Knowledge on board - HSZG's "rolling laboratory" officially inaugurated
Mobile learning center for Upper Lusatia launches
As a highlight of this year’s orientation festivities, the mobile learning center —a key component of the“Zukunftslernort Oberlausitz (ZukLOS)” initiative—was officially opened on October 2, 2024, on the Zittau campus.
It consists of an Airstream trailer designed for university use, with space inside to install various experimental and hands-on stations. Equipped in this way, the trailer—pulled by a suitable tow vehicle—will travel throughout Upper Lusatia as a mobile laboratory, offering children and young people in particular access to modern technology and STEM education outside the classroom.
The inauguration of the mobile learning space is a significant milestone for the ZukLOS project. I am extremely pleased that we are able to celebrate its opening on such a special day as the enrolment of our first-year students. Today we are celebrating not only the beginning of a new chapter in our students’ lives, but also the now physically tangible launch of the mobile learning center.
”Symbolic Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Using golden scissors, the rector, Professor Alexander Kratzsch, and the Vice President for Education and International Affairs, Professor Sophia Keil, together with State Parliament Representative Franziska Schubert (Alliance 90/The Greens) and the Chair of the HSZG University Council, Professor Welf-Guntram Drossel, performed the symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony. In their welcoming remarks, they highlighted the importance of the mobile learning center for extracurricular STEM education in the region and for the university.
The mobile learning center offers the opportunity to use a variety of modern technologies in a contemporary, sophisticated setting. It enables us to extend the educational mission of the University of Zittau/Görlitz beyond the campus and to organize teaching and learning processes directly on-site—whether in schools, at extracurricular learning venues, or even at trade shows or events.
”Great interest and first experiments
After the official inauguration, many of the guests present took the opportunity to explore the new learning space and try out the experiment stations for themselves. They were impressed by the modern learning environment and the technical possibilities in the extended Airstream trailer and found out about the wide range of functions and possible applications.
The mobile lab serves as an ambassador for the university. Both students and faculty members can use it. The main target audience is schoolchildren: Equipped with a rotating selection of specialized materials, the trailer will showcase various faculty topics and serve as a makerspace for “do-it-yourself” projects. We aim to make current topics in nature, technology, and society tangible for children and teens, introduce them to digital technology, and encourage them to get involved. With this mobile learning space, we provide a place for learning and experimentation outside of traditional classrooms. In addition, we aim to further expand our collaboration with regional after-school learning centers, online programs, and statewide campaigns through the mobile lab.
”
I am convinced that our mobile learning center is a unique offering for the region and that, through this innovative initiative, we will break new ground in knowledge transfer—for the people of the region. With our mobile learning center, we want to spark an interest in STEM subjects and show how accessible and exciting these disciplines can be. Our goal is not only to foster curiosity but also to spark enthusiasm for careers in technology and the natural sciences—especially here in our region, which is undergoing rapid structural change—where the future of education and innovation plays such a vital role.
”Mobile learning space as a participatory process
The Airstream trailer was selected in a participatory process in which pupils from the "Geistesblitz" makerspace in Löbau also played an active role. As an ambassador for the HSZG, the mobile laboratory is supervised by university staff together with students and federal volunteers who are completing a social year in science, technology and sustainability at the HSZG. This ongoing collaboration with young people shows how much the initiative is designed to involve the main target group in the design of modern learning environments.
The Mobile Learning Center is an outstanding example of how education can be made innovative and accessible. It extends beyond the university campus to reach out into the community, with the goal of sparking enthusiasm for STEM subjects and fostering a spirit of inquiry among children and young people. I am particularly pleased that this mobile lab also relies on close collaboration with the region and creates learning opportunities right on the ground.
”The mobile learning location will be gradually introduced in the winter semester 2024/2025 and will make regular stops at schools and extracurricular learning locations in future.
The laboratory on wheels was used for the first time from October 14 to 18, 2024 for the fourth energy camp at the Knappenrode energy factory on the subject of robotics, programming and ESD with pupils from Oberlandgymnasium Seifhennersdorf.
The Airstream trailer will make a stop at the Zittau campus on December 4, 2024.
Further assignments are currently being prepared with grammar schools and secondary schools in Upper Lusatia to carry out hackdays lasting several days, where the focus will be on tinkering with prototypes to improve everyday school life. The HSZG is a partner in supra-regional networks such as Make Your School and MINOS.
The Sächsische Zeitung reported on the introduction of the Airstream trailer in October.
On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 9.30-11.00 a.m., the mobile learning location made a guest appearance on the Görlitz campus of the HSZG. The Rector cordially invited all university members to visit the rolling laboratory in Görlitz, try out modern technologies and talk to those responsible.
The Vice President for Education and International Affairs, Professor Sophia Keil, extends her thanks to the entire ZukLOS project team, the participating faculty members, and all University Administration staff involved, without whose dedication the creation of this mobile learning space would not have been possible.
The goal of the strategic initiative “Zukunftslernort Oberlausitz” (ZukLOS) is to create diverse and innovative teaching and learning spaces in the extracurricular STEM field. At these locations, future-oriented programs focused on regional development are to be established. The initiative focuses on four areas of action:
* Mobile learning centers * Zittau Junior Academy
* Görlitz Experimentation Center *Campus4You
Through these action-oriented and intergenerational programs—particularly those aimed at children and young people in Upper Lusatia—the university aims to significantly increase the region’s appeal to families and young people.
1st floor
2nd upper floor
1st floor
