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Technical University of Munich

Dies Academicus 2023: President Hofmann thanks the TUM family for a successful year

Global South, TUM Global, News |

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) celebrated its traditional Dies Academicus with a large international audience. This time, the focus was on TUM's commitment to the Global South. President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann thanked TUM members for their personal commitment, dedication, and pragmatism in these turbulent times: "The future is not predetermined - it does not wait for Germany or for us! We have to shape it ourselves - across the boundaries of disciplines, institutions, countries, and cultures!"
KNUST Vice Chancellor Prof. Rita Dickson was the guest speaker at this year's Dies Academicus at TUM. President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann warmly welcomed her. Image: Andreas Heddergott
Wayne Chinembiri from the student initiative TU eMpower Africa. Image: Andreas Heddergott
TUM SEED Director Prof. Frank-Martin Belz and Dr. Betty Nabuuma from the SEED Center at Makerere University in Uganda. Image: Andreas Heddergott
David Podolskyi (left) und Hamze Al-Zamkan from TUM.ai. Image: Andreas Heddergott

President Hofmann emphasized that 2023 was a very successful year for TUM. Bucking the trend at universities across Germany, the number of students rose to 52,000 - another new record and a doubling since 2010. 36% of students are now female - an increase of 119%. And 44% of all students are of international origin.

TUM Global South Initiative

As part of its new Global South Initiative, TUM strategically expands its relationships with research institutions in South America, Asia, and Africa. One of the most important partner universities is KNUST from Ghana. Its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rita Dickson, gave an insight into her perspectives as a guest speaker. Dickson sees the main task of universities as improving people's quality of life and training the next generation of innovative leaders. These leaders must be courageous, resilient, and creative, but above all, they must have emotional intelligence.

Dickson also praised KNUST's five-year partnership with TUM as a great success story. There are numerous joint research and teaching projects, he said. "We are stuck together for life," exclaimed Dickson.

Three TUM initiatives active in the Global South presented their projects at the Dies Academicus:

  • TU eMpower Africa a is a student-run association that aims to supply villages in rural areas with renewable energy to improve living conditions and economic productivity.
  • The TUM SEED Centers are active in numerous countries and try to bundle ideas for economic growth, start-ups, and sustainable infrastructure. The aim is to continuously expand practical knowledge through multicultural and multidisciplinary cooperation. Representatives from all eight SEED Centers participated in the Munich annual celebration.
  • TUM.ai is a student initiative that attempts to use artificial intelligence (AI) to solve particular challenges faced by people in the Global South. They are committed to a world in which AI is not the privilege of a few states but a tool for all people.
     

You can find the full article on Dies Academicus 2023 at tum.de

 

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