Key digital skills for a successful future for our graduates are a focus of the digital transformation at the HSZG.
The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) has set out to develop its own recommendations for action with peer-to-peer strategy consulting from the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung and specific strategy development workshops on how to shape the digital transformation of teaching, administration and research at our university. Online learning, AI in teaching, adapting infrastructure and digital skills - digitalization holds many opportunities for universities, but also challenges.
On 20.04.2023, the Vice-Rector for Education and International Affairs, Professor Keil, hosted a workshop as part of the University for Future (UF4) process which focused on the development of a "digital identity" for the HSZG. Together with representatives of the individual faculties, the HSZG support structures (Center for E-Learning, Education Office, University Computer Centre) and the academic administration, approaches to promoting digital skills and other future skills for the specialists of the future were discussed. Key digital skills for university staff and future collaboration between the various support structures were also discussed.
The relevance of key digital skills is also evident in the current design of the Saxony-wide umbrella strategy for digital transformation in the higher education sector. The Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture & Tourism (SMWK) and the State Rectors' Conference (LRK) are currently developing this strategy and active discussions are taking place on this topic. Similar to the participatory approach of our university management as part of the HSZG's internal University for Future process, the strategy development process on the part of the SMWK and the LRK is also cooperative and dialog-oriented. Representatives from all Saxon universities were invited to actively participate in various workshops.
With extensive expertise from our own strategy development, the HSZG hosted a Saxony-wide workshop entitled "Key digital skills for the specialists of the future" on 14.06.2023 for over 50 participants from Saxon universities, ministries, industry and business. This workshop was jointly organized by the SMWK and the HSZG and aimed to specifically develop the digital transformation in the higher education sector. The Vice-Rector and representatives of various structural units at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences took the opportunity to share their knowledge based on the results of the HSZG's University for Future process.
At the event, Dr. Germar Schneider from Infineon Technologies, Dresden, gave a keynote speech on key digital skills for future specialists from a company perspective. Dr. Schneider highlighted the transformation of jobs in the semiconductor industry through automation and at the same time presented innovative ideas for the work design of the future. His contribution was extremely enriching and offered valuable insights into the requirements and opportunities for skilled workers in the digital world.
Moderated with the kind support of Hochschuldidaktik Sachsen (HDS), the participants from Saxon colleges and universities as well as the business community discussed measures to promote key digital skills and forms of cooperation between the individual stakeholders. The main topics were:
Once again, it became clear what a broad field needs to be covered here, both didactically and technically and often very application-specific. There was agreement that integrative approaches are required in order to adapt the promotion of key digital skills to subject-specific requirements. This leads to didactic challenges that must be met appropriately, be it through appropriate support services for teachers or learners. Companies, especially SMEs, would also like more support both in the further training of their employees and in the fundamental orientation in the process of general digital transformation.
The participants agreed that the tasks of digitalization require continuous efforts and that bundled cooperation between science, politics and business is necessary in order to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalization.
Overall, the Vice-Rector would like to thank the SMWK, represented by the Head of the Department for Digital Transformation in Higher Education and Academic Libraries, Dr. Marzena Schöne, for the trust they have placed in her. The university management would like to take this opportunity to thank the SMWK and the LRK for the opportunity to participate in the development of the umbrella strategy and the Education Unit for organizing a very valuable professional day.
The participatory process to develop a strategy for digitalization at the HSZG and in the higher education landscape across Saxony is thus making great strides forward. We can look back on a productive event with valuable impulses for everyone involved. This important piece of the puzzle on the way to a digital identity, like the others, fits into the overall process in which the HSZG finds itself. You are still cordially invited to participate and help shape it.
On November 24, 2022, the SMWK and the State Rectors' Conference agreed on the development of a joint umbrella strategy for "Digital Transformation in Higher Education" . This will be incorporated into university development planning for the period from 2025 onwards and can also serve as a basis for specific digitalization concepts for Saxony's universities.
The strategy development process has a cooperative, dialog-oriented character and involves
