Very positive results at the start of studies

To mark the launch of the new degree programme “Teacher Training for Secondary Schools with Special Needs Education” at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in the 2025–2026 winter semester, a comprehensive survey of first-year students was conducted for the first time—with an exceptionally high response rate of 88 percent. The results paint a very positive picture of the start of the program and confirm the university as an attractive place to study, offering personalized support and high student satisfaction.

High Satisfaction with the Start of Studies and Support

Students rate their start to their studies particularly positively: Over 85 percent of respondents rate their choice of the “Teacher Training Program for Secondary Schools with Special Needs Education” positively. 91 percent are very satisfied with their decision to attend Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. The interaction between students and faculty also receives top marks: 81 percent report being very satisfied in this regard.

Academic advising and Student Advisory Service are also highlighted: About 90 percent of students are satisfied or very satisfied with the guidance provided by the degree programme’s academic advisors. The availability of course materials, as well as support from the University Library and service facilities, is also overwhelmingly rated very positively.

Choosing a Program: Personal Counseling, Social Media, and the Website Are Key

A key finding of the survey concerns the decision to enroll: The most important sources of information through which first-year students became aware of the academic programs offered by the University of Zittau/Görlitz are

• the university’s social media channels (including Instagram and TikTok),
• personal counseling and conversations, for example during university information days such as the virtual university information day or in direct exchanges with university staff, and
• the HSZG website.

In addition to recommendations from friends, parents, or family, these channels are not only used frequently but are also rated as very good. The website and the online university information day, in particular, score above average in this regard.

Strong Regional Ties and Recommendation Rate

Another strong indicator for the region: 76 percent of students can imagine staying in the Zittau/Görlitz region after obtaining their degree—for example, to pursue a teaching internship. The main reasons they cite are proximity to home, family ties, the high demand for teachers, and the quality of life in the rural areas of the tri-border region.

Nine out of ten respondents state that they are (very) likely to recommend the teacher education program at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences to their friends and acquaintances.

At the same time, the evaluation also highlights areas for improvement, such as in organizational processes—aspects that will now be specifically addressed and refined.

Particularly in light of the shortage of skilled workers in rural areas, the successful launch of the program confirms that the new teacher education program is attracting students to the region and has the potential to retain them in the long term—an important signal for high schools and special education schools in eastern Saxony.

Working Together

The survey was conducted in January 2026 using a questionnaire developed specifically for the teacher education program in Görlitz. The evaluation received technical and conceptual support from the Office for Quality Development in Teaching and Studies at the University of Leipzig. A total of 21 students from the first cohort (LOs25) participated in the survey. The results are therefore considered highly meaningful.