ABOUT THE INSTITUTE

About the Chess Learning Institute

The Chess Learning Institute builds on three decades of practice in Denmark, helping partners adapt chess-based learning across countries and contexts.

30 years of refinement

Developing chess-based learning alongside traditional education.

500+ schools in Denmark

Reached through the work of Dansk Skoleskak.

Beyond Denmark

Sharing the methodology across countries and contexts.

MORE THAN A GAME

How chess-based learning supports development

The structure of chess demands sustained attention and forward planning. It brings people face to face, creates clear rules for interaction and can provide a respectful framework for learning together.

Because the activity is flexible, subject-specific content can be built into it alongside opportunities to practise cognitive, social and emotional skills.

DEVELOPED THROUGH PRACTICE

Refined in Danish schools.

Dansk Skoleskak has spent around 30 years developing and refining this approach in support of traditional education.

Chess-based learning has been introduced in more than 500 schools across Denmark. That practical experience continues to inform how the methodology is designed, delivered and improved. Explore our chess-based learning programmes for schools.

FROM EXPERIENCE TO INSTITUTE

Designed to travel across countries and contexts

The Chess Learning Institute is the next step in that work. It exists to share the methodology beyond Denmark and to work with organisations that want to adapt chess-based learning to their own educational and social contexts.

Our aim is to make structured learning experiences available to more children and adults, with attention to cognitive, emotional and social development.

The National Office

Meet the Chess Learning Institute team

Behind the Chess Learning Institute is a multidisciplinary team from Dansk Skoleskak working across learning, development, analysis, technology and communication.

Select a portrait to move from then to now. For general enquiries, contact Søren A. Poulsen.

Childhood portrait of Mads Jacobsen.Current portrait of Mads Jacobsen.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Mads Jacobsen

Mads Jacobsen

Director General

Childhood portrait of Søren A. Poulsen.Current portrait of Søren A. Poulsen.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Søren A. Poulsen

Søren A. Poulsen

Director of International Strategy

Childhood portrait of Mikkel Nørgaard.Current portrait of Mikkel Nørgaard.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Mikkel Nørgaard

Mikkel Nørgaard

Head of Educational Content

Childhood portrait of Lene Bierbaum.Current portrait of Lene Bierbaum.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Lene Bierbaum

Lene Bierbaum

Head of Development

Childhood portrait of Jacob Søndergaard Christensen.Current portrait of Jacob Søndergaard Christensen.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Jacob Søndergaard Christensen

Jacob Søndergaard Christensen

Head of Research

Childhood portrait of Caroline Bang Fredensborg.Current portrait of Caroline Bang Fredensborg.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Caroline Bang Fredensborg

Caroline Bang Fredensborg

Communications Coordinator

Childhood portrait of Shah Alam.Current portrait of Shah Alam.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Shah Alam

Shah Alam

IT Developer

Childhood portrait of Anne West Colsted.Current portrait of Anne West Colsted.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Anne West Colsted

Anne West Colsted

Project Coordinator

Childhood portrait of Nana Gade.Current portrait of Nana Gade.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Nana Gade

Nana Gade

Funding Coordinator

Childhood portrait of Kristine Gustafsson.Current portrait of Kristine Gustafsson.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Kristine Gustafsson

Kristine Gustafsson

Funding Coordinator

Childhood portrait of David Christophersen.Current portrait of David Christophersen.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of David Christophersen

David Christophersen

Educational Consultant

Childhood portrait of Rikke Petersen.Current portrait of Rikke Petersen.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Rikke Petersen

Rikke Petersen

Educational Consultant

Childhood portrait of Kathrine Lysgaard Larsen.Current portrait of Kathrine Lysgaard Larsen.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Kathrine Lysgaard Larsen

Kathrine Lysgaard Larsen

Educational Consultant

Childhood portrait of Claus Slothuus Lund.Current portrait of Claus Slothuus Lund.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Claus Slothuus Lund

Claus Slothuus Lund

Educational Consultant

Childhood portrait of Hans-Peder Lund.Current portrait of Hans-Peder Lund.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Hans-Peder Lund

Hans-Peder Lund

Educational Consultant

Childhood portrait of Rikke Sandemann.Current portrait of Rikke Sandemann.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Rikke Sandemann

Rikke Sandemann

Educational Consultant

Childhood portrait of Sisse Bøgh Hansen.Current portrait of Sisse Bøgh Hansen.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Sisse Bøgh Hansen

Sisse Bøgh Hansen

Educational Consultant

Childhood portrait of Louise Højen Frost.Current portrait of Louise Højen Frost.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Louise Højen Frost

Louise Højen Frost

Educational Consultant

Childhood portrait of Niklas Hansen.Current portrait of Niklas Hansen.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Niklas Hansen

Niklas Hansen

Educational Consultant

Childhood portrait of Mikkel Ihd-Bak.Current portrait of Mikkel Ihd-Bak.Toggle between childhood and current portrait of Mikkel Ihd-Bak

Mikkel Ihd-Bak

Educational Consultant

Explore the methodology.

See how chess can be used as a structured medium for learning and development, or browse our partner resources.