The Virtual University Information Day on January 13 was met with great interest by almost 500 visitors.
The kitchen at Celsiuz looks like a health food store. Next to a half-empty salad bowl are plates and bowls with halved heads of lettuce and leftover cucumbers, peppers and other ingredients. Tasty leftovers from the lunch program of the Virtual University Information Day (HIT). The Rector himself stood in front of the camera to join presenter Victoria Hohlfeld for the lunch break with a discussion and parallel "cooking assignment". In a relaxed atmosphere, he gave a well-founded outline of what makes Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences special. The most important thing that stuck with the audience? We are approachable. And that's what makes us so special!
On January 13, Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences broke new ground in the organization of the University Information Day. For the first time, an interactive online platform was used, which allowed prospective students from afar to be at the center of attention from start to finish, to get first-hand information and to help shape the event.
"In total, the platform attracted almost 500 visitors interested in studying, with an average stay of three hours," says Victoria Hohlfeld.
”"Alexander Kratzsch, who, together with the organizational team from the Public Relations department of the University Development and Communication Office, drew a positive conclusion after the work was done - the production of the HIT Live programme in the Celsiuz premises.
"Around 100 speakers played a key role in its success. From the organizing team to lecturers, staff, students and HSZG-related guests such as the student union and alumni: the HIT is the result of successful cooperation between the entire university." Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector
”In seven virtual rooms, prospective students were able to choose freely from a wide range of topics and put together their own individual program. Course presentations, student sessions, alumni talks and taster lectures not only gave them an insight into the university's extensive range of courses, but above all into the everyday lives of our students. Active participation in discussions was possible at any time thanks to the innovative platform. Information stands were set up to provide personal advice throughout the day, and those who wanted to find out more about basic topics relating to studying could take advantage of the workshops on study orientation and STEM subjects as well as the presentation by the Federal Employment Agency.
The live supporting program in the "lobby" of the platform provided the HIT with an "umbrella" under which the extensive range of advice on offer in the separate rooms and information stands was accommodated. Introductory presentations by Victoria Hohlfeld, interludes such as the "Quiz Show: Beat the Prof" produced by Görlitz students from the Tourism Management course at the Faculty of Managerial and Cultural Studies and break-time talks with guests from the HSZG gave the HIT a professional and likeable overall appearance. This included, above all, the lunch program with the Rector, thanks to which we now know who can peel the longest apple peel in one piece.
"We are delighted that the program was so well received by prospective students," says Victoria Hohlfeld. Another reason to be pleased: the HSZG was also able to score points in terms of sustainability with the design of the HIT, as thanks to a CO2 calculator integrated into the platform, it was determined that a total of 60,000 kilometers of travel were saved. "We can top that," says the Rector, "because the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences is planting a tree for every new student enrolled this fall."
What will the organization team take away for future events? "We will continue to find out in advance what really interests our target groups and then offer them the right program," explains the Rector.
The evaluation by the University Development and Communication Office also showed that prior registration was not a hurdle for young prospective students and that many participants from the Dresden area took part. Feedback was particularly frequent that it was the discussions with students that met with such a positive response.
"Students are still our best mouthpiece," confirms the Rector. "But even our students don't act alone at an event like this. A big thank you therefore goes to all the speakers, lecturers, information stand supervisors, the students who promoted the event so creatively and in so many ways in the run-up to the event and those in the back office who ensured that this platform could run in this form at all, in other words: to all those who contributed to this university information day."
The format is great! Everything is perfectly stable. I am thrilled with your professional performance! Kim (prospective student)
Thank you for the great university information day! :) That must have meant a lot of hard work beforehand. (prospective student)
I really liked the whole organization on the platform. The best thing was that you can write to current students [...]. Sophie (prospective student)
Big praise from my side for the great, varied and informative program you have conjured up for us! Hats off! I found my way around here immediately and felt that I was in good hands. I'm really impressed! Many thanks for the super cool insight! :) Loreen (prospective student)
That really was a mega substitute for a face-to-face info day. Hats off to you. :-) Julia (prospective student)
It was a very informative and helpful day, both to find out from the professors about the course content and focus and to get to know their friendly side. The students were all very friendly and were able to answer the questions very helpfully. It was simply a very relaxed atmosphere and it was fun to be here today. Thank you for that and big praise :) Luis (prospective student)
Big praise to everyone involved for this fantastic info day! Very informative, interesting and creatively structured, quite the opposite of other universities. Many thanks for that! Felix (prospective student)
Text: Cornelia Rothe M.A.
