Zessko Potsdam celebrates 15 years: language courses for the future!

Zessko Potsdam celebrates 15 years: language courses for the future!

The Center for Languages ​​and Key Competencies (Zessko) at the University of Potsdam will celebrate its 15th anniversary on October 6, 2025. During this period, Zessko has established itself as a central institution for language education, offering a variety of language courses in a total of eleven languages. These include Chinese, German as a foreign language, English, French, Italian, Latin, ancient Greek, Portuguese, Spanish, Polish and Russian. For these courses, foreign language certificates are awarded according to the recognized UNIcert® quality seal, which further enhances the institution uni-potsdam.de reported.

The linguistic educational offerings are not only relevant for philological degree programs, but can also be attended by other students and can be taken with freely available credit points. Zessko also promotes intercultural competence and awards an additional certificate that certifies “intercultural competence in studies and work”. Dr. David James Prickett, who has been director of Zessko since 2019, emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to language education and intercultural collaboration.

The role of the UNIcert® certificate

The UNIcert® certificate is a widely recognized foreign language certificate that is awarded at around 50 universities in Germany and some abroad. It not only ensures that students receive a solid language education, but also provides an international framework for the recognition of language skills. The advantages of a UNIcert® certificate are manifold: It is valid for an unlimited period and is accepted as proof of language skills in both German and the respective foreign language. According to information from sz.rwth-aachen.de Students can earn certificates in eight different languages, including Chinese, French and Spanish, along with the corresponding levels.

In order to obtain a UNIcert® certificate, students must take part in a specifically designated course and meet the corresponding requirements. The cost of issuing the certificate is 20 euros, which must be ready when submitting the application. There is also the option of printing out a “normal” proof of achievement in the language center user account.

Intercultural competence and technology in language teaching

Zessko is also working on innovative approaches to language education, including the development of an AI module for the Studiumplus module catalog. This module is intended to promote the use of artificial intelligence for students. The discussion about the role of AI in language teaching is part of a broader consideration of how language learning can promote intercultural understanding. The current structural analysis for internal evaluation serves to increase the awareness of Zessko and to intensify collaboration both within the team and with external partners in order to achieve the goals of language promotion.

The anniversary celebration will take place in the upper cafeteria on the Am Neuen Palais campus, to which the university management, partners and students are invited. The Zessko expects that the celebration will provide an opportunity to reflect on the successes of the last 15 years and plan future developments.

With a media library that offers learning materials, language cafés and a space for autonomous learning, Zessko shows that it is about more than just language skills. The name “Media Library” may need to be reconsidered as many students are unaware that this valuable resource is available. The focus on interactive teaching methods and small group teaching underpins the high standards set for the program and the need for ongoing dialogue about best practices in language learning.