"The joy of success"
Minister President Michael Kretschmer visited the HSZG at the Zittau campus. The focus was on current developments with regard to structural change.
On Friday, Minister President Michael Kretschmer visited the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences at the Zittau campus and, during a meeting with the University Executive Board, learned about current developments at the university, particularly with regard to structural change.
The discussion focused on the university’s broad involvement in research and structural change projects, as well as in major research centers.
Rector Prof. Alexander Kratzsch reported on the development of the new Green Engineering degree programme. This forward-looking degree programme is designed to train professionals for the modern circular economy, thereby making a significant contribution to the sustainable use of resources. “We are developing the degree programme in a participatory and interdisciplinary manner with high school students, college students, and companies. In this way, we are creating a degree programme that incorporates the needs of this growth industry as well as the expectations and ideas of our future students,” the Rector summarized.
The successful developments in the HSZG’s “Innovative Health Systems” initiative were also discussed. In the winter semester of 2022–2023, the new Bachelor degree programme in Nursing —which provides primary professional qualifications—will launch, and in its first cohort, it will prepare 30 young people for the nursing profession of the future.
Furthermore, discussions took place on establishing teacher training programs in rural areas to prevent teacher shortages in these regions and to offer young people additional attractive reasons to stay.
Minister President Michael Kretschmer emphasized the great importance of the HSZG for Saxony and for the region:
“The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences is an indispensable and strong center for research and education within Saxony’s higher education landscape. It is a major employer, offers students tremendous opportunities through its broad and exciting range of programs, and at the same time generates economic momentum and employment far beyond the region through its research activities and innovations. I would like to express my sincere thanks for the dedication of everyone involved here at the Zittau and Görlitz campuses.” Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of Saxony
”
Following the roundtable discussion, the Minister President toured the Zittau Power Plant Laboratory on the grounds of Stadtwerke Zittau GmbH.
“Among other things, we’re conducting research here on a multi-cylinder piston engine that can operate both as a heat pump and as a heat engine. This allows electricity to be stored as steam and then converted back into electricity,” explains Rector Prof. Alexander Kratzsch. He particularly highlighted Zittau’s municipal utility, which uniquely combines production, research, and education under one roof. The establishment of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Zittau and the resulting intensified cooperation have given the research work at the power plant laboratory a further boost in innovation.
Minister President Michael Kretschmar is impressed: “The insights gained here help make power plant processes even more efficient. In this way, the scientists working here are making a very concrete contribution to our energy supply.”
At the end of the visit, the Minister President remarked: “Today here in Zittau, I’ve felt a great sense of accomplishment. That makes me very confident about the future development of Upper Lusatia.”
1st floor