As usual, the ORLEN Unipetrol Group has supported its partner school, Schola Humanitas, and its talented students. Thirty-seven exceptionally gifted students received scholarships worth CZK 250,000 during a ceremony at the school that focuses on its students’ professional and personal development. The school also received a grant: the ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation gave it a cheque for CZK 160,000 for research and the purchase of laboratory equipment. Through the ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation, the Group actively supports secondary and tertiary education with grant and scholarship programmes and knowledge contests in chemistry. It also offers opportunities for practical education at the university and training centre and excursions to the Litvínov production site.
“The combination of the academic and private spheres is essential for the education of the new generation and to remain competitive. Therefore, supporting education nationwide and, most importantly, at the regional level is one of the key activities within our corporate social responsibility. We support students both financially and through activities where they can test their theoretical knowledge in practice. The ties with this particular school have traditionally been strong and successful, and many graduates start to work for our company at the end of their studies,” says the ORLEN Unipetrol Group’s HR director, Michał Chmiel.
The scholarships are awarded based on adhering to the rules of the scholarship point system, which includes performance in all subjects, achievements in secondary school professional activities, and good results in the district, regional or national rounds of subject-focused Olympiads. This year, the winners in these categories received scholarships that motivate students to achieve better results and help them gain practical experience.
Together with education, this tradition also supports strengthening mutual relations between educational institutions and industry. The Secondary Technical School for the Protection and Restoration of the Environment – Schola Humanitas, Litvínov is a partner school of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group. The Group offers students and teachers various educational opportunities at thematic workshops and discussions and the opportunity to participate in research, complete their professional practical experience, or have a temporary student job.
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 almost 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. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest oil refiner in Central Europe.