Study trip promotes further exchange

Photo: HSZG The Fun Factory simulation game involved interdisciplinary collaboration

From September 15 to 21, 2017, eight students from the master’s degree programmes in “integrated management” and “integrated management systems” traveled with their instructors to St. Petersburg on a study trip focused on “Resource Efficiency and Energy Management.” The study trip took place in cooperation with Russian students and faculty from our partner universities, ITMO University and Kostroma State University.

In addition to interesting lectures and seminars, the practical aspect was not neglected. A simulation exercise followed by a discussion illustrated how companies can make their production more environmentally friendly and, above all, more resource-efficient. Furthermore, we visited both the “Baltika” brewery and the “Coca-Cola” company, which were then evaluated by student teams based on various environmental factors (energy, water, waste, etc.).

We were accompanied by Simone Kunze from the Student Services & International Affairs division, who organized information sessions for students and held “open hours” for one-on-one consultations at ITMO University to introduce the university—including the facilities of the 'Studentenwerk' (student union)—and to provide information on application procedures and entry requirements. The aim was to reduce barriers to international student exchange as much as possible.

In addition to our work, we also had plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful city of Saint Petersburg. Sightseeing tours of the many attractions, such as the Winter Palace and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, a visit to the world-famous Hermitage, and a sunset cruise on the Neva River were just a few of the highlights of the trip. And, of course, visits to traditional local restaurants were a must.

The trip was made possible through the partnership between Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and ITMO University in St. Petersburg. During the week, the collaboration between the two universities was further strengthened. This brings the goal of offering a dual degree programme in “integrated management systems” and “Industrial Ecology and Cleaner Production” for both German and Russian students one step closer to reality. The first Russian student will enroll in the dual degree programme in the summer semester of 2018. A German student will also write his Master's thesis at a company in St. Petersburg during the summer semester of 2018.

All in all, the study trip was characterized above all by an open and warm atmosphere. The collaboration between the German and Russian students and faculty was consistently pleasant and productive. We had a wonderful time, and we will remember this week for a long time to come. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Prof. Brauweiler and Prof. Olga Sergienko, without whose dedication this study trip would not have been possible. We would also like to thank the Student Services & International Affairs division for its organizational and financial support of the trip through the ERASMUS+ program, the Academic Exchange Program, and the DAAD Eastern Partnership Program.