Reliable jump start

The new 2020/21 winter semester at HSZG is a very special one. Not only did the two campuses in Zittau and Görlitz begin classes at different times, but all activities and plans are currently marked by many uncertainties. Forty percent of instruction is to be conducted digitally this semester. This is leading to significant changes for students and faculty and, above all, is limiting opportunities for in-person interaction. Even though the HSZG is striving to offer a high proportion of in-person instruction for its new students, the challenges remain particularly great, especially for them.

The Hard Facts

That is why the annual “Come In” weeks—featuring introductory courses in mathematics, electrical engineering, chemistry, physics, and computer science—were in high demand among first-year students, even—and perhaps especially—this year. They took place from September 14 – 25 September 2020 in Zittau and from 12–16 October 2020 in Görlitz with a high proportion of in-person instruction, serving as an important foundation for our new students as they embarked on a very special phase of their lives. Despite a shorter duration than in previous years and strict hygiene requirements, all courses were very popular. As a result, the number of participants rose slightly compared to the previous year—to a total of 188 students—despite declining enrollment figures. Of these, 152 attended the introductory mathematics course, 73 the introductory physics course, 49 the introductory chemistry course, 44 the introductory electrical engineering course, and 25 each attended the introductory computer science courses on web applications and Python.

Getting to Know Each Other Despite Social Distancing

In addition to academic refresher courses, this year’s program once again included a variety of recreational activities. Although these were significantly scaled back, they still provided an opportunity to make initial connections outside of classes / courses, engage in lively conversations, and wind down the day in pleasant company. In Zittau, on sunny and mild late-summer evenings, students headed to Lake Olbersdorf, where they could marvel at the sunset in a convivial atmosphere. In addition, two cozy barbecue evenings were organized at Dormitory D. In Görlitz, the traditional hike to the Landeskrone took place.

A huge thank you

Despite some restrictions, it was a very successful way for the students to prepare for the start of the semester. Therefore, a big thank you goes out to all the instructors who led classes / courses during the “Come In” weeks, both in person and online. An equally heartfelt thank you goes to the numerous volunteers from the SbS team (Students Advising Students) as well as to the DeZi-Bar, which once again supported us as the caterer for the barbecue evenings.