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The Project of the Year award went to the follow-up master's study program Civil Engineering – Modern Buildings, specializing in Building Management and Operation, at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (ZČU). The award was accepted by a joint team from the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAV) and the Faculty of Economics (FEK) of ZČU, led by Jan Pašek, at the Facility Management Summit. The project's success was underscored by the subsequent award given to Eliška Lukejová, a student at FAV, for her thesis on ESG in facility management at GasNet, which won the FM Awards student thesis competition.

"As president of IFMA CZ, I am delighted that the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen offers a much-needed study program focused on facility management. And I am even more pleased that both of this year's awards went here – it is clear proof of the excellent work of local teachers and students and great news for our entire field," said Jiří Knap.

The program's students also actively represent the University of West Bohemia internationally. In October 2024, they were the only student representatives from the Czech Republic to attend the IFMA World Workplace Conference for Facility Management Professionals held in San Antonio, USA. Subsequently, at the IFMA World Workplace Europe 2025 Student Challenge competition in The Hague, Netherlands, in March, an international team led by UWB student Eliška Lukejová won second place with their concept Binckhive – A New Era of Student Housing, which was developed within 24 hours according to the assignment to transform the Binckhorst district in The Hague into a community space with greenery and an emphasis on inclusion.

Ten students are completing their theses this academic year and will head to companies immediately after their defenses. They gained comprehensive knowledge of building maintenance, technologies, and user needs during their studies. "Graduates of this specialization have excellent prospects in the job market. The demand for building management professionals remains high, as confirmed by members of the IFMA association and other participants in the FM Summit," said Jan Pašek from FAV ZČU, the guarantor of the study program. "The faculty still has an open admission process and is looking forward to another strong wave of students who will begin this professional study program in September," he added.

The study program is implemented with the InterCora Stiftung Foundation's support, which has invested in education, science, and research for many years.