20 years of ZLSB: A celebration full of retrospectives and outlooks

On June 5, 2025, the ZLSB celebrated its 20th anniversary with a festive event attended by 200 guests from science, politics, schools and education administration. Among the guests were the Saxon State Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs, Conrad Clemens, the Rector of TU Dresden, Prof. Dr. Ursula M. Staudinger, as well as Prof. Dr. Katja Koch from TU Braunschweig and Conor Galvin from the University of Dublin. The ceremony was moderated by a young teacher and former student teacher at TU Dresden, Mr. Wendt, who led through the program with charm and commitment.

© Janis Foster

The anniversary celebration paid tribute to the impressive development of the ZLSB since its foundation in 2005. In her address, the Rector of TU Dresden, Prof. Dr. Ursula M. Staudinger, emphasized the central role of the center for teacher training at a university that has been further strengthened by the amendment to the Higher Education Act. "With a strong and innovative ZLSB, TU Dresden is well positioned to master the challenges in teacher training," said Staudinger. The close cooperation between regional schools, the two ministries, the LASUB and the university was emphasized as the heart of a successful transfer of theory into practice.

© Janis Foster

The ZLSB also received special recognition in the speech by Prof. Dr. Katja Koch (TU Braunschweig). In her laudatory speech, she praised the strategic ability of the ZLSB and its contribution to the further development of teacher training beyond a pure service function. She underlined the increasing importance of such centers as structure-giving and innovation-promoting actors in the higher education system - and praised the development in Dresden as exemplary in a nationwide context.

© Janis Foster

In his very personal and humorous speech, Conor Galvin from the University of Dublin, who arrived as an international partner from the EU project TAP-TS, paid tribute not only to the institutional achievements of the center, but above all to the people behind it He concluded with his appeal for friendship, humor and cooperation: "What Europe needs more of, is mutual understanding - with a sense of humor."

© Janis Foster

In his speech, the Managing Director of the ZLSB, Prof. Dr. Axel Gehrmann, looked back on the eventful history and continuous institutional growth of the center. What once began as a "Trojan horse in the university system" is now a "medium-sized company" with around 70 employees. With projects such as SYLBER, BQL, Schullogin and the Teaching Staff Academy, the ZLSB has not only created structures, but also shaped future prospects for teacher training. Gehrmann emphasized: "Teacher training is not an administrative task - it is a social obligation."

The event ended with a convivial reception in the foyer, where former and current companions of the ZLSB, students, cooperation partners and guests from all over Saxony and beyond came together to talk.

Thank you very much for your attendance and congratulations - here's to the next 20 years!