Research, Skilled Workers, the Future: Politicians Visit the HSZG

How can we ensure tomorrow’s energy supply? Where will the skilled workers for new key industries come from? And how must a university position itself as society, the educational landscape, and the world of work undergo fundamental changes? These questions were the focus of the visit by Prof. Dr. Andreas Handschuh, Head of the Saxon State Chancellery and State Secretary for Federal and European Affairs, and Christian Hartmann, Chair of the CDU parliamentary group in the Saxon State Parliament, on August 27, 2026, at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.

Together with Rector Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Sophia Keil, Chancellor Christoph M. Duscha, and other university representatives, the guests discussed research, securing a skilled workforce, internationalization, and the University Development 2030+ initiative. The program deliberately spanned topics ranging from specific research projects to extracurricular educational programs and the university’s strategic development.

Research with an Impact on the Region and Beyond

The first stop was the Zittau Power Plant Laboratory. Prof. Matthias Kunick and Rector Alexander Kratzsch gave the guests a tour of the lab and provided insights into the research being conducted there. Three large-scale test facilities enable research into flexible power plant processes, thermal energy storage, and thermochemical conversion processes. Among other things, researchers are investigating how energy systems can adapt to fluctuating feed-in from renewable energy sources.

Right next door, Thomas Gubsch presented the project’s test facility to the guests: AQVA-Heatproject. The technology, developed in collaboration with partners, demonstrates how alternative approaches can contribute to the heat transition: It uses rivers and open-pit mining lakes as heat sources, thereby directly linking application-oriented research to one of the central issues facing the future of Lusatia.

These two examples are representative of a research landscape that is significantly broader in scope. The HSZG focuses its research on the key areas of energy and the environment, transformation processes in the economy and society, and materials, structures, and surfaces. With approximately 14.3 million euros in third-party funding —about 135,000 euros per professorship, which is 2.6 times the average for universities of applied sciences—its research strength is also reflected in the numbers.

Inspiring a Passion Early On for Tomorrow’s Skilled Workers

The next item on the agenda made it clear that future technologies don’t just begin in college. At the DLR_School_Lab at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences , students have the opportunity to conduct their own experiments, explore scientific concepts, and gain hands-on experience with STEM topics.

Dr. Fester, director of the DLR_School_Lab, demonstrated to the guests what this looks like in practice using a student experiment with natural fibers that can be used to create new materials. The focus is not merely on understanding scientific concepts, but above all on trying things out for themselves and experiencing technology firsthand.

“Experiments like these spark a love of hands-on creation among students. For many of them, this is their first time using a 3D printer or laser cutter. That sparks curiosity,” Rector Kratzsch is certain. Vice Rector Sophia Keil also sees this as an important approach to securing tomorrow’s skilled workforce: “The DLR_School_Lab at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences is an ideal way to overcome reservations about STEM subjects. Many students do not choose to pursue a STEM degree after graduating from high school because they fear they won’t be able to meet the requirements. Programs like this one create new pathways through direct contact and hands-on experience.”

The learning center, which opened in May 2025, is part of the educational initiative Zukunftslernort Oberlausitz (ZukLOS). A unique feature: The students’ perspectives were directly incorporated into the design of the School_Lab from the very beginning. Children and teenagers, schools, and other regional partners were actively involved in the development process.

“The students were extensively involved in the design of the DLR_School_Lab. The university listened to them, took their ideas on board, and passed them on to the planners. This creates a very different sense of connection between the students and the HSZG’s DLR_School_Lab,” emphasizes Vice Rector Keil.

The School_Lab thus exemplifies the HSZG’s approach of not only inspiring young people to take an interest in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology, but also actively involving them and enabling them to gain their own experiences with science and technology at an early age.

Christian Hartmann, chairman of the CDU caucus in the Saxon State Parliament, also highlighted the importance of such programs:

A University in Transition

During the subsequent discussion, the strategic development of HSZG took center stage. After all, it’s not just technologies that are changing. Social expectations, educational backgrounds, and the demands placed on skilled workers are also evolving.

With the University Development 2030+ initiative, the university is responding to these changes and ensuring that its structures, academic programs, research, knowledge transfer, and internationalization are fit for the future. The transformation process, which has been underway since 2020, includes, among other things, new faculty structures, the further development of academic programs, greater internationalization, more efficient structures, and the continued strengthening of research.

The HSZG’s High-Tech Strategy. In collaboration with companies and stakeholders in the semiconductor industry, the university has developed two new degree programs: Semiconductor Processes and Materials Chemistry and Mechatronics for Manufacturing. The development process incorporated the requirements of leading companies in the industry. The degree programs were also presented to TSMC and ESMC, among others, and are intended to help train skilled professionals in a practical and tailored manner for one of Saxony’s most important industries of the future.

In this way, the HSZG combines regional responsibility with a broader impact: young talents gain new perspectives, companies gain access to qualified young professionals, and the region gains additional opportunities to establish a sustainable position in the international high-tech landscape.

A Campus Becomes a Place of Learning

During the subsequent campus tour, it became clear that education at HSZG doesn’t end at the lecture hall door. Stops along the tour included the nearly 10-meter-tall wind-photovoltaic tree, which combines wind and solar energy; the Makerspace, equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, and robotics; and the Green Classroom, an open-air space for learning and socializing.

These learning spaces are part of Campus4You, a focus area of the ZukLOS initiative, and bring together education, technology, sustainability, and community engagement. Schools were involved in the development of these programs from the very beginning. This creates spaces where high school students, college students, teachers, university staff, and people from the region can experiment, learn, and develop new ideas together.

The guests were particularly impressed by the combination of modern research infrastructure, accessible educational offerings, and practical applications. The tour highlighted how the university is increasingly integrating research, teaching, knowledge transfer, and the support of young talent.

Entry in the HSZG’s Golden Book

A special highlight of the visit was the entry in the Golden Book of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. It underscored the friendly nature of the meeting and the close ties between the university and its partners in Saxon politics.

Following in-depth discussions, many insights, and a joint tour, the visit concluded with a clear shared understanding: The major changes in energy supply, the economy, education, and the world of work can best be shaped collaboratively—through strong networks, bold ideas, and a university that consistently aligns its research and teaching with the future.