University of West Bohemia

The University of West Bohemia (UWB) is a public institution founded in 1991 in Plzeň, capital of West Bohemia. Created from the merger of the mechanical engineering school and the college of education, it has become the region's leading university. It brings together faculties of mechanical engineering, energy (RTI), economics, applied informatics, design and art (Ladislav Sutnar), education, philosophy and letters, law, laser technologies and health care studies. Its provision covers mechanical and electrical engineering, materials, informatics, artificial intelligence, economics, management, design, law, the humanities and pedagogy. Around 14,000 students benefit from close ties to Plzeň industry — Škoda among them — and research centres such as the ELI Beamlines laser facility and the RTI innovation centre. Czech-taught studies are free of charge within the standard duration.