The educational system in the Czech Republic historically has always been highly developed. The first university in Central Europe, Charles University, was founded in Prague by the Czech king Charles IV. in 1348 .
- The high level of general education and long tradition in engineering and manufacturing underpins the high quality of the labour force and its amenability to training.
- For generations the Czech education system has produced very high class, technical problem-solving skills in environments which have not always enjoyed easy access to standard solutions.
- Prior to the Second World War, Czechoslovakia was one of the key manufacturing centres in Europe and that proud tradition is still apparent today. Engineering and science is highly regarded in the country. In 1993, the OECD was able to report that of total university graduate output, the former Czechoslovakia produced the highest percentage of science and technical graduates in the world with 50% graduating in
