Prague, 17 September 2024 - The University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, is sending a gift of one million CZK to those affected by recent floods. UCT Prague’s Academic Senate unanimously approved the proposal from the university’s leadership at its meeting today.

“We sympathize with everyone affected by this natural disaster. The thought of waking up one day, having to evacuate, and possibly losing your home in the end is terrifying. We hope our donation will help some people rebuild,” UCT Prague’s Rector Milan Pospíšil said.

The university’s donation will come from additional activity revenue sources. Over the years, UCT Prague has made various donations, including to people affected by the 2013 floods; the 2021 South Moravian and Louny tornados; the Russo-Ukrainian War (Mykolaiv National University, Ukraine); and most recently, the tragic December 2023 Prague shooting at Charles University’s Faculty of Philosophy.

The Ambassador of Pakistan, Ayesha Ali, visited UCT Prague on Friday, 13 September, for an informal discussion with UCT Prague Rector Milan Pospíšil and Faculty of Chemical Technology Dean Petr Zámostný. Eleven researchers and doctoral students as well as 9 Bachelor and Master students from Pakistan are currently studying at UCT Prague.

The ambassador offered UCT Prague extending cooperation with Pakistani universities for both studies and R&D in chemical technology, chemical engineering, food industry support, materials research, water technology, and waste recycling. To start, specific areas of cooperation with specific groups at Pakistani technical universities will be determined, followed by discussing the possibilities of Pakistani student and researcher visits to UCT Prague. Current Czech Republic ambassador in Pakistan, Ladislav Steinhübel (UCT Prague alum) might also assist in bilateral cooperation efforts.

At the end of May, UCT Prague’s Rector Milan Pospíšil hosted a reception for representatives from NUS, the Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding (Mykolaiv, Ukraine). NUS is a UCT Prague partner university for the DETECT! grant funded by the European Union. In Spring 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, NUS received financial assistance followed by humanitarian aid from UCT Prague in cooperation with ADRA International.

The recent meeting cantered around mutual cooperation. After the Ukrainian partners expressed gratitude for financial and moral support, possibilities for continued cooperation in the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country were discussed. Pospíšil proposed areas for future collaboration including materials, the environment, and energy conservation.

The meeting also included a report from NUS about DETECT! grant progress and results. While in Prague, the guests, including two students, took part in the DETECT! partners’ meeting as well as a hands-on workshop on Creative Digital Fabrication and Automation, a weekly event which takes place on the UCT Prague Jankovcova Street premises, in cooperation with the Maker Institute.