1.7 million euros from the federal government for the HSZG

The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences welcomed a distinguished visitor to its Zittau campus. Thomas Rachel, Member of the Bundestag, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Education and Research, presented on October 25, 2016, the certificate confirming the grant award of approximately 1.7 million euros, which the University had secured as part of the Quality Pact for Teaching to improve study conditions. State Secretary Rachel was accompanied by Michael Kretschmer, a member of the Bundestag from Görlitz.

“With the Quality Pact for Teaching, we aim to improve support for students in all their diversity and enhance the quality of teaching. The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences’ approach—which, in keeping with the motto ‘Motivation through Practical Relevance,’ introduces students to problem-based learning and responsible action—has convinced us. In this way, the university is preparing its students even better for their entry into the workforce. Zittau and Görlitz vividly illustrate how a university of applied sciences can become a driver of innovation for an entire region. I congratulate the University on its success in the Quality Pact for Teaching and wish you good luck for the second funding phase,” said State Secretary for Research Rachel.

With the Quality Pact for Teaching, the federal government has launched a broad-based, nationwide funding program for universities. Through 2020, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will provide approximately 2 billion euros to improve study conditions. The project period for the second funding phase begins on January 1, 2017, and ends on December 31, 2020.

“We are very pleased that we were able to successfully secure funding with our proposal ‘Diversity as a Strength,’” said Rector Prof. Friedrich Albrecht.

The project at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences is titled “Diversity as a Strength” and includes a comprehensive catalog of measures. Among other things, the project will implement tutoring and mentoring programs, a special support program for international students, and specific support modules for students in engineering and natural science degree programmes (Internship Hub; STEM Center). This will further improve the success rate of students in these fields. The University is thus able to appropriately guide and support the faculties and students through a holistic program that addresses the increasing heterogeneity and diversity of the student body.

As part of this individual project, there will be, among other things, a collaborative initiative involving all Saxon universities, in which the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences is also participating and within the framework of which, in particular, topics related to university pedagogy will be further developed.

“It is a very special honor for our University that Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas Rachel is here in person to present the certificate marking the launch of these projects,” said Rector Prof. Friedrich Albrecht. “We view this as recognition of the University’s innovations in teaching and academic programs.”