Chemnitz University of Technology

Chemnitz University of Technology
Technische Universität Chemnitz
Type Public
Established 1836
Endowment 138,5 million EUR
Chancellor Eberhard Alles
President Arnold van Zyl
Academic staff
 1,185 full-time
Students 10,850
Location Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany
Website www.tu-chemnitz.de
Data as of 2011
TU Chemnitz, main building entrance, Straße der Nationen

Chemnitz University of Technology is located in the town of Chemnitz in Germany. With over 10000 students it is the third largest university in Saxony and around 750 international students from 100 universities all over the world are enrolled each year. It was founded in 1836 as Royal Mercantile College ("Königliche Gewerbeschule") and became a technical university in 1986. Situated in the centre of the 'Wissenschaftsregion' ('science region') Chemnitz, Technische Universität (TU) Chemnitz hosts about 11,000 students from 75 countries. With approximately 2,000 employees in science, engineering and management, TU Chemnitz counts among the most important employers in the region. Today, TU Chemnitz stands for distinctively-profiled and outstanding research. Within the key research areas 'Energy-efficient Production Processes', 'Smart Systems and Materials' and 'Human Factors in Technology' solutions for the challenges of tomorrow are developed.The main issues regarding economic and social developments are influenced by mega trends such as globalization, demographic change and the availability of resources. The profile of TU Chemnitz is characterized by the interaction of the key research areas mentioned above and has generated a unique constellation of competencies across eight faculties. Thanks to this constellation, Chemnitz develops into an internationally visible research hub for future value creation processes.

History

Foundation

The tradition of science in this region goes back to the 16th century when Georg Agricola (1494-1555), a famous German scholar of minerals, served as the city's mayor. In 1836 the Royal Mercantile College was established as a scientific base to support the industrial revolution. In 1882 more than 1,000 students registered at the college. Modern scientific areas like electrical engineering were included in the curriculum. These developments made it possible for the institution to become a Royal Technical Academy ("Königliche Gewerbeakademie"). This academy played a major role in helping Chemnitz to become one of the industrial centers at the beginning of the 20th century. At this time Chemnitz had the highest number of patent registrations in the whole of Germany and hence also in the whole world.[1]

During the German Democratic Republic Era

The city of Chemnitz and the Technical Academy was heavily damaged during the World War II. In the German Democratic Republic era, after some time of adaptation to the new conditions, the status of a Technical College ("Technische Hochschule") was awarded in 1963. At the end of the 1960s the College was composed of faculties for Mathematics,ett Natural Sciences, Engineering and Humanities. With the rising number of students the institution became an official University of Technology in 1986.

After Germany's Reunification

TU Chemnitz, new lecture theater

At the end of the German Democratic Republic the academic system of Eastern Germany was absorbed by the West German system. Chemnitz was actively supported to remain as a third university besides Leipzig and Dresden within Saxony. Therefore, in 1992 and 1993 two new departments were established: The Department of Economics and Business Administration and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences expanded the university's broad field of studies towards a full university. Immediately these new schools started to work on interdisciplinary projects with the established science and engineering departments. The university introduced combined research projects and inter-facultary study courses. Within a few years the number of students doubled to the current level of around 10,000.

Research

A key research area 'Energy-efficient Production Processes' stands the Federal Cluster of Excellence 'Merge Technologies for Multifunctional Lightweight Structures' (MERGE). Funded by 34 million Euros, this cluster is the only one in Germany focusing on the trend-setting technology field of 'lightweight engineering'. The breeding ground for this extraordinary development was prepared by the Saxon State Cluster of Excellence 'Energy-efficient Product and Process Innovations in Production Engineering' (eniPROD) which was jointly established with the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU. These competencies are complemented by additional collaborative research areas funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) which develop intelligent materials and energy-efficient production technologies.

Within the key research area 'Smart Systems and Materials', scientists at TU Chemnitz are also involved in the Federal Cluster of Excellence 'Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden' (cfAED). Further input is provided by the NiÃo System Integration Network of Excellence (Nanett), funded by the Federal Government, as well as by the cluster COOL SILICON 'Energy Efficiency Innovations from Silicon Saxony'. Several DFG Research Groups are working in this field. In addition, TU Chemnitz will be the home of the 'Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes' (MAIN), which is unique in Europe.

TU Chemnitz is characterized by trans-disciplinary cooperation - also within the key research area 'Human Factors in Technology'. Representative for a number of examples shall be mentioned the Competence Center 'Virtual Humans' and the DFG Research Training Group 'Connecting virtual and real social worlds'. Staff members like the International Research Training Group 'Materials and Concepts for Advanced Interconnects and Nanosystems' operated by TU Chemnitz in cooperation with Chinese partner universities.

Among the increasing networking with companies and research institutions in the 'Wissenschaftsregion' ('science region') Chemnitz. In association with extramural research institutions and affiliated institutes of TU Chemnitz as well as in cooperation with the city administration and business partners, TU Chemnitz prepares the optimal breeding ground for combining practice-oriented higher education with fundamental and application-oriented research. Active support for the transition from the auditorium into entrepreneurship is provided by the Start-up Network SAXEED at TU Chemnitz and the Technology Center Chemnitz. Thanks to their assistance, 168 spin-offs were established so far generating about 800 jobs. This contributed to the fact that TU Chemnitz counts among the best entrepreneurship universities in Germany.

The Smart Systems Campus, which was built very near the university campus and is now the location of the newly constructed Institute of Physics, including a cleanroom at the Centre for Microtechnologies, as well as the Fraunhofer-Institute for Electronic Nano Systems ENAS, a 'start up' - building and industrial real estate. On the international level TU Chemnitz cooperates with 126 partner institutions in 39 countries. This includes 19 members of the international university network 'Academic Consortium for the 21st Century' (AC21). In winter term 2013/2014 about 2,500 young people started their Bachelor or master's degree studies at TU Chemnitz. All in all, the university offers 35 Bachelor and 50 Master's degree programs, branded by high trans-disciplinarity. Recently, a new degree program 'Educational Studies for Elementary Schools' was started offering the degree of state examination after successful completion of studies.

TU Chemnitz is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the project 'Teaching Quality Pact' as well as by Saxony's Centre for Teaching and Learning funded by the Saxon State Ministry of Science and the Arts.

In order to enhance the city of Chemnitz as well as make it a better environment for university students, the ancient industry building of the 'Alte Aktienspinnerei' ('Old Spinning Mill') will be reconstructed and serve as the location for the Central University Library. Other university institutions will also be relocated along the tram route within the reorganization of the public transport system in Chemnitz according to the so-called 'Chemnitz Model'. In 2012, TU Chemnitz has been awarded as family-friendly university for the third time.


Spin offs

In 1998 the data mining company Prudsys AG was developed in association with the university.[2]

Structure

Departments

The university is organised into the following 8 Departments:

Research

The university has concentrated its research to 6 main profiles:

Research Centers

See also

References

External links


Coordinates: 50°48′49″N 12°55′45″E / 50.81361°N 12.92917°E / 50.81361; 12.92917

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