This 300-year-old institution was the world's first engineering college

The world's first engineering college in Europe is considered the backbone of modern engineering achievements. It laid the foundation for many scientific and technological advancements that followed.

When conversations turn to the world’s leading engineering institutions, names such as the Indian Institutes of Technology, Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology often dominate the list. They shape modern technology, produce innovators and influence global rankings. Yet the story of engineering education began long before laboratories were filled with computers and aerospace simulations.

To trace its origins, one must return to early 18th-century Europe.

In 1707, in Prague, then part of the Habsburg Empire, the foundations of formal engineering education were laid. The institution now known as Czech Technical University (CTU) was established on January 18, 1707, by Emperor Joseph I.

It was originally called the Estates Engineering School and is widely recognised as the world’s first engineering university.

The idea came from Christian Joseph Willenberg, a fortification expert. In 1705, he petitioned the Emperor for permission to train a small group of students in engineering techniques, particularly those related to military fortifications and civil construction.

Europe at the time was marked by frequent wars, and technical knowledge in defence architecture was in demand. The Emperor approved the proposal, and the school began with a focus on applied technical training.