The 33rd International Philosophical Olympiad (IPO) took place in Bari, Italy, from 15 to 18 May 2025, with the participation of students and teachers from 53 countries, including Slovakia.

The aim of the event is to promote philosophical education at secondary school level, to increase interest in philosophy among young people and to cultivate the ability to think critically and creatively about the problems of the modern world. During the event, students have many opportunities for personal contacts with young people from different countries and for mutual cultural and intellectual enrichment. 

The first two students from the Slovak qualification round of the Philosophical Olympiad, Samuel Peterec from the Milan Hodza Bilingual Grammar School in Sucany and Miroslava Baricova from the Jura Hronec Grammar School in Bratislava, have advanced to this year's event. Miroslava also participated in the competition last year, when she also advanced from the Slovak qualification. On behalf of the teachers, the country was represented by Jan Hrkut and Ivan Koniar from the Department of Philosophy of the Faculty of Arts Catholic University in Ruzomberok, who also participated in the evaluation of the works as members of the international committee of teachers.

The essays of the two Slovak students were awarded Honorary Mention this year, which means that they were selected for the selection of the works considered for medals. And although they did not win a medal in the end, we congratulate them on their success and on their prominent position in comparison to the 110 works submitted by students from all over the world.

This year's Philosophical Olympiad (Slovak round and qualifying round), as well as the representation at the international competition, was generously made possible by the grant 101127675 EUPECCOM (European Perspectives on Climate, Conflict and Migration), Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Actions in the Field of Higher Education: Modules.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the EACEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.