Regional Office for Teacher Education Opens in Zittau – A Boon for the Upper Lusatia Region

On Saturday, July 11, 2026, the new Regional Office for Teacher Education at the TUD Dresden University of Technology was officially opened as part of the science festival“OHA! – Oberlausitz Knows Its Stuff!” The event, held at the market square in Zittau, attracted numerous visitors who learned about the regional office’s goals and offerings and engaged in conversation with the staff.

The Regional Office, a branch of the Center for Teacher Education, School, and Vocational Education Research (ZLSB) at TU Dresden, was received with great interest by the local community. Both the previous exchange meetings with schools and the discussions during the opening have shown that the regional office is seen as an opportunity to strengthen the Upper Lusatia region and teacher education in the long term. The regional office is located at the International Institute (IHI) Zittau and can already be found on the TUD | Lusatia Campus map.

A Strong Signal for the Region

The Regional Office serves as a central hub for connecting universities, schools, training centers, and other educational institutions in the region. The goal is to raise the profile of teacher education in the region and to address local needs in a targeted manner. Thomas Zenker, the mayor of Zittau, also spoke positively about the opening of the Regional Office for Teacher Education, calling it a major asset for Upper Lusatia that strengthens the region’s position as an important hub for education and innovation.

A Place for Networking and Growth

A central symbol of the opening was the “lucky chestnut,” which was presented on stage. Dr. Elisa Rößler, coordinator of the Regional Office, explained: “The lucky chestnut stands for growth, putting down roots, and networking—exactly what we hope to achieve with the Regional Office. We want to create a platform that not only offers traditional professional development but, above all, promotes dialogue and collaboration between schools, teachers, and other stakeholders.” The regional office is already planning various initiatives tailored to the needs of schools in Upper Lusatia. These include workshops and networking meetings on topics such as artificial intelligence in the classroom, classroom design, and the support of neurodiversity and giftedness.

A Boon for the Educational Landscape

The regional office’s location at the IHI in Zittau enables numerous (new) synergies. Prof. Dr. Thorsten Claus, Director of the IHI, also sees great potential: “The Regional Office strengthens the IHI’s role as a central educational hub in the region and brings us even closer to the needs of Upper Lusatia.” Prof. Dr. Axel Gehrmann, Director of the ZLSB, also sees great value in increasing the university’s visibility in rural regions: “With the regional office, we can not only offer continuing education and projects directly in the region, but also attract interested individuals in a targeted manner to teacher education programs—whether through traditional undergraduate tracks or career-change pathways. This is a great opportunity for the region and for teacher education.”

Invitation to Get Involved

The successful opening of the regional office is a significant step for the educational landscape in Upper Lusatia. Those in charge invite all interested parties to share their ideas and suggestions to help further develop the regional office’s programs. The Regional Office for Teacher Education is now available as a point of contact for teachers, schools, and other education stakeholders; interested parties are welcome to stop by or call.

Contact:
Regional Office for Teacher Education “TUD | ZLSB regional”
Markt 23, 02763 Zittau
International University Institute, Building 1, Room 4.07

Phone: 0351 463 39984
Email:
Website: tu-dresden.de/zlsb