EDUCATION

“Our goal is for teachers to learn about the skill-developing effects of playing chess.” 

The education of children around the world raises many questions: how can future generations be prepared to face the challenges that await them? What educational methods most effectively support the development of children and the work of parents and teachers?   

Our way: Judit Polgar Method 

Chess-based educational programs are becoming increasingly popular globally, and their effectiveness has been proven by research. Our foundation has been active in this field for more than 10 years. We see chess also as a skill development tool.

We have developed an innovative, in-house educational methodology for children aged 4-10, which

  • can also be applied at home with the help of the Chess Palace book series, 
  • strengthens or establishes the relationship between generations within the family,
  • it is also present in educational institutions, kindergartens and schools.

The Method is based on maintaining motivation through play. Within the Method, we have developed mutually reinforcing educational programs, the BELMA and Hungarian Product Grand Prize Winner Chess Palace, and the ChessPE program. The Judit Polgar Method, which has been recognised and supported by the European Commission (EC), the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the European Chess Union (ECU) as an outstanding educational innovation, has been part of the Hungarian education system since 2013 and is used in several countries in Europe and China.

Our aim is to make the chess game known to educators for its skill-building effects and to make the method and its programs available to children worldwide for use at home or in educational institutions. We strive to promote chess as a learning tool in kindergartens and schools.

Regular accredited training courses, lectures and workshops organized by our Foundation provide a comprehensive knowledge of the Polgar Judit Method programs and help educators and chess teachers with ideas that can be put into practice on a daily basis.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

At the Educational Chess Summit, an international conference organized within the framework of the Judit Polgar Global Chess Festival in Budapest, we look at the role and importance of chess in education from new perspectives every year. Through lectures, practical demonstrations and round-table discussions, renowned international experts from around the world present innovative methods, new tools and recent measurement results. Our speakers have made a significant contribution to increasing implementation of chess in kindergartens and schools. Their work has introduced tens of thousands of children to chess and made them fall in love with it, and their educational courses have trained thousands of teachers and trainers.

At the conference, our Foundation will award the title of “Goodwill Ambassador of Chess in Education”, which has so far been awarded to Leontxo García (Spain), Jerry Nash (USA) and Jesper Hall (Norway).