New teacher training course at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences to counteract teacher shortage

A new teacher training course at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences aims to counteract the shortage of teachers in Upper Lusatia. From the winter semester 2025/26, students will be able to enrol on the "Teaching Qualification for Secondary Schools with Special Needs Education" course, the Ministry of Science announced on Friday. Accordingly, the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences will offer the course at its locations together with the University of Leipzig.

"Through the unique cooperation between the University of Leipzig and the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, we are bringing the undergraduate teacher training course to Eastern Saxony and thus to one of the regions where the demand for teachers in secondary schools and special schools is particularly high," said Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow (CDU) according to the press release.

A key points paper, which sets out the framework for the structure and implementation, was signed on Friday. In addition to Gemkow, the signatories included Minister of Culture Christian Piwarz, the Vice-Rector for Talent Development at Leipzig University, Roger Gläser, and the Rector of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, Alexander Kratzsch. The agreement provides for 60 study places per year and a duration of 10 semesters.

The new course is unique in the Free State in that it combines two subjects for secondary school teaching with an extension subject for a special educational focus. The aim is to prepare prospective teachers for the challenges of inclusive school practice.

In the eastern part of Saxony in particular, it is more difficult to fill vacancies at secondary schools and special schools than at elementary school, said Piwarz. This is precisely where the new course comes in. "This means that teacher training is making further inroads into rural areas and we are creating an attractive range of courses in the area of secondary schools and special needs learning in order to attract more applicants for the teaching profession in the future."