TU Liberec and HSZG are planning a cross-border mechatronics study program in both national languages together with representatives of the cities of Liberec and Zittau and the Neisse Euroregion.
The Technical University of Liberec, the German University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz, representatives of the cities of Liberec and Zittau and the Czech-German-Polish Euroregion Neisse-Nisa-Nysa have agreed to develop new ways of cooperation. These are aimed at supporting a uniform training program in the field of mechatronics at both universities with the possibility of studying in the respective national language.
At an initial meeting, it was determined how the German-Czech university studies could be combined into one degree program, taking into account the possibility of teaching in the respective native language. The meeting was attended by Martin Půta, Governor of the Liberec Region and Chairman of the Czech part of the Euroregion, Stephan Meyer, District Administrator of the Görlitz District and Chairman of the German part of the Euroregion, Jaroslav Zámečník, Mayor of the Statutory City of Liberec, Thomas Zenker, Mayor of Zittau, Gloria Heymann, Economic Department of the City of Zittau, Miroslav Brzezina, Rector of Liberec University of Technology and President of the Academic Coordination Center in the Euroregion, Josef Cernohorsky, Dean of the Faculty of Mechatronics, Computer Science and Interdisciplinary Studies at Liberec University of Technology, Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, Sophia Keil, Vice-Rector for Education and International Affairs at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, and Ondřej Havlicek, for the Neisse-Nisa-Nysa Euroregion.
"The aim of the meeting was to discuss new opportunities for cooperation at university level that would benefit both sides, and I think we succeeded," said Martin Půta, Governor of the Liberec Region. "Specifically, it was about the joint Czech-German field of mechatronics, semiconductor manufacturing, which will draw on the experience and know-how that both universities already have. The project was supported by everyone involved."
Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, added: "We would like to contribute our experience in teaching and research in the field of semiconductor technology to joint teaching and research programs."
"We already have a joint Master's degree course in mechatronics with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, which is of course in English. Its graduates receive a diploma recognized by the German side as well as the Czech one. The latter has now submitted a proposal for a degree course that is always taught in the mother tongue. The Bachelor's degree program would teach the same professional subjects at both universities, with intensive Czech language instruction in Zittau and intensive German language instruction in Liberec," explained the Rector of the Technical University of Liberec, Miroslav Brzezina. "The idea of identical programs in German and Czech still needs to be well prepared. We are still at the very beginning."
"This is a unique opportunity for future graduates. First and foremost, we are already preparing people for smart manufacturing and process automation, but with more preparedness for specific industries in semiconductor manufacturing. Given the EU activities under the Chips Act and ESMC's investments in Dresden, this is a unique opportunity to involve the Czech Republic and TUL in these activities," said the Dean of the Faculty of Mechatronics, Informatics and Interdisciplinary Studies at TU Liberec, Josef Černohorský.
The Technical University of Liberec also has a long-standing cooperation with universities in Taiwan. Taiwan is one of the most technologically advanced countries and one of the leading semiconductor manufacturers in the world. The exchange of university experience takes place between almost all faculties - in the past, for example, in the research of the thermoacoustic motor in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering or a comprehensive health promotion system in cooperation with the NCKU, in which the Faculty of Mechatronics in particular was involved. Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and Liberec University of Technology have also signed a bilateral memorandum on their planned cooperation.
The Euroregion Neisse-Nisa-Nysa is now to prepare the next step. Specifically, the aim is to organize a meeting of representatives from companies, investors, foreign trade offices and universities this spring. The aim is to present the opportunities offered by both universities in the field of microtechnical production and semiconductor studies.
