Gender and Sexualities at UM

02/06/2026

🎓 STUDENT RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT 🎓

Our department is incredibly proud to showcase this outstanding research project by student Fanni Kisbéri, titled: "Judit Polgár: Breaking Gender Stereotypes Through Chess."

Fanni’s work takes an in-depth look at how Hungarian grandmaster Judit Polgár challenged deeply ingrained institutional narratives, overcame systemic media bias, and dismantled the patriarchal structures of the competitive chess world.

From achieving the grandmaster title at just 15 years old to holding the consecutive world #1 female ranking for an astonishing 25 years, Polgár’s career serves as a powerful case study in transformational and feminist leadership.

➡️ Swipe through the gallery below to read Fanni's presentation slides and explore her findings on how symbolic leaders can redefine global conversations surrounding women and intelligence.

Join us in celebrating our students' academic achievements!

20/05/2026

Empowering Victims and Exposing Perpetrators: A Note of Thanks to Dr. Katerina Hadjimatheou

Yesterday evening, the Department of Gender and Sexualities at the University of Malta hosted Dr. Katerina Hadjimatheou for a critical lecture on the reality and future of Domestic Violence Disclosure Schemes (DVDS), widely known as "Clare’s Law."

Dr. Hadjimatheou shared vital insights from the largest global study of its kind, presenting data and feedback from over 600 survivors and 40 practitioners. Her presentation offered an essential look at how criminal history disclosure impacts safety, policy, and justice for at-risk individuals.

The Department extends its sincere gratitude to Dr. Hadjimatheou, Director of the Centre for Criminology at the University of Ess*x and advisor to the UK Home Office, for sharing her landmark research and expertise with our academic community. Thank you also to the attendees whose presence and engagement contributed to this important discussion on violence prevention.

18/05/2026

🌍✈️ Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Success! 🇬🇷

Department of Gender and Sexualities is incredibly proud to celebrate the successful completion of an Erasmus+ Staff Mobility visit to the beautiful Ionian University in Corfu, Greece, by our administrator Tamara Nesic!

First and foremost, a massive thank you goes to the Erasmus Office Malta for their invaluable support in making this journey possible. Your dedication to funding and organizing these opportunities allows our staff to grow professionally and bring fresh global perspectives back to our team.

We also extend our deepest gratitude to the wonderful hosts at Ionian University for their warm hospitality and brilliant collaboration. A very special thank you to Nikoletta Alevizaki, Effrosyni Avgerinou, Iakovos Panagopoulos, and Marianthi Kosmarikou for making our administrator feel so welcome and ensuring a highly productive visit.

A major highlight of the mobility was the opportunity to attend the 19th Audiovisual Arts Festival (AVfest). Witnessing this incredible intersection of contemporary sonic and visual arts—pioneered by the Department of Audio & Visual Arts and the ERHMEE Lab—was an absolute privilege. The creative energy, media art events, and innovative research showcased there have brought immense inspiration back to our own department.

We are excited about the future collaborations and the strengthened bonds between our institutions!

13/05/2026

As we move into the 2nd week of our campaign, we turn our focus on Gender Diversity & Gender Identity.

Achilleas' story is testament to how dialogue & reflection around the importance of recognising and respecting diverse gender identities strengthens inclusion within our community, while creating a safer environment for everyone.

Equity Office UM

07/05/2026

Day 2 of the Gender and Sexualities Conference ✨

Another inspiring day filled with engaging presentations, meaningful discussions, and the sharing of knowledge and experiences.

Thank you to all speakers, participants, collaborators, and attendees for contributing to such a successful event.

A special thanks to the Human Rights Directorate for their collaboration and support in organising this conference together with the Faculty for Social Wellbeing at the University of Malta.

And a big thank you to our students for their dedication, support, and hard work throughout the event — your contribution made a real difference 💛

06/05/2026

Day 1 of the Gender and Sexuality Conference 2026, organised in collaboration with the Human Rights Directorate (HRD), brought together a vibrant community of researchers, practitioners, and students for a full day of engaging presentations and discussions.

We are grateful for this collaboration and for the contributions of all presenters and participants who made the day such a success.

📸 Here are some highlights from Day 1

📘 Explore the full Book of Abstracts here:https://www.um.edu.mt/media/um/docs/events/genderands*xualitiesconference2026/GenderandSexualitiesConference2026AbstractBook.pdf

24/04/2026

Yesterday, the Department of Gender and Sexualities, in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy, hosted a special screening of Soy Nevenka.

We were honoured to welcome H.E. Miriam Álvarez de la Rosa Rodríguez, Spanish Ambassador who opened the event with insightful remarks.

The film sparked meaningful reflection and discussion around gender justice, courage, and social change. Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to such an engaging and thoughtful evening.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Spanish Ambassador for her presence and support in making this event possible.

16/04/2026

Don’t miss out! 🏛️ The UM Masters Fair is happening NOW at the Campus Hub Piazza.
Stop by today or tomorrow to explore a world of postgraduate opportunities and find the perfect match for your ambitions.

See you there! 👋

13/04/2026

https://www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/upcomingevents/2026/spanishfilmscreeningofiamnevenka.html

On Thursday 23 April 2026

08/04/2026

Are you a Master’s graduate in Fashion, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, Textile Studies, Gender Studies, or Cultural Studies?

The Department of Gender and Sexualities at the University of Malta is looking for a Research Support Officer II to assist with an insightful study on how adults in Malta express gender identities through their everyday fashion choices.

This role is perfect for a researcher with a strong background in qualitative methods who wants to explore the intersection of embodiment, culture, and dress in a Mediterranean context.

What you’ll be doing:

Coordinating participants and scheduling interviews.

Conducting semi-structured interviews (in-person or via Zoom).

Managing research ethics, GDPR-compliant data, and thematic analysis.

Handling pseudonymised transcripts and participant-submitted garment photography.

Requirements:

A Master’s or MTL degree in the fields mentioned above.

Proven experience in qualitative interviewing and thematic analysis.

Sensitivity and professionalism when engaging with diverse participants.

Must be living in Malta for the duration of the project.

How to Apply:
Submit your letter of application, CV, and certificates to [email protected] by no later than Tuesday, 14th April 2026.

Our research