The scholarship programme combines education and practice and reinforces partnerships between schools and the industrial sector. “We really appreciate the student interest in chemistry and natural sciences. Supporting education is crucial to us because young, talented people are the future of our industry. Scholarship programmes, grants, and collaborations with schools are ways to expand their options and combine theory with practice. In the last school year, we recognised nearly 50 talented students at Schola Humanitas. That is evidence for us that our support makes sense and motivates students to further development,” ORLEN Unipetrol Group’s HR director, Michal Chmiel, comments on the awards.
Scholarships are awarded to talented students based on a strict point system that takes into account both study results across all subjects and achievements in special secondary school activities and competitions, from district to national Olympiad rounds. The students with the best achievements in the 2024/2025 school year have received a financial contribution this year that motivates them to further development and paves the way for acquiring practical and professional experience.
Schola Humanitas, a secondary technical school for environmental protection and renewal, has been a partner school of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group for many years. The company offers various educational opportunities for students and their teachers, including participation in thematic workshops and debates, opportunities to join research activities and acquire practical training experience, and the option to take on student jobs. ORLEN Unipetrol has supported Schola Humanitas for a long time. For instance, 38 students received scholarships worth CZK 207,000 in 2024, while CZK 200,000 was distributed among 37 students in 2023.
The school’s support does not end with the scholarships. As part of the school grant programme, the ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation has contributed CZK 305,000 to the implementation of HPLC/UV-VIS food analysis in chemistry lessons and laboratory practice this year. In addition to financial support, the school regularly receives grants for instructional upgrades and for purchasing laboratory equipment.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on oil processing and the production, distribution, and sale of fuels and petrochemical products, particularly plastics and fertilizers. It is a major player in all these areas on the Czech and Central European markets. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group includes refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, REMAQ in Otrokovice, research center in Brno. ORLEN Unipetrol also owns 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 5,000 people. ORLEN Unipetrol is also a socially responsible company, particularly in the areas of sustainable development, education, local communities, and the environment. The prestigious international Top Employer certificate, which the group received in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and a number of national awards confirm the high quality of employee care. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest energy company in Central Europe.
Contact: Pavel Kaidl, spokesperson, telephone: +420 736 502 520, e-mail: pavel.kaidl@orlenunipetrol.cz