The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) is firmly committed to the continuous improvement of the quality of its academic programs and teaching. To meet this commitment, two key initiatives were advanced during the current academic year: the update of the quality guidelines and the revision of the teaching reporting system.

In addition, the introductory course for the Saxon Higher Education Didactics Certificate was offered for the first time at the Zittau campus and successfully completed.

All of these initiatives follow the principle of continuous improvement and ensure that the HSZG will continue to be recognized as an excellent educational institution in the region and beyond.

Further Development of the HSZG’s Quality Guidelines

The existing version of the university’s quality guidelines for the core area of education, dating from 2016, was further developed by a working group established specifically for this purpose, consisting of the Vice President for Education and International Affairs, Professor Sophia Keil; a staff member in the Quality Management department, Dr. Peggy Sommer, as well as other experts. The following strategic priorities of the HSZG were specifically incorporated into this process:

• Digitalization

• Sustainability

• Equal Opportunity

• International Affairs

• Service Orientation

Convinced of the great importance of further developing the quality guidelines, Prof. Keil goes on to explain: “Our quality guidelines form the basis for the orientation of our faculty and teaching at the HSZG. Their targeted further development allows us to adapt even more closely to the needs of our students and the demands of the future. Against this backdrop, I am particularly pleased that so many faculty members from various departments at our university have already completed the basic course to earn the Saxon Certificate in Higher Education Pedagogy, and that there is generally a sustained interest in the continuing education programs.”

Optimized Teaching Reporting

The faculties’ teaching reports are an essential tool for quality assurance. In 2024, as part of a pilot program, the reporting system was converted to a checklist format. In the future, each faculty’s teaching report will consist of a compilation of program-specific checklists that document the most important developments and measures. Another new feature is the involvement of the Study Commissions—which include student members—in the report-writing process.

Key highlights from the teaching reports for the past reporting period—in particular, the various measures aimed at recruiting students and further developing degree programs and teaching—are published in excerpt form on the HSZG website. The optimized reporting format offers key advantages: good integration into existing structures, a reduced workload, and, of course, compliance with legal requirements.

Improving Quality in Higher Education Teaching: The Saxon Higher Education Didactics Certificate at HSZG

In the spirit of lifelong learning, the HSZG offers its teaching staff a wide range of opportunities to improve the quality of teaching. One such opportunity is the Saxon Higher Education Didactics Certificatefrom the Saxon Center for Higher Education Didactics (HDS), which is aimed at instructors of all experience levels and departments and seeks to systematically expand teaching competencies and raise the level of professionalism in teaching at Saxon universities.