Vice-rectors elected

The candidates proposed by the president for the offices of vice presidents were elected by the Senate by a large majority. Effective March 1 of this year, the re-elected president, Prof. Dr. phil. Friedrich Albrecht, will be joined by Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Christa Heidger as Vice Rector for Education and International Affairs and Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Tobias Zschunke as Vice Rector for Research. The latter had already served as Vice Rector for Research during the term that is now coming to an end.

About the individual: Prof. Christa Heidger was born in Boppard (Rhineland-Palatinate). She studied biology and earned her doctorate in the field of animal ecology at Philipps University of Marburg (Hesse). Since March 1995, she has been a professor of “Applied and Experimental Ecology” at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

During her time at the university, she was deeply involved in teaching, research, and university self-governance. For example, in the area of academic administration, she gained extensive experience as a program coordinator and dean of studies, SOKRATES and ERASMUS officer, chair of the examination board, as a member of the Senate, and as associate dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences—extensive experience that will serve her well in her new position.

In addition, she has been active in many different areas of research. Her current environmental education project “SPUR” (Exploring Nature with Hurvinek and Spejbl) is a cross-border project with Czech partners in which age-appropriate environmental education materials are being developed for daycare centers and elementary schools.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Zschunke was born in Dresden, studied Mechanical Engineering (fluid mechanics/thermodynamics) at TU Dresden, and earned his doctorate and habilitation there in the field of energy process engineering.

In October 2007, he was appointed professor of power station and energy technology at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. Since 2010, he has held the office of Vice Rector for Research. During his tenure, he initiated institutional quality assurance at the university in the area of research, established a research information system, developed the “Konnektoren” project in collaboration with state policymakers and the SMWK, and led its initial phase.

He advocated for a significant increase in SMWK research funding, which has been in effect since 2011. He devoted particular attention to fostering relationships with regional, state, and federal policymakers as well as the business community, to which he will continue to dedicate considerable effort in the future. Under his leadership, the long-standing traditional academic conference of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences was transformed into a format that can be sustainably continued with reasonable effort: the “Year of Science,” complete with a high-profile opening event.