Minister of State Sebastian Gemkow visits the HSZG in Celsiuz to bake cookies together and exchange ideas with students from abroad.
High-ranking visitor from the world of (science) politics at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) at the beginning of December. The Saxon State Minister for Science, Sebastian Gemkow, and the Member of the Bundestag Florian Oest (CDU, Member of the Bundestag for the district of Görlitz) were guests at the HSZG in CELSIUZ, the HSZG's co-creation lab, at the beginning of December. On the agenda for the visit: the topic of International Affairs, the international positioning of the Free State of Saxony as well as field reports from international professionals and students.
What prospects do science and politics and Saxony's universities, including the HSZG, offer for students and researchers from other European and international countries? What expectations do international students have of the HSZG, Saxony as a location and regional players from science, business, politics and civil society? And what are the current and future living and working conditions for international professionals in Saxony and Upper Lusatia?
Alone: At present, the proportion of international students at the HSZG is 28 percent. The students come from over 50 nations. The HSZG promotes international mobility through cooperation with 167 partner institutions in 49 countries.
Science is international. Successful International Affairs requires a close alliance between universities, the federal government and the Free State of Bavaria.
”In his welcoming address, the Rector of the HSZG, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch, emphasized that the Free State of Saxony needs international specialists and thus led the way to the informal event.
Informal and different than usual?! - One day after the first day of Advent, (science) policy-makers, universities and young international professionals and students came together not at a conference, panel discussion or similar format, but for a pre-Christmas cookie baking session at CELSIUZ, the transfer laboratory of the HSZG and the joint project Saxony⁵.
"We want to attract young professionals to Saxony. It is exciting to talk to international students and specialists in person and to hear how motivated these young people are," explains Sebastian Gemkow, Saxony's Minister of State for Science.
Florian Oest refers to Saxony's role in the semiconductor and chip industry: "How can we bundle and promote new regional forces in the face of structural change? For example, by striving to ensure that the chip of the future is developed in Saxony, together with talented international specialists," says Florian Oest, Member of the Bundestag.
The CELSIUZ at the HSZG was very international - and the focus was on the experiences of international professionals and students. Jun Ting Loh comes from Malaysia. She studied Electrical Engineering at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, where she is now a research assistant in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science ' and says: "For me, the language barrier was the biggest challenge in Germany at the beginning. English is not so common in Zittau/Görlitz and my German was not so good. Although studying in German was a challenge, I decided to do it because of Germany's reputation in the field of engineering. In addition, the cost of living in Germany, especially in Zittau, is much more affordable due to tuition-free studies."
Varvara Kholmetska fled her home country with her young children at the beginning of the war in Ukraine. She previously worked as an export manager in Ukraine for 15 years and speaks four languages: "It's difficult to find suitable work in Germany. Recognition of professional training, work experience or academic qualifications sometimes takes a very long time. And even with all these documents, it is very difficult to find a job, which is a big problem for me and other international colleagues." Varvara Kholmetska is attending the preparatory college in Zittau at the HSZG to prepare for studying in Germany. She then wants to go into the healthcare industry and study health care management at the HSZG. Her German is very good and she is well integrated. "It would be very helpful if the industry could be more open to international specialists. The bureaucracy in Germany is also very restrictive at times. "
Tahsin Özcan comes from Turkey. He moved from Istanbul, the metropolis on the Bosporus with a population of 15.7 million, to Zittau with a population of 25,000. At the HSZG, he is taking part in the Studienkolleg and the so-called DSH course, which specifically prepares interested participants for the German Language Test for University Entrance (DSH). Tahsin Özcan wants to stay in Saxony in the future, even if not in Zittau: "Leipzig is my favorite city. I would like to study architecture there."
And Siddhesch Jamadade, born in India, with a Master's degree in Advanced Manufacturing from Chemnitz University of Technology and now working as a research assistant at the Fraunhofer Institute in Zittau, concludes: "We need more events like this, where business, science or even civil society and politics can discuss and successfully exchange ideas."
"The event impressively demonstrated how international the HSZG is. Students from abroad are particularly interested in the degree programs Business Administration, integrated management and International Business Communication. Currently, most incomers come from Kazakhstan, the Czech Republic and Uzbekistan, while Austria, Latvia and Italy are among the most popular outgoer destinations. About 18 percent of international students come from the preparatory courses," says Inna Hauf, International Coordinator at the HSZG.
A visit to the DLR_School_Lab, the HSZG's school laboratory, and ZukLOS (Zukunftslernort Oberlausitz) at the HSZG marked the degree of the visit by the Saxon Minister of State for Science, Sebastian Gemkow, and the Member of the Bundestag, Florian Oest. Here, the team led by Dr. Thomas Fester presented the tasks and objectives of the school laboratory. The aim is to bring research to life for pupils and arouse enthusiasm for science and technology, also with a regional, national and international focus. "Many people with an international background also work here at ZukLOS. For us at the HSZG, it is very important that we can convey an international perspective to our visitors in addition to the scientific content," says Dr. Thomas Fester, Head of the DLR_School_Lab at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.
The conclusion of the visit from the world of (science) politics: a successful exchange between politics and the university, between international specialists/international students and science and politics. The informal setting - with cookie baking and dialog - created closeness, strengthened relationships and showed the liveliness and openness of the international university family at the HSZG.
Text: Frank Leberecht, Antje Pfitzner
