitution must be received by the Secretary of the Society at least three months before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward. The Secretary must immediately circulate the resolution to members of the Board so that they, in their capacity as corporate members, can discuss the resolution with the governing bodies of constituent associations.

14. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

14.1 All sums collected by and on behalf of the Society shall be handed to the Treasurer who shall pay the same into a bank account to be determined by the Board.

14.2 The Treasurer shall present to the first meeting of the Board in every calendar year an account of the financial transactions carried out in the Society’s name in the previous year. The account will be audited by at least two auditors elected by the Board. If the auditors’ findings satisfy the Board, the Board shall relieve the Executive of personal liability.

14.3 The Treasurer and the President shall each have the authority to make payments on behalf of the Society and to operate the Society’s bank accounts. The authorization of either the Treasurer or the President is sufficient for financial transactions to be made on behalf of the Society provided that no liability greater than the current assets of the Society is incurred in so doing.

15. DISSOLUTION

15.1 The Society may be dissolved by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Board convened for the purpose of which 21 days’ notice shall have been given to the member associations. The resolution to dissolve the Society will give instructions for the disposal of assets held by the Society. Any property remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall be returned to constituent associations of the Society in proportion to their contributions in the three years preceding the date on which the dissolution takes effect.

15.2 By Swiss law the Society is dissolved if it is insolvent or is unable to appoint an Executive in accordance with this constitution.

Given at Glasgow, on the 7th of September, 1995

Point 8.2 was amended by the ESSE Board at London in August 2006.
Points 9.4, 10 (10.1, 10.2, 10.3), and 14.3 were added by the ESSE Board at Szeged in August 2009.

The Extended Executive

ESSE was created in Rome in January 1990.

The Society is a European federation of national higher educational associations for the study of English. Individual membership of the Society is obtained via the corporate membership of national or joint-national constituent associations. In other words, membership of ESSE is granted by the membership of a national association affiliated to ESSE. The Society endeavours to reflect the cultural and geographical diversity of Europe in its institutions.

The aim of the Society is to advance the education of the public by promoting the European study and understanding of English languages, literatures in English and cultures of English-speaking peoples.

The Society endeavours:

• To arrange regular conferences for those researching and teaching English languages, literatures in English and cultures of English-speaking peoples in Europe. fifteen have been held, ESSE-1 in Norwich, 1991, ESSE-2 in Bordeaux, 1993, ESSE-3 in Glasgow, 1995, ESSE-4 in Debrecen, 1997, ESSE-5 in Helsinki, 2000, ESSE-6 in Strasbourg, 2002, ESSE-7 in Zaragoza, 2004, ESSE-8 in London, 2006, ESSE-9 in Aarhus in 2008, ESSE-10 in Turin, ESSE-11 in Istanbul in 2012, ESSE-12 in Košice in 2014, ESSE-13 in Galway in 2016, ESSE-14 in Brno in 2018 , ESSE-15 in Lyon in 2020/2021 (online), and ESSE-16 in Mainz in 2022. The next conference, ESSE-17, will be held in Lausanne in 2024.

• To foster research-networks in specialist topics which will bring together higher education teachers, scholars and writers and facilitate intellectual cooperation. A scholarly journal, the European Journal of English Studies (EJES), is published in cooperation with Routledge.

• To provide an information network, in the form of a newsletter (The ESSE Messenger), about matters related to English studies in Europe, such as curriculum developments, national conferences, specialised research projects. The Messenger has also initiated the publication of supplements to its regular newsletter, beginning with the report from the Berlin meeting on Resources for Scholarship in Eastern Europe, which can be downloaded in pdf format. Jan Rusiecki’s report on Postgraduate Studies in Europe, can also be downloaded here in pdf format. More recently, Martin A. Kayman’s A Survey of English Studies in Europe at the Turn of the Century was published in the Spring 2005 issue of The Messenger. In case you cannot read the pdf format, click here to download the free programme Adobe Reader.

• To provide information which will facilitate faculty and student exchanges under international cooperation programmes, especially those of the European Union.

ESSE offers a bursary scheme to help support young academics, and book grants to researchers.

ESSE also awards prizes to books about English studies. The previous ESSE Book Prizes were awarded in 2006 in London, in 2008 in Aarhus, in 2010 in Turin, in 2012 in Istanbul, in 2014 in Košice, in 2016 in Galway, in 2018 in Brno, in 2020/2021 in Lyon (online), and in 2022 in Mainz. The next ESSE Book Prizes will be awarded in 2024 in Lausanne.

The dates of all Founders’ meetings, Board meetings, Executive meetings and ESSE Conferences are available on the History of ESSE page

ESSE is a member of FILLM. The Federation for Modern Languages and Literatures (FILLM) is the official international body which represents the study of language and literature as research-based scholarly disciplines in universities and tertiary higher education institutions world-wide.
FILLM is part of the UNESCO pyramid of international associations which seek to represent intellectual and cultural endeavour on a global basis.