Armenian State Pedagogical University receives the "Academic Vanguard Award"

In Samarkand, Uzbekistan, as part of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad and Congress, the "Chess in Education" Summit was held, bringing together representatives from the fields of education, science and chess to discuss the role of chess in education and its impact on the development of children’s thinking, concentration, decision-making and other skills.

As part of the Summit, the 2026 FIDE Year of Chess in Education Awards ceremony was held, during which the Armenian State Pedagogical University received the "Academic Vanguard Award."

The award was presented in recognition of the scientific work carried out by the Chess Research Institute at the Armenian State Pedagogical University, its contribution to the field of chess in education, and its efforts to promote the sustainable development of the field through evidence-based research. The award was accepted by Smbat Lputian, Director of the Chess Research Institute and International Grandmaster.

The final session of the Summit, titled "The Past, Present and Future of Chess in Education," brought together experts representing different stages in the development of chess in education. The "Past" thematic panel featured Arpine Lputian, Ambassador of the "Chess in Schools" program in Armenia, who spoke about the path through which chess has developed in Armenia not only as a sport, but also as an integral part of education through teacher training, methodology and research.

The Summit once again highlighted the importance of scientific research, pedagogical experience and international cooperation in advancing chess in education.