The Upper Lusatian "Six Towns League" was one of the most important town unions in Europe in the Middle Ages. Jakob Böhme from Görlitz was the first philosopher to publish his writings in German at the end of the 16th century. 100 years later, Christian Weise performed school comedies in Zittau, breaking new ground in humanistic education and attracting attention throughout Europe.
With the growth of the cities and increasing prosperity, education and craft teaching developed to considerable quality in the Middle Ages. With industrialization, "higher educational institutions" emerged, especially in mechanical engineering, the textile industry and construction.
Zittau and Görlitz educational institutions gained a good reputation throughout Germany. The students' and graduates' association "Zittauer Bauhütte", for example, played a major role in determining German building activities until well into the 20th century. The "Oberlausitzische Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften", founded in 1779, is considered one of the first scientific academies in Europe. In addition to outstanding intellectuals from the region, internationally recognized personalities such as Wilhelm von Humboldt were also members of this society.
After the World Wars, available functional buildings, teaching materials and outstanding specialists led to the founding of colleges or technical schools in Zittau and Görlitz. They became leading educational institutions for entire branches of industry in the GDR.
After reunification, the German Science Council decided in 1992 to establish a university of applied sciences because of the high practical relevance of the existing universities, their quality and the expected demand for graduates. A modern educational institution was created at the dual location of Zittau and Görlitz.
The admission of Poland and the Czech Republic into the European Union means a new challenge and development opportunity for the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz. In the "International Network NEISSE UNIVERSITY" new ways of educational cooperation with the Universities of Liberec (CZ) and Wrocław (PL) have been taken.