Founded in 2016, the Association of English Language and Literature Students “ESA Excalibur” aims to promote and encourage the free use of the English language among students.
The association’s first leadership team consisted of Julia Batošević, Ilko Bakalar, and Božena Krešić. The establishment of the association was also supported by professors from the Department of English Language and Literature at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The name of the association, inspired by the tales of King Arthur, was proposed by the late Professor Marijana Sivrić, PhD.

The main reason for founding the association was to connect students from different academic years in a relaxed environment and to improve their language skills. Speaking a foreign language in front of professors during lectures is not equally easy for all students, so the core function of the Association is to help relieve that fear through informal conversations with peers.

With this goal in mind, a book club was also established, held at the City Library within the Croatian Home “Herceg Stjepan Kosača.” The book club was structured so that students held two meetings per month—one dedicated to prose and the other to poetry. Unlike the curriculum-based reading, the selection of works was not restricted by syllabi but rather focused on titles most interesting to young readers. The skills acquired through participation in the club also helped students in their academic courses.

The association also included a drama section, whose members, with the support of Professor Anđelka Raguž, PhD, created, prepared, and performed plays. Some of the original works include Twisted Tales (2017) and Contract Killer (2022).

The highlight of the academic year is marked by presentations during English Days, which gather all interested students and professors. Presenters are free to choose any topic related to the English language and literature, and all audience members are welcome.

All association activities are conducted in English, just like the courses offered by the Department of English Language and Literature, which helps students acquire the language more effectively and puts it into practical use.

A Mentorship Programme was also introduced with the primary goal of connecting upper-year students with first-year students to help them better navigate their new academic environment.

ESA Excalibur aims to continue organizing its established events, such as the Christmas party and English Days, while also launching new projects and collaborations with institutions and organizations that promote English language proficiency.

The current council of the Association for the academic year 2024/25 consists of Leona Milas, Andrea Pešorda, Rahela Jogunica, Miran Zovko, and Korina Opančar.