SŠZaT Litomyšl is a horticulture and technical college of secondary education in the East Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. The present-day college was formed in 2011, when two colleges - SZaŠ Litomyšl and SOŠT Litomyšl - combined into one unit to provide a wide range of courses for all student abilities.
Today, SŠZaT Litomyšl provides a wide range of courses for post-secondary education students (students aged 15 to 19.) The range of courses includes three-year apprenticeship courses and four-year higher education vocational courses leading to a "Maturita" Diploma - roughly the equivalent of the British BTEC Diploma. There are also a number of courses for students with learning disabilities.
The courses address a wide range of vocations in: horticulture, floristics, flower arranging, landscaping, environment and ecology, and vegetable growing. On the technical side there are courses such as: mechanisation and services in agriculture, transort services, computer technology and automation, transport logistics and administration, and fire prevention.
All the technical courses are suited for students who will be seeking employment with the necessary practical skills in the commercial, public and private sectors of the transport and motor vehicle engineering industry. There are courses for students, who intend to work in agriculture, road transport, construction industry or motor vehicle repairs and servicing. The courses are not purely male-orientated, as there are opportunities for female students. These opportunities include administration and logistics in the transport industry, and monitoring and movement of goods in international transport.
As well as the core subjects: Czech language and Literature, Mathematics, Physics, IT etc. there is a wide range of specialist subjects. These include Repairs and Servicing, Machinery and Implements, Welding, CNC Milling and Machining, Typing and Logistics. Most courses have driving instruction as an integral part of the curriculum. Depending on the study branch, there are tractor, truck and car driving courses.
SŠZaT Litomyšl is a regular participant in various competitions and events; national welding competitions, regional sports events, Czech and foreign language competitions and, last but not least, the annual Litomyšl student festival in May.
Many years before it became fashionable, the technical department of our college was working with similar colleges in France, Germany and Holland. Now, in the spirit of new trends leading towards European-wide recognition of vocational qualifications, for the past four years we have centred our activities on two partner colleges: Fachoberschule in Triesdorf, Germany and ROC Aventus in Apledoorn, Holland.
The above-mentioned co-operation with the German college in Triesdorf is a culture and education focused student exchange programme introducing Czech and German students to various aspects of everyday life in the two countries. The main aim of the co-operation between our college, here in Litomyšl and ROC Aventus in Holland is a little different. This programme aims to provide students from both countries with an opportunity to undertake a practical training placement with transport-orientated businesses in the host country.
We also work in close co-operation with leading automotive firms such as Bosch, Knorr Bremse, Praga, Jawa Divisov, Iveco, Scania, Tatra and Zetor to name just a few.
If you are travelling by car you will find us just off the main E442 (35) Hradec Králové - Olomouc route in the centre of Litomyšl. You can see the college on the right-hand side, about 500 metres past the Penny Market in the Olomouc direction.
By bus it is simple: there are many bus connections operating from Prague - via Litomyšl - to Olomouc, Brno and Bratislava.
By train: From Prague to Choceň, from there by train to Litomyšl; from Prague to Česká Třebová and then by bus from the railway station to Litomyšl.
The main attraction is the town of Litomyšl itself. The biggest tourist attraction is the beautiful chateaux above the town centre, in whose courtyard the annual Bedřichova Smetana classical music festival is held in June. There are many other listed buildings in the picturesque town square, several museums and art galleries, a theatre and concert hall and a music club. No matter what your favourite sport is - tennis, swimming, volleyball or even ice hockey - you will be catered for here in Litomyšl.
Tourists wishing to stay for a few days will find a wide range of hotels and "pensions" to choose from, as well as a well-equipped campsite on the outskirts of the town. For more information click on: www.litomysl.cz