Our institute is a finalist of the Roma Spirit 2025 award in the category “Company and Employer

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The Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences has won an extremely precious award to be among the 21 finalists of the 17th year of the Roma Spirit Award, in the category of Society and Employer. This year, a total of 163 nominations were concentrated in 7 categories. Roma Spirit for a prestigious award that recognizes personalities, organizations and initiatives that contribute to improving the position of Roma and building a fairer and more cohesive society. Every year, it gives a voice to those who work tirelessly for others and prove that inclusion is not just a vision, but an everyday reality (www.romaspirit.sk).

An expert jury consisting of domestic and foreign evaluators selected three finalists in each category. The Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences was nominated for:

“… long-term and systematic scientific activity in the field of Roma research, which has a significant impact on the knowledge of this community at home and abroad. It is a top scientific workplace that brings relevant knowledge about the culture, history, social situation and health of the Roma to the academic and public space.

The Institute has long been creating high-quality scientific outputs that shape professional and public discussions and strengthen understanding between communities. It systematically develops scientific cooperation at the national and international level and its work goes beyond the borders of Slovakia.”

(Source https://www.romaspirit.sk/encyklopedia/ustav-etnologie-a-socialnej-antropologie-sav-v-v-i/).

We perceive our place among the finalists in the “Company and Employer” category as a great appreciation of many years of systematic research in the field of Roma studies at our workplace. At present, Roma studies are profiled as a key topic within the scientific circle focused on the research of ethnic and minority communities.

On October 28, 2025, the Double Tree Hilton Hotel hosted the presentation of the finalists, who are divided into individual categories – “Personality,” “Non-Governmental Organization”, “Municipality and City”, “Society and Employer”, “Media”, “Culture” and “Act of the Year”. Our institute was represented by Dr. Tatiana Zachar Podolinská, director and researcher of the main topic of Roma studies at the workplace, together with several members of this circle. Even before the gala evening, which will take place on November 30, 2025, the finalists were given the opportunity to share their experiences and results of their work with each other and with media representatives.

We would like to thank the expert jury for selecting our institute for the three finalists. It is a great satisfaction for us, but also a commitment and encouragement for further work. Colleagues – co-finalists in our category, i.e. Alma Primary School and the law firm Krivák& Co., we sincerely keep our fingers crossed for the next round of judging by the international jury, which will decide on the laureates of the award in each category.

More information and the current year here: https://www.romaspirit.sk/rocnik/roma-spirit-2025/

Photo 2: Part of the staff of the research topic “Roma Studies” from the IESA SAS, v. v. i. at the meeting of the finalists (© Jana Ambrózová)

Photo 3: Director of the Institute of Economics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences Tatiana Zachar Podolinská with the founder of the Roma Spirit Award Ľubomíra Slušná – Franz (© Juraj Majo)

Photo 4: Preparation of a film shot about the Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences for the STVR gala evening. © ( Juraj Majo)