VSB - Technical University of Ostrava

Founded in 1849, VSB - Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO) is a Czech public institution that boasts a rich history of high-quality engineering education and research. These traditional core values have been continually updated to reflect the current state-of-the-art technologies and the ever-evolving needs of industry. VSB-TUO has strong links to industry and thrives on applied research, in collaboration with businesses and worldwide, in finding innovative solutions to modern-day challenges.

Today, VSB-TUO offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programmes to nearly 12,000 students in engineering, IT, technology, economics, and business and economics. At the University, practical training takes centre stage, with an emphasis on tackling real-life issues prevalent in state-of-the-art industries using cutting-edge software and instruments. In fact, around 50% of coursework is practice-oriented, which perfectly complements the advanced theoretical instruction, ensuring that graduates acquire the education and experience sought by employers worldwide. Practical training is an integral part of our DNA!

Our dedication to producing high-quality research has been recognised with the prestigious HR Excellence in Research Award, which acknowledges our commitment to providing a supportive environment for our researchers. With our International Contact Point as your go-to help-desk, you have access to a wide range of services that will make adapting to life in a new country a breeze. From visa and residency assistance to healthcare, housing, banking and more, our team is here to provide you with the support and guidance you need.

We are committed to promoting social responsibility at all levels, as reflected in our day-to-day operations and long-term strategy. VSB-TUO has been steadily building a vast range of initiatives that popularise science and technology, demonstrating its dedication to being a responsible and conscientious institution.

RESEARCHING HERE

VSB - Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO) is a national leader in High-Performance Computing and energy systems, integrating cutting-edge technologies such as a 5G network to connect key infrastructure including our supercomputer centre, smart factory, e-health system, 3D printing additive manufacturing centre, and a vast sensor network, thereby creating a dynamic Live Industry 4.0 Laboratory.

Our R&D mission is to foster and develop excellent science, research and innovation, with an emphasis on further enhancing the research activities of the individual faculties and research centres in the field of interdisciplinary R&D&I activities based on cross-University collaboration, e.g. High-Performance Computing, Industry 4.0, and Energy Research, as well as partnerships with international organisations. A key criterion for the support and implementation of our research activities is their practical applicability and the potential benefits they can bring to society and industry.

We are dedicated to expanding and developing relationships with partners from abroad, so that joint international projects can be submitted. In collaboration with the world’s leading applied research organisation Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and its esteemed institutes, namely the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU and the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, we have established the first and only Fraunhofer Innovation Platform in the Czech Republic – the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Applied Artificial Intelligence for Materials & Manufacturing at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava. By bringing together the expertise of VSB-TUO and the Fraunhofer institutes, we aim to research and develop the great potential of energy management technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and intelligent production in industry.

At VSB-TUO we have two major research institutes, that are engaged in conducting R&D activities in fundamental and applied research, but also in the subsequent commercialisation of their outcomes:

IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center (IT4Innovations)

IT4Innovations is a leading research, development, and innovation centre active in the fields of High-Performance Computing (HPC), Data Analysis (HPDA), Quantum Computing (QC), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and their application to other scientific fields, industry, and society. IT4Innovations operates the most powerful supercomputing systems in the Czech Republic. The key research areas include:

• big data processing and analysis,
• machine learning,
• development of parallel scalable algorithms,
• solution of computationally demanding engineering problems,
• advanced visualisation and virtual reality,
• modelling for nanotechnologies,
• and material design.

Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET)

CEET as an excellent research interdisciplinary institute at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, founded in 2021, brings under one roof four research centres : the ENET Centre, the Nanotechnology Centre, the Institute of Environmental Technology and the Energy Research Centre. The research agenda is focused on the Materials for Energy and Environmental Technologies, Energy Utilisation of Secondary Raw Materials and Alternative Energy Sources, Energy Storage, Transformation and Management and Environmental Aspects and Technologies. With a strength of over 250 scientists and researchers, CEET is committed to conducting from basic to applied research with excellent results and their implementation in practical use. Together we develop new materials and technologies for low-carbon and sustainable energy and environmental technologies in accordance with the principles of the circular economy. Our common strategy is energy transformation, a topic that cuts across all areas of our lives, from transport to industry and the environment. Like the rest of the world, we are searching for emission-free sources while at the same time looking for solutions that avoid generating additional waste and fill-up landfills.

