On Thursday, April 23, 2026, the Faculty of Letters at the University of Bucharest hosted a unique event dedicated to handwriting in the digital era: “Calligraphy Hour.” The initiative brought together students, teachers, actors, writers, and journalists in the Reading Room of the Faculty’s Library, where they quite literally sat side by side at the same desks in a shared exercise of reflection, discipline, and personal expression.
Among the guests were sociologist Marian Preda, Rector of the University of Bucharest; lecturer Christian Năsulea from the Faculty of History; writers Ioana Nicolaie and Ana Barton; writer Radu Paraschivescu; journalist Cătălin Striblea; journalists Amalia Enache, Alexandra Tănăsescu, and Anca Suciu; actress Ada Condeescu; psychotherapist Alexandra Irod; and Ana Rubeli, founder of the “Aici a stat” project. They were joined by the program’s initiators, Călin Hera and Oana Ivan.
Organized by PiArt Vision, the initiative promotes handwriting as a practice of reflection, discipline, and personal expression. For the students of “Sfinții Voievozi” Secondary School No. 1 in Bucharest, the experience began with discovering one of the University’s most impressive reading rooms, whose architecture and book-centered atmosphere left a strong impression.
Guided by their teacher, Cristina Senos, the children explored the meaning of words such as “respect,” “kindness,” and “friendship,” writing them down and then explaining them in their own words. “Respect means speaking nicely to our parents and especially to our grandparents,” and “A friend makes you laugh when you feel down,” they said, offering simple yet genuine definitions.
Handwriting: between reflection and character formation
The guests highlighted the essential role of handwriting in developing thinking and emotional balance. In this context, Rector Marian Preda emphasized the importance of authenticity in a technology-driven world, noting that “those who will win the ‘battle’ with artificial intelligence will be the autonomous and authentic ones.” He also shared that whenever he writes for himself, he always prefers handwriting.
“Writing a word by hand means thinking about that word. At a time when artificial intelligence generates texts instantly, handwriting builds thought,” said Călin Hera. Oana Ivan, in turn, stressed the formative dimension of the exercise: “Behind a handwritten page lies a series of small but essential virtues: patience, perseverance, and order.”
Writer Ioana Nicolaie drew attention to the cultural dimension of writing: “A world in which we no longer write by hand would be a grey, grey, grey world,” while journalist Cătălin Striblea spoke about the emotional power of handwritten letters, which still reach newsrooms as a form of genuine human connection.
Other guests shared personal experiences: Amalia Enache explained that handwriting helps her organize her thoughts, Alexandra Tănăsescu keeps a journal for her daughter, and psychotherapist Alexandra Irod highlighted the benefits of this habit in reducing anxiety and depression.
The guests also emphasized the emotional and heritage value of handwriting. “It is part of who we are as human beings,” said Ana Rubeli, while actress Ada Condeescu recalled her fascination with manuscripts, which offer a deeper understanding of their authors.
The conclusion came from writer Ana Barton, who described handwriting as a tool for inner balance – something that “regulates emotional temperature” and “reveals who you are.”
At the end of the event, participants were invited to write a handwritten letter to a loved one, carrying forward the event’s message.
“Calligraphy Hour” is an educational program developed by PiArt Vision in partnership with the University of Bucharest, Libris, Poenari, Herlitz Romania, and Empire Video Production.
The University of Bucharest among the world’s top 25 universities for “Quality Education”
According to the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025, the University of Bucharest ranks among the top 25 universities worldwide for “Quality Education,” one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.
In the overall ranking, the university places 93rd globally and ranks first in Romania, marking the first time a Romanian university has entered the global top 100 of this ranking.
Its strongest result was achieved for “Goal 5 – Gender Equality,” where the University of Bucharest ranks 3rd worldwide.
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