The enrolment ceremony on October 1, 2026, at St. John’s Church in Zittau was all about welcoming the new students and marking the beginning of their college life together.

Host Victoria Hohlfeld guided the audience through the afternoon, actively engaging them throughout. Conversations with students, faculty representatives, and guests fostered a personal atmosphere that placed the new students at the center of attention from the very beginning. The ceremony was accompanied musically by Jonathan Zopf on the piano and Samuel Wagner on the organ.

Current trends also point to a positive start to the academic year: At the time of the ceremony, there were more applications than in the previous year, and the number of students already enrolled was significantly higher. Since the enrollment process is still ongoing, the final figures will not be available until later. This winter semester marks the debut of the new degree programs “Foundation Course in Management ” and “Semiconductor Processes and Materials Chemistry.” Currently in high demand are the dual study programs as well as, among others, computer science, Tourism Management, culture and management, Molecular Biotechnology, and communication psychology. The Social Work degree programme is the most popular.

Right from the start of the event, different perspectives on starting college came together. During the audience discussion, moderator Victoria Hohlfeld first engaged first-year students and university staff before speaking with Mayor Thomas Zenker in the subsequent panel discussion about the new students’ arrival in Zittau and the connection between the city and the university. On this occasion, Thomas Zenker also represented the perspective of his Görlitz counterpart, Octavian Ursu, thereby speaking on behalf of both university towns.

Dr. Andreas Handschuh, head of the Saxon State Chancellery, also greeted the new students and welcomed them to the Free State of Saxony. In his welcoming remarks, he reminded them that their time as students is associated not only with new challenges but also with special freedoms that should be embraced and enjoyed. At the same time, he highlighted the region’s numerous research institutions and the opportunities they offer for academic study and scientific development.

The students’ achievements and dedication were also given special recognition at the enrollment ceremony. First, the Germany Scholarships for the new academic year were awarded. Rector Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch and Michael Ester from Sysmex Partec, speaking on behalf of the sponsors, noted that the scholarships not only provide financial support but also offer recognition and encouragement. A total of 25 students are receiving support; 19 of them attended the ceremony and received their certificates there.

A special moment followed, featuring Theresa Metzner. The Tourism Management student and Germany Scholarship recipient recalled her own start as a student two years ago: the excitement, the doubts, and the question of whether she would be able to meet the demands of her studies. In a very personal way, she encouraged the new students to have more confidence in themselves.

Her speech became particularly moving when she spoke about the impact that support can have. She explained that the Deutschlandstipendium not only eased her financial burden but also gave her the feeling that others believed in her. Her speech visibly captivated the audience; some guests were visibly moved.

Following this, two international students were honored. Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Maćkowiak, Vice President for Education and Sustainability, and Mario Linack, Chair of the Friends of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, presided over the award ceremony.

Kornelia Wiktoria Maryniewska received the DAAD Award in recognition of outstanding performance by international students. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biotechnology with good grades and is now studying Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. In addition to her academic achievements, she is involved in hippotherapy with children and at summer camps, among other activities.

Sandeep Upadhyaya was honored with the HSZG Friends Association’s award for exceptional academic and social commitment by international students. After completing the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college) program, he began a dual degree program in mechanical engineering through the KIA (sandwich-style) degree course. In addition to his studies, he is actively involved in the KIA program, supports prospective students, and contributes to initiatives related to integration and international professionals in the Görlitz district.

Another highlight of the event was the speech by Rector Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch. Under the guiding principle “We Are All the University,” he encouraged first-year students not to see themselves merely as users of the university, but to take an active role in shaping it.

Using specific examples, he illustrated what this means: asking questions, helping others, taking on responsibility in projects, and getting involved. For him, the focus was on the experience of self-efficacy —that is, realizing that one’s own actions can actually make a difference. This mindset, he said, is important not only for one’s studies but also for one’s career, volunteer work, and a region undergoing structural change.

At the same time, Prof. Dr. Alexander Kratzsch broadened the perspective beyond first-semester students: For him, the university also includes faculty and staff, student representatives, families, and partners from the city, the region, politics, and business. A university emerges where people get involved, take on responsibility, and support one another.

This message was vividly underscored when, at the Rector’s invitation, first the first-year students, then the university community, and finally all the guests in the church stood up. For a moment, it became clear what “We are all the university” means: a university community to which many belong. He then, on behalf of the university community, conducted the formal enrolment of all first-year students.

At the end of the enrollment ceremony, host Victoria Hohlfeld, accompanied by Samuel Wagner on the piano, added a personal musical touch. With the song “I Made It,” she addressed the first-year students directly and adapted one line for the occasion to “You’ll make it.”

Afterward, representatives from the student councils entered the church dressed as dinosaurs and accompanied the first-year students to the group photo and a get-together on campus. With plenty of humor, they highlighted student involvement and the work of the student councils.

On the Zittau campus, the wind-photovoltaic tree and the Makerspace were then inaugurated . The HSZG reports on these two new learning spaces in a separate news article.