The University’s research and development strategy is based on four fundamental pillars:

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Electrical │ Mechanical Materials │ Civil │ Safety and Security │ Biomedical and Biomechanical │ Environmental and Brownfields Management │Chemical │ Geological │ Geodesy and Geoinformatics │ Automotive │ Acoustical │ Transport Technology and Technics │ Nanotechnology │ Additive Technology

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND CYBER PHYSICAL SYSTEMS

Artificial intelligence │ Machine Learning │ Computer Vision and Image Processing │ Software and Process Engineering │ High-Performance Computing │ High-Performance Data Analysis │ Computational and Applied Mathematics │ Industry 4.0 │ Robotics

ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS

Renewable Energy │ Energy Accumulation │ High-Capacity Storage Systems │ Artificial Intelligence in Energy Management │ Energy Diagnostics │ Electromobility │ Energy Raw Materials and Their Processing

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL PROCESSES

Economics │ Finance │ Management Science │ Business Administration

VSB-TUO’s study programmes are built on a 170-year tradition. Currently there are almost 12,000 undergraduates and graduates studying for degrees at Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD levels in engineering, IT, technology, economics and business administration. VSB-TUO also offers a wide range of English-taught courses for exchange students from all over the world.

Courses are provided by seven faculties:

• Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Faculty of Materials Science and Technology
• Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Faculty of Economics
• Faculty of Civil Engineering
• Faculty of Mining and Geology

• Faculty of Safety Engineering

The PhD Academy at VSB-TUO offers doctoral students a comprehensive range of courses focused on acquiring or improving key skills to help them develop their future scientific career and successfully complete their PhD studies.

We follow the standard European Bologna Declaration and adhere to the standards set out by the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). This allows for ease of mobility for students via credit recognition. VSB-TUO has also been awarded the ECTS Label and issues the Diploma Supplement Label, which allows for international recognition of its Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degrees.

The foreign applicants and the foreign students of the 1^st year of full-time study of Bachelor's and  Master's study programme taught in English can be awarded with the Full-Degree Scholarship.

We provide our international students with well-equipped, affordable student dorms with internet in every room, cooking facilities, and a perfect location on campus.

Erasmus Students Network with their Buddies helps international students at VSB-TUO – it organises orientation days for incoming students, as well as trips, hiking, parties, sport and educational events and much more.

Life in Ostrava

Ostrava is Czechia’s third largest city, a centre of industry and a university town in which students comprise approximately 14% of the population. It is a vibrant student city full of cultural and entertainment options. Ostrava is in an excellent location with superb public transport links meaning you can walk out of your door and travel to five European capitals within 4 hours for less than €20. Ostrava is also home to the Colours of Ostrava and Beats for Love music festivals, which host artists from around the world every summer.

 Campus Life

VSB-TUO has the largest campus in the Czech Republic and one of the largest in Central Europe. The main campus is situated in the very pleasant surroundings of Ostrava-Poruba which is linked by excellent public transport to other parts of Ostrava, even at night.

The campus facilities are continually being improved, with the campus being home to cafes, beach-volleyball and tennis courts, football pitches, in-line skating and cycling tracks, pubs, clubs, and a recently opened Student Relax Zone, where students can meet, study and relax.

VSB-TUO is also home to its own art gallery and library, Prof. F. Pošepný Geological Pavilion and an Observatory and Planetarium, which offer a wide range of events which are open to the public. These include exhibitions, fairs, film screenings, talks, and activities for children and schools.