Youngsters - Nurturing Talent Early

The Zittau Junior Academy is an extracurricular learning center established by the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR). In the new DLR_School_Lab at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, children and teens can experience technology and science in a hands-on way. Whether it’s energy, materials, or the environment—through experiments and projects, they discover current research, develop their own ideas, and become young researchers themselves. In this way, the Junior Academy sparks curiosity about science and technology and nurtures the next generation in the region from an early age.

With the Görlitz Experimentation Center, the HSZG is creating extracurricular learning spaces that inspire children and teens starting in 5th grade to take an interest in science and technology. From biodiversity to robotics, educational programs are being developed that bridge the gap between research, schools, and businesses. The first location on the Görlitz campus is testing new teaching and learning concepts and combining hands-on experimentation with cutting-edge research. In the future, these locations will be consolidated into a single educational center. Partners such as the DZA, CASUS, and the Senckenberg Society are expanding the range of topics and transforming the Experiment House into a vibrant place where science comes to life.

With its Mobile Lab, the HSZG brings cutting-edge technology right to where young people are. The Airstream trailer houses a fully equipped makerspace with 3D printers, laser cutters, robotics, drones, and digital learning stations. Whether at schools, camps, or on campus—science becomes an experience here. Students in 8th grade and above, apprentices, and college students can develop their own ideas, design products, and experiment with future technologies. In this way, the university fosters curiosity, creativity, and practical skills, making education flexible, visible, and hands-on.

Campus 4 You is a learning and experiential space at HSZG that brings knowledge to life through hands-on experiences. Open spaces encourage collaborative work, the Green Classroom combines nature and technology, and the Makerspace provides a space for creative projects. In the “Electronic Signal Box” student lab, young people can program safe railroad operations, while the Wind-PV Tree brings renewable energy to life. Schools were closely involved in the planning from the very beginning, ensuring that the programs are specifically tailored to the needs of young people. Campus 4 You creates spaces where students, college students, and the general public can come together, bringing education, sustainability, and technology to life in a dynamic way.