Franz Just speaks Standard German so well—it’s hard to believe that he’s originally from Hainewalde and thus from our beautiful Upper Lusatia. He could just as easily be from Hamburg and have decided to study in the border triangle. Franz Just, however, is someone who “stayed put”—24 years old, blond, tall, and athletic. Somehow, you can tell he wants more. He gives it 110 percent. He’s currently in the final semester of his master’s program in computer science in Görlitz. He’s about to defend his thesis when we meet for our interview. At eighteen, he was a bit “at a loss,” as he puts it. He was pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Computer Science in Görlitz and found both fields interesting. But he quickly shifted his focus to computer science and knew he wanted to pursue a master’s degree in that field at HSZG. Since then, his focus has been primarily on artificial intelligence.

“I realized that there are different approaches to studying,” says Franz Just. “For the first two or three semesters of my Bachelor program, I was the type who thought, ‘Let’s see what happens—I’ll sit in on the lectures; the framework is already in place.’ But then Görlitz started to feel a bit too confining for me, and I wanted to gain experience abroad—a rather atypical path in computer science.” During his studies, Franz Just traveled to China, France, Lithuania, and Spain, including an internship and his Bachelor thesis. “I wanted to experience the linguistic and cultural challenges and learn about different approaches to studying—and I love culture shocks.”

Perhaps studying on the Görlitz campus would be a culture shock for anyone else—learning in small groups with a focus on hands-on instruction, closely guided by professors who know you personally and for whom you’re not just a number. For Franz Just, these factors would always be a reason to choose Görlitz—even though, or perhaps precisely because, he had the opportunity to experience many other universities and educational models abroad. He also cites the “low cost of living, such as affordable housing and groceries” as a reason for feeling at home in Görlitz. And the “extremely strong support” he received at the HSZG, thanks to which he was able to make the most of his studies. In the end, everyone is the architect of their own fortune. And perhaps that’s what Franz Just emphasizes: his high level of intrinsic motivation. But with that, he’s always found open doors at the HSZG.

For example, he simply sat in on the information session hosted by the International Office and looked into the options available to him for actively shaping his studies abroad. He’s aware of the funding opportunities available at HSZG, but also of the extensive preparation required—for example, to complete his internship in Paris. “I planned the trip over a year in advance, ” says Franz Just. He’s currently funding his studies through a foundation.

Today, he knows exactly what he wants: “I want to conduct research and contribute to research papers.” And he’ll have the opportunity to do so, since he’ll continue working on HSZG projects for the time being. “I find it incredibly enjoyable, ” says Franz Just, “to work at the computer. It’s such a great concept: one person, one desk, one chair, and one computer. That’s all it takes for one person to accomplish a lot.”

Text: Sophie Herwig