Panhellenic Philosophical Essay Competition and CHS Greece

CHS Greece supports the annual Panhellenic Philosophical Essay Competition for high school students, since its establishment in 2012. This very successful national competition is organized by the Department of Philosophy, University of Patras, under the aegis of the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, and with the support of CHS Greece and the Panhellenic Association of Philologists.

Following the first phase of the competition that takes place in various places around Greece, its final round is organized at the University of Patras. Out of hundreds of participating high school students, the best ones–approximately 20 students­–qualify in this final round. The top two students represent Greece in the International Philosophy Olympiad that takes place in late spring, at a different country every year. The annual competition progress has proven a success throughout the years, and the Center’s goal is to continue supporting this initiative. CHS Greece is offering, every year, book prizes to the winners.

Since 2022, CHS Greece, in continuation of its longstanding collaboration with the University of Patras, offers the winner of the international leg of the competition one position, accompanied by a full scholarship, for the Center's High School Summer Program held in Nafplio every year.

CHS Greece and the Department of Philosophy, University of Patras worked together to establish the ground rules for the annual competition following the successful International Philosophy Olympiad that the Center and the University of Patras organized in Athens, back in 2010.

This successful cooperation played a critical role in bringing the competition back "home" in 2023. CHS Greece, the University of Patras, the Region of Western Greece, and the Society for the Promotion of Education and Learning (SPEL) joined forces to organize the 31st International Philosophy Olympiad in Olympia, Greece. From May 11 to 14, 2023, more than 200 students and professors from 50 countries traveled to Greece to participate in the 2023 International Philosophy Olympiad.

University of Patras logo