TU Dresden facts for kids
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Technische Universität Dresden
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| Motto |
Wissen schafft Brücken (German)
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Motto in English
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Knowledge builds bridges |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1828 |
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Academic affiliations
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German Universities Excellence Initiative PEGASUS TIME CESAER TU9 DRESDEN-concept |
| Budget | € 577.8 million (2017) |
| President | Ursula Staudinger |
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Academic staff
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5,751 |
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Administrative staff
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2,470 |
| Students | 28,952 |
| Location |
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Germany
51°1′41″N 13°43′36″E / 51.02806°N 13.72667°E |
| Campus | Urban |
TU Dresden (also known as Technische Universität Dresden or TUD) is a large public research university in Dresden, Germany. It is the biggest university in the city of Dresden and the largest in the German state of Saxony. With over 32,000 students as of 2018, it is one of Germany's 10 biggest universities.
The university has been called Technische Universität Dresden since 1961. However, its history goes back almost 200 years to 1828. This makes it one of the oldest technical colleges in Germany. It is also one of the country's oldest universities that teaches many different subjects. TU Dresden is part of TU9, a group of nine leading technical universities in Germany. It is also one of eleven German universities that won the "University of Excellence" title in 2012. This means it is recognized for its outstanding research and teaching.
Contents
History of TU Dresden
In 1828, as industries grew, the Saxon Technical School was started. Its goal was to train skilled workers in subjects like mechanics and engineering. In 1871, when the German Empire was formed, the school changed its name. It became the Royal Saxon Polytechnic Institute.
At that time, new subjects like history and languages were added. By the late 1800s, the institute had grown into a full university. It was called Technische Hochschule from 1919. In 1961, it received its current name, Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden).
Challenges During the Nazi Era
During the Nazi period, the university faced difficult times. Some professors and students experienced challenges due to political views. For example, some professors had to leave their jobs or even the country. This was a time when academic freedom was limited.
Growth in the GDR Period
During the time of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the university continued to develop. In 1968, there was a big reform of universities. In 1986, the Dresden College of Engineering joined TU Dresden.
Expansion After German Reunification
After German reunification in 1990, TU Dresden grew even more. It welcomed the College of Forestry from Tharandt. This college used to be the Royal Saxony Academy of Forestry. Later, the Friedrich List College of Transport also joined. The "Carl-Gustav Carus" Medical Academy became the medical faculty.
Many new faculties were also created. These included Information Technology (1991), Law (1991), Education (1993), and Economics (1993). In 2009, TU Dresden and other research institutes in Dresden started a partnership. This partnership is called DRESDEN-Konzept. It aims to make Dresden a top place for research and education worldwide.
Exploring the University Campus
TU Dresden is mostly a campus university. This means most of its buildings are close together. Some buildings are very old, over a hundred years. They have beautiful Art Nouveau or Bauhaus styles. Newer, modern buildings have also been added. These include the library and the main auditorium.
The main campus is located south of Dresden city center. The medical faculty is in a different part of the city, Johannstadt. The forestry faculty is in a forest area in the nearby town of Tharandt.
How TU Dresden is Organized
TU Dresden has 14 different faculties. Most faculties are on the main campus. The Faculty of Medicine has its own campus near the Elbe river. The Department of Forestry is located in Tharandt.
Science Studies
The Faculty of Mathematics and the Natural Sciences is the second-largest faculty. It has about 4,390 students. It includes five departments: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. All these departments are on the main campus. In 2006, a new research building for biology opened. This faculty is also home to important research in biomedicine.
Engineering Fields
- The Faculty of Architecture has six departments and about 1,410 students.
- The Faculty of Civil Engineering is the oldest and smallest. It has about 800 students.
- The Faculty of Computer Science has six departments. It focuses on areas like Artificial Intelligence and Software Technology. There are 2,703 students here.
- The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology has 13 departments and 2,288 students. It is a key part of Silicon Saxony in Dresden.
- The Faculty of Environmental Sciences has 2,914 students. Its Forestry department in Tharandt is the oldest of its kind in Germany.
- The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is the largest faculty at TUD. It has 19 departments and 5,731 students.
- The Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences "Friedrich List" is unique in Germany. It covers all aspects of transport, from economics to engineering. It has 1,536 students.
Humanities and Social Sciences
- The Faculty of Business and Economics has five departments. These include Business Management and Economics. It has 2,842 students.
- The Faculty of Education is located east of the main campus. It has 2,075 students.
- The Faculty of Languages, Literature and Culture has five departments. These cover American Studies, German Studies, and more. There are 3,215 students.
- The Faculty of Law is currently closing down. As of September 2021, it still has 933 students.
- The Faculty of Philosophy has seven departments. These include History, Political Sciences, and Sociology. It has 3,485 students.
- The School of International Studies helps coordinate courses in international relations.
Medical Studies
- The Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine has its own campus. It is east of the city center near the Elbe river. It has 2,195 students and partners with Partners Harvard Medical International.
Key Research Centers
TU Dresden has several important research centers. These include:
- Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed)
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD)
- The Hannah Arendt Center for Research on Totalitarianism
- TUD Vietnam ERC, which offers a Master's course in Mechatronics in Hanoi, Vietnam.
