Bhubaneswar: The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology-Deemed to be University (KIIT-DU) has entered into a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE) and the All India Chess Federation (AICF) in Goa to organize the International Conference on Social and Educational Chess in January 2026. This partnership signifies a proud achievement for KIIT, KISS, and the state of Odisha, showcasing the increasing confidence of global sports organizations in these institutions and their commitment to harnessing the transformative capacity of education through sports. KIIT and KISS have been at the forefront of fostering sportsmanship, discipline, and excellence alongside academic success.
Over the years, KIIT has collaborated with numerous international sports organizations, including FIVB (Volleyball), FIFA (Football), and various national federations to enhance global standards in sports education and training. The alliance with FIDE, the premier chess organization worldwide, adds a significant milestone to this impressive journey. The Founder of KIIT and KISS, Achyuta Samanta, expressed, “We are profoundly honored by the trust bestowed upon us by FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich, Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand Ji, AICF president Nitin Narang Ji, and other dignitaries who attended the MoU signing ceremony.
Their recognition of KIIT & KISS’ vision of combining education with sports and social change is immensely valuable to us.” Samanta conveyed his appreciation to FIDE and AICF for their collaboration in promoting chess as an instrument for education, inclusion, and empowerment, assisting India in establishing itself as a prominent player in the global chess arena. He also acknowledged the ongoing support from the Odisha Chess Association in elevating chess to new levels with KIIT and KISS.
