An Alumni and a current student of the Roma Graduate Preparation Program (RGPP) were awarded last year for their exceptional work for the community. Michal Mižigár CEU History student won an international award, Jozsef Csendes RGPP student was awarded the Minority Award of the city of Miskolc.
Active in Roma issues since he was 15 years old, CEU History student and Alumni of Romani Studies Program’s Roma Graduate Preparation Program, Michal Mižigár has won the inaugural Aspen Central Europe Leadership Award, awarded by the Aspen Institute Central Europe to successful young leaders. The award recognizes people who are "not afraid to set an example and who have strengthened their exposure to the public. In a unique way, they are contributing to improving society".
The Aspen Institute Central Europe is the Central European partner of the Aspen Institute global network. It is a non-partisan platform for policy innovation, value-based leadership, and international cooperation. To this end, this institute holds seminars, policy meetings, and public conferences designed to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue in the region and to enhance responsible leadership.
Michal got the Award from the Board of Directors of the Aspen Institute Central Europe for his contribution to values-based leadership among the Roma-minority and for contributing to improving society in Central Europe.
“Michal is the Aspen Young Leaders Program Alumni. The program is designed for emerging leaders (aged 25-40) from Central Europe, active in various professional fields. The Program’s main goal is to encourage its participants to reflect on the fundamental qualities that make a successful leader in today’s world. It also aims at helping young Central Europeans network and discuss issues critical for society’s development. At the moment we have about 300 AYLP Alumni” – explained for the Romani Studies Program’s website Zuzana Kroupova, Aspen Institute Central Europe’s communication manager.
Jozsef Csendes, currently an RGPP student, was awarded the Minority Award of the city of Miskolc on the 5th of December, 2019. The award is given to outstanding citizens belonging to the minority groups of the city for their exemplary achievements in the fields of art and culture, community building, pedagogy and human rights advocacy.
The Roma Graduate Preparation Program (RGPP) is an intensive 10-month program that prepares outstanding Roma graduates with an interest in social sciences and humanities to compete for places on Master's-level courses at internationally recognized universities.
The RGPP prepares students for further studies in their chosen field through intensive academic tutoring in disciplines such as Economics, Gender Studies, History, International Relations and European Studies, Law/Human Rights, Nationalism, Political Science, Public Policy and Public Administration, or Sociology, Social Anthropology and Nationalism Studies (additional disciplines may be offered).
The call for applications for the Roma Graduate Preparation Program 2020/21 academic year is now open!
In the attached video you can have some insight into what Michal thinks about RGPP.