The University Centre, located at the chemical site of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group in Litvínov and run by the company together with the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Czech Technical University, is celebrating 20 years of its existence. During this time, over 600 students graduated from the Centre. They studied directly in the industrial area of Chempark, giving them a unique opportunity to put their knowledge into practice. This University Centre is the only one in the Czech Republic that is operated by a public university on an industrial estate.
The University Centre Litvínov VŠCHT – FS ČVUT – ORLEN Unipetrol is located at Chempark Litvínov and is the only location in Czechia housing a part of a public university directly at the production site. Since 2015, about 50 students have attended this Centre each year in bachelor, master and PhD courses held at the heart of the largest chemical plant in the country.
“Locating a part of the public university directly on commercial production premises is unique both in the Czech Republic and Europe. This combination is also exceptional thanks to the possibility of verifying the acquired theoretical knowledge in practice, which is something that schools and industrial enterprises have long been calling for. This collaboration also bears fruit in joint research and development and when submitting draft research projects in the Czech Republic and abroad, including the programme calls opened by the European Union,” sums up Milan Jahoda, Vice-Rector for Education, University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague.
In 2020, the University Centre was expanded to include a Training Centre, offering students the option to gain insights into occupational safety procedures before they join the production process. It comprises a smaller yet fully functional production units controlled remotely from the so-called command centre, operator simulators and a fire safety polygon. "Thanks to the specific environment of chemical production, students can be gradually integrated into practice from the second semester of the first year, where they initially only get to know the technology and connect theoretical knowledge with reality. Over time, the students then become involved in a range of research and education activities offered or organised by the University Centre, in which they then carry out their qualification work on one of the many industrial topics," explains Tomáš Herink, Director of Research and Development at ORLEN Unipetrol Group, adding: "More than two-thirds of the students then stay in our company or within the Ústí region, which also contributes to increasing the competitiveness and standard of living of the region."
The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Czech Technical University joined the University Centre in 2021 to teach specialised courses on the Centre’s premises.
“We have long perceived the demands of industry for university-educated specialists, and in the Ústí region we have seen the interest of companies especially in the chemical and manufacturing industries and the energy sector. Therefore, we wanted to prepare a sufficient number of suitable graduates, offer knowledge with an innovation potential for industry, and actively build up ecosystems for collaboration with industrial partners. Our partnership with ORLEN Unipetrol is an ideal example of this practice,” concludes Tomáš Jirout, Vice-Dean for Academic and Research Affairs, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on crude oil processing and the production, distribution and sale of vehicle fuels and petrochemical products – particularly plastics and fertilisers. It belongs among the key players on the Czech and Central European markets in all these areas. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group encompasses refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, REMAQ in Otrokovice, and two research centres in Litvínov and Brno. ORLEN Unipetrol also includes the ORLEN network of petrol stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. ORLEN Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic in terms of turnover. It employs over 6,000 people. ORLEN Unipetrol is also a socially responsible company, particularly in the areas of supporting sustainable development, education, local communities and the environment. Its quality employee care is attested to by the prestigious Top Employer certificate which the Group received in 2023 and 2024 and by a host of national accolades. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest energy company in Central Europe.