Litvínov, September 6, 2018 – The first school day at Educhem secondary school in Meziboří at Litvínov was marked by a major event. The petrochemical and refinery group Unipetrol awarded twenty-two students incentive scholarships worth a total of CZK 50,000 during the school year opening ceremony. This scholarship is awarded by Unipetrol to Applied Chemistry students twice a year. Thirteen students newly entered the field this year. In total, it is studied by 54 out of almost two hundred students in the four classes.
"Awarding student scholarships twice a year is only one part of our long-term cooperation with Educhem secondary school. In the long run, we are struggling with the generational renewal of our employees, and for that reason we are also focusing on supporting students in chemical industries. Educhem, which is close to our manufacturing plant, is therefore the ideal choice for us," says Tomáš Herink, a member of the Board of Directors of the Unipetrol Group, responsible for development, research and education.
"Collaboration with Unipetrol is great. In the last school year, the company awarded our students incentive scholarships worth almost 100 thousand crowns, providing professional practice or excursions for them. We also worked with Unipetrol to create a curriculum for the newly-launched field of Petrochemistry. We are opening this program for the first time this year, students can choose it in their third year. I believe that this successful cooperation will continue and deepen" confirms Helena Kripnerová, director of Educhem secondary school.
The cooperation between Educhem and Unipetrol has several forms. In addition to motivational scholarships, students of higher grades undergo a two-week practice which takes place mainly in the laboratories of the chemical plant. Last year, 19 students took part in the practice. The school and plant also organize excursions, discussions and workshops not only for students, but also for teachers. During meetings, the possibilities of further directing pupils in cooperation with Unipetrol are addressed. After graduation, pupils have the opportunity to enter production in the position of operator or to continue studying at a branch of the University of Chemistry and Technology directly in the production facility of the Litvínov plant.
One of the successful graduates of Educhem secondary school is Simona Waňousová, who later graduated from the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague and joined Unipetrol in 2015. After joining, she enrolled in the internal Graduate Program, in which Unipetrol helps graduates find their ideal field of work. Within two years of becoming familiar with the operation of Unipetrol, she chose what suits her the most, and now holds the position of head of technology and research.
Cooperation with the Unipetrol Foundation
The Unipetrol Foundation also cooperates with Educhem secondary school. In spring, the school received a grant from the foundation worth 240 thousand crowns. For this amount it will organize chemical seminars for the public in Most area, aiming to popularize chemistry and attract new students. The school will also make use of the original bazaar of functional lab equipment recently launched by the foundation. "During September we will pass on to Educhem unused devices for laboratories from the Unipetrol Foundation's chemical bazaar. In our chemical bazaar, we offer free equipment for laboratories, classrooms, small furniture and chemical consumables for teaching. This is material for teaching chemistry which is used but fully functional or with slightly limited functionality," Julie Růžičková, director of the Unipetrol Foundation, explains.