From Almaty to Zittau

From June 6 to June 17, 2016, 11 students in the bachelor’s program “energy and environmental engineering” at the German-Kazakh University (DKU) completed a study internship on the topic of “Quality, Environmental, and Energy Management Systems” at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) alongside their program director. This is already the second study internship funded by the DAAD for DKU students at the HSZG. The first internship took place in 2014, and four of the Kazakh participants from that time are now studying in the “integrated management” Master's degree programme at our university’s Zittau campus. They demonstrate to us that the international cooperation project is bearing fruit and encouraging cross-border study.

This year’s study internship was once again designed to help participants get to know the university, the academic opportunities, and the student town of Zittau. In addition to lectures and seminars on environmental and project management, the schedule included a variety of laboratory practicals. Four of the Kazakh students were even able to complete the study trip with a TÜV certificate in “Environmental Management Systems According to ISO 14001.”

In addition to colleagues from the Academic Administration, the students in the Master's degree programmes “integrated management systems” and “integrated management”—through their personal commitment—played a major role in ensuring that our Kazakh guests felt completely at home in Zittau and, in addition to the demanding work program, were able to experience the enjoyable aspects of student life, such as hikes in the Zittau Mountains, sports facilities behind the dormitories, or shared barbecue evenings. After so many impressions of Zittau, our guests bid us farewell with an interesting presentation on Kazakhstan and Almaty. But this farewell is not final, as the students also exchanged contact information during the two-week knowledge and cultural exchange program. This laid the groundwork for international communication among the students, even beyond the scope of the study internship.

This year’s study trip continues the traditionally good cooperative relationships in teaching and student exchange between DKU and HSZG, thereby strengthening the “international friendship” between the two educational institutions.

The organizers of the study trip would like to thank the DAAD for its financial support of the trip, to all colleagues at HSZG involved in implementing the program, to the Zittau Student Services Office for its assistance with student housing, and to the Association for International and Interdisciplinary International Management e.V. for its financial contribution. Special thanks go to Ms. Simone Kunze from the International Office for her extensive and personal support of the students here on site.