Jul 13, 2026
New arrival at IHI Zittau: ZLSB regional office for teacher training opened
Symbolic opening of the ZLSB regional office on the main stage of the Zittau City Festival by Mayor Thomas Zenker. To Zenker’s right: Dr. Elisa Rößler, coordinator of the regional office; Prof. Thorsten Claus, director of the IHI Zittau; and Prof. Axel Gehrmann, director of the ZLSB. On the left, Oliver Tettenborn from the IHI Zittau is hosting the event.
The International Institute (IHI) of TU Dresden in Zittau is expanding its scope: Since May 2026, the new Regional Office for Teacher Education of the Center for Teacher Education, School, and Vocational Education Research (ZLSB) has been based at the IHI in Zittau.
On July 11, 2026, the new Regional Office for Teacher Education at TU Dresden was officially opened on Zittau’s market square as part of the“OHA! – Oberlausitz hat Ahnung!” science festival. The Regional Office, which is based at the International Institute (IHI) Zittau, was received with great enthusiasm by the region. It serves as a central hub for networking among schools, teachers, and other education stakeholders in Upper Lusatia. The opening marks not only an important step for teacher education in the region but also the beginning of close collaboration between the IHI and the Center for Teacher Education, School, and Vocational Education Research (ZLSB) at TU Dresden. Together, they aim to create new synergies to strengthen the educational landscape in Upper Lusatia in the long term.
Synergies for the Region: Professional Development and New Programs
The Regional Office for Teacher Education and the IHI are already working together to develop innovative educational programs for the region. Initial initiatives, such as one-off professional development events and the establishment of a career-change group in Zittau, are currently in the planning stages. The goal is to provide support to local teachers in a targeted manner and to create new perspectives for teacher education.
One example is the planned field trip to the Zittau Mountains, which is offered as part of the Interreg-funded FENIX project and is now also being promoted by the Regional Office for Teacher Education. This program is aimed at teachers and offers the opportunity to experience the theme “Living with Nature” in a hands-on way over a period of one to five days and to integrate it into their lessons.