The University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (UCT Prague) is the largest educational institution of its kind in Central Europe with a tradition spanning almost two centuries. With progressive fields of study and a prestigious international reputation, UCT Prague provides every student with an education in advanced technologies and excellent preparation for lucrative careers worldwide.
The University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague: Past and Present
UCT Prague is a public higher education university pursuing scientific, research, development, and implementation activities. It is a member of the family of 28 public and state universities in the Czech Republic and is a member of EUA (the European University Association), FEANI (the European Federation of National Engineering Associations) and IGIP (International Society for Engineering Pedagogy). UCT Prague is known for the depth and breadth of its educational and research activities in almost all branches of chemistry, chemical engineering, food chemistry and technology, biochemistry, refining, water treatment, power and biological sciences and technologies, as well as environmental protection, materials sciences, and other chemistry-based fields of study. UCT Prague was founded in 1952 but its origins date back to 1807 when the first course in chemistry was delivered at Prague Polytechnic. Reorganization of the Polytechnic in 1920 resulted in the transformation of the chemistry department into the School of Chemical Technology, one of the seven sections of the Czech Technical University. UCT Prague has produced a number of outstanding alumni, including Professor Otto Wichterle, inventor of soft contact lenses in the 1950s, and Vladimír Prelog, a professor at ETH Zürich who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1975, graduated from the School of Chemical Technology in 1928. Prelog received his doctorate there several years later.
Notable Research
UCT Prague researchers were very successful within the European Community framework programme, HORIZON 2020, and are actively involved in developing many new research projects and collaborations. Notable prior efforts include:
- RECOBA, Assoc. Prof. Juraj Kosek, Cross-sectorial real-time sensing, advanced control and optimization of batch processes saving energy and raw materials
- PARTIAL-PGMs, Assoc. Prof. Petr Kočí, Development of novel, high-performance hybrid TWV/GPF Automotive after treatment systems by raTIonAL design: substitution of PGMs and Rare earth materials
- SElySOs, Prof. Karel Bouzek, Development of new electrode materials and understanding of degradation mechanisms on Solid Oxide High-Temperature Electrolysis Cells
- SuPER-W, Prof. Pavel Jeníček, Assoc. Prof. Jan Bartáček, Sustainable Product, Energy and Resource Recovery from Wastewater
- Food Quality Projects: FoodSmartphone, Smartphone analyzers for on-site testing of food quality and safety; MultiCoop, Multidisciplinary approach to strengthen cooperation and establish novel platform for comprehensive assessment of food and feed safety; AUTHENT-NET – Food Authenticity Research Network, Prof. Jana Hajšlová, Monika Tomaniová, PhD
- Science education: SCICHALLENGE, Petr Holzhauser, MSc, Next generation science challenges using participatory techniques and digital media
Faculties
UCT Prague (in addition to departments accommodating the needs of the entire university) has four faculties:
- Faculty of Chemical Technology
- Faculty of Environmental Technology
- Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering
UCT Prague in Numbers
UCT Prague has 871 staff members (2014 Annual Report data), including 510 academic staff and 361 research staff. UCT Prague is accredited to provide three-year Bachelor (BSc) programmes, two-year Master (MSc/Ing.) programmes, and PhD programmes. Total enrollment at UCT Prague in 2014: 3,606 Bachelor and Master students and 843 PhD students (2014 Annual Report data).
Worldwide Cooperation and Collaboration
UCT Prague cooperates with more than 100 universities and institutions worldwide. The university is the most active Czech university participant in the Erasmus+ student exchange programme and has also participated in other programmes such as the 5th and 6th framework programme, COST, EUREKA, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Computing Facilities
UCT Prague maintains high standard computing facilities with a gigabit network. Computers are available to students, researchers, and professors in almost all of the several hundred laboratories and workrooms.
Library: ChemTK
UCT Prague operates the superbly equipped library, ChemTK, situated in the modern National Library of Technology (NTK) building. The ChemTK collection includes more than 100,000 books, handbooks, encyclopedias, periodicals, and other publications. ChemTK subscribes to 300 professional periodicals and provides electronic access to scientific journals. Over 2,500 journals from prestigious scientific publishing houses are currently available in electronic format. ChemTK also provides access to SciFinder, the Chemical Abstracts Service, and other specialized resources (see the full list of eResources) that enable research across scientific specialities. The complete collections of Beilstein's Handbuch der organischen Chemie and Gmelin's Handbuch der anorganischen Chemie are also available in both print and electronic formats. Print editions are available in NTK's Rare Books and Special Collections in the reading room.
Central Laboratories
UCT Prague's Central Laboratories consist of eight laboratories:
- Laboratory of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy
- Laboratory of Infra-Red (IR) and Raman Spectroscopy
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry (MS)
- Laboratory of Organic Elemental Analysis
- Laboratory of X-Ray Diffraction
- Laboratory of Thermal-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA)
- Laboratory of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and Laboratory of Surface Analysis
The laboratories provide high-quality equipment for use by students, professors, and research staff members and are equipped with modern instrumentation. Laboratory personnel is experienced in routine as well as specialized experiments. The laboratories are used for student projects, grant-funded research, and industrial applications. External customers (universities, private companies, and others) can also use the facilities. Laboratory personnel also teach several courses, workshops, and other seminars for members of the UCT Prague community. The courses include practical techniques as well as methods for spectra interpretation.