University Research Focus
TU Dresden is known for its strong research. It builds on Dresden's history in microelectronics and transport. It also develops new areas like Biotechnology.
Biotechnology and Medical Technology
The university works closely with the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics. They focus on molecular bioengineering. The "From Cells to Tissues to Therapies" project studies how cells and tissues can regenerate. The "Dresden International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering" trains many PhD students.
The Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC) and the Center for Molecular Bioengineering (B CUBE) are key parts of this research. They study genomics, proteomics, and tissue engineering. Their goal is to learn from nature and create new technologies.
Magnetism and Material Sciences
Researchers here study how magnets affect metal flows. They also look into creating artificial crystals and new types of fibers.
Micro and Nanotechnology
Dresden is a hub for microelectronics, known as Silicon Saxony. TU Dresden is a leader in nanotechnology. It works with the Fraunhofer Center for Nano-electronic technologies (CNT).
Transport Research
The university partners with the Fraunhofer-Institut for Transport and Infrastructure systems. They research IT systems for public transport in Dresden.
Business and Economics Research
TU Dresden works with the Ifo Institute of Economic Research. They study economic development in Eastern Germany. The university is also part of a group offering a doctoral program in Business Intelligence.
Other Research Areas
TU Dresden works with many famous research institutes. These include the Fraunhofer Society, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Scientific Community, and Max Planck Society. The university also has a special facility for neuromorphic computing. This facility is building a new type of computer called spincloud.
University Rankings
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TU Dresden is recognized in many university rankings.
- According to the QS World University Rankings for 2024, it is 246th in the world and 16th in Germany.
- The Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2024 places it 161st globally and 16th in Germany.
- In the ARWU World Rankings for 2023, it is in the top 201–300 universities worldwide. It ranks between 10th and 19th in Germany.
In 2019, TU Dresden ranked 113th worldwide for Engineering and Technology by QS. It was 5th in Germany for this field. Reuters also listed it as 79th in the 'Most Innovative Universities Ranking 2019'.
International Partnerships
TU Dresden has strong partnerships with universities around the world. It was one of the first German universities to open a branch in Hanoi, Vietnam. This branch offers a Master's course in mechatronics. The university also works closely with top universities like Boston University and Harvard Medical School.
Student Life at TU Dresden
Student Body Overview
Around 35,000 students attend TU Dresden. About 45% study Engineering, 36.2% Humanities and Social Sciences, 12.5% Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and 6.3% Medicine. Most students (about 59%) come from Saxony. About 9.8% (3,442) are international students from other countries.
Support for International Students
There are many international students at TU Dresden. Most come from Europe and Asia. The largest groups are from China, Poland, and Vietnam. The university's Akademisches Auslandsamt (International Office) helps international students. They handle applications and provide support.
Programs like the Erasmus-Initiative TU Dresden offer group activities. The LinkPartnerProgramm connects international students with German students. This helps new students settle in and get answers to their questions.
Leisure Activities and Clubs
Sports are very popular among students at TUD. There are eight big student clubs. The summer campus party is one of the biggest in Germany. The university also has cafeterias and a large refectory (dining hall).
Performing Arts Groups
TU Dresden has several performing arts groups. These include the theater group Die Bühne. There is also the folk dance group Folkloretanzensemble Thea-Maass. The university choir and orchestra are very large. They include both students and non-students. These groups often perform in Saxony and sometimes internationally.
University Funding
The university is working to become more independent from state funding. TU Dresden is very successful at getting research money from industry partners. In 2004, it received over 104 million Euro for 3,564 projects from outside sources. It has one of the highest amounts of income from industry partnerships in Germany.
Interesting Places to Visit
- Botanischer Garten der Technischen Universität Dresden, the university's botanical garden.
- Forstbotanischer Garten Tharandt, the university's historic arboretum (tree garden).
- The university's Archives, which hold important historical records.
Notable People from TU Dresden
Many important people have been part of TU Dresden.
Honorary Doctors
- 1905 Wilhelm von Siemens – Industrialist
- 1906 Ferdinand von Zeppelin – Airship pioneer
- 1981 Konrad Zuse – Built the world's first programmable computer
- 1995 Václav Havel – Writer and first president of the Czech Republic
- 1999 Kofi Annan – Former United Nations Secretary-General
- 2002 Walter Kohn – Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry
Honorary Senators
- 1997 Günther Landgraf – Rector of TU Dresden
- 2000 Günter Blobel – Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine
Faculty Members
- Manfred von Ardenne – Physicist
- Heinrich Barkhausen – Communications technology, discovered Barkhausen jumps
- Carl Gustav Carus – Medicine
- Klaus Fuchs – Nuclear technology
- Victor Klemperer – Professor for romance studies, wrote "LTI"
- Richard von Mises – Mathematician
- Maria Reiche – Mathematician and archaeologist, studied the Nazca Lines
Alumni (Former Students)
- Fritz Bleyl – Architect and painter
- Carl Enckell – Finnish politician
- Katja Kipping – Chairwoman of German Left Party
- Theodor Pallady – Romanian painter
- Stanislaw Tillich – Former Minister-President of Saxony
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Politécnica de Dresde para niños
