German teachers from Ulaanbaatar visited the HSZG to exchange experiences on specialized language, project work, and international university cooperation.
How is German taught at a technical university in Mongolia? What role do technical terminology, project work, and international collaborations play? And what can universities on different continents learn from one another?
These were the questions addressed during the visit by Batsuren Bishbat and Bolormaa Baljir to Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. The two German teachers from the German-Mongolian University of Raw Materials and Technology (DMHT) in Ulaanbaatar were guests at the HSZG as part of an exchange program supported by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).
During their stay, they gained a wide range of insights into academic studies, teaching, and university organization. The program included observing classes / courses, discussions with faculty and staff, visits to the language center, and educational exchange sessions focused on university teaching methods. Another item on the agenda was a visit to the HSZG’s preparatory college. Together with Ellen Leuschner, the guests discussed the German curriculum and the teaching of subject-specific language, the instruction of subject-specific content in German (mathematics, physics, and chemistry), teaching materials, the use of digital teaching units, and teacher training. The guests showed particular interest in issues related to subject-specific language instruction, the design of project-oriented teaching and learning scenarios, and the training of future teachers in the “Secondary School Teaching with Special Education” program.
A highlight of the visit was participation in Teaching Day 2026 in Görlitz. Under the motto “Learning for Tomorrow—Higher Education as a Space for Shaping a Sustainable Future,” university faculty and external guests discussed the future of higher education, education for sustainable development, and the promotion of future-oriented skills. For the two German teachers, the event offered the opportunity to learn about innovative teaching approaches and to engage in conversation with faculty, students, and staff at the HSZG.
I was very pleased to welcome the German teachers from Mongolia to the HSZG on Teachers’ Day. As someone who comes from Poland myself, I share their enthusiasm for the German language and know from my own experience what opportunities and personal paths it can open up. I was all the more impressed by the open and warm exchange. The encounter demonstrated once again how language connects people, cultures, and countries. For me, such conversations are a great source of enrichment and an important contribution to international understanding.
”In addition to the academic program, personal and cultural exchange also played an important role. In numerous conversations, the guests spoke about the higher education landscape in Mongolia, the importance of the German language for students in technical degree programs, and their day-to-day professional lives at DMHT. The program was rounded out by a visit to the University Library. There, during an impromptu tour, the guests gained insights into the library’s services and engaged in conversation with staff members about the role of academic libraries in teaching and learning. At the same time, they got to know Upper Lusatia, the cities of Zittau and Görlitz, and various facets of German higher education culture.
Daniel Winkler, a lecturer in higher education pedagogy at HSZG and coordinator of the visit, offers a positive assessment:
International exchanges like these show that universities are much more than just places for imparting knowledge. They create spaces for new perspectives, cultural learning, and personal encounters—and that is precisely what makes them an important part of a sustainable higher education system.
”The visit took place in May 2026 and is part of the collaboration between HSZG, DMHT, and GIZ. Participants on both sides hope to continue the exchange that has begun and to develop further joint activities in the future.
Special thanks go to everyone who made this visit possible and supported us throughout. We would like to acknowledge, in particular, Irena Dudová (HSZG International Office), Dr. Lothar Kahnt, Dr. Lucie Koutková (Director of Academic Affairs and International Relations at HSZG), Ellen Leuschner (Director of the HSZG Preparatory College), Dr. Cristiano Marcellino (Director of the HSZG University Language Centre), and Acting Prof. Dr. Marc Weiland, as well as the faculty and students of HSZG. They all provided the guests with insights into academic life and teaching.
We would also like to thank Sebastian Burghof, project manager at the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), as well as Erkhes Batbold and Soderdene Gansukh of GIZ and DMHT, for their trusting collaboration and the excellent preparation of the exchange.
The German-Mongolian University of Raw Materials and Technology (DMHT) in Ulaanbaatar was founded with the support of the Federal Republic of Germany. It offers technically oriented bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and adheres to international standards. It places particular emphasis on hands-on training and collaboration with German universities and companies.
