May 27, 2024
Elections | Doctoral Council of TU Dresden 2024/25
From 10 to 12 June 2024, the Doctoral Council of TU Dresden, representing all doctoral candidates of TU Dresden, will be elected again for the term of office of one year. The elections are free, equal and secret. The election regulations of the TU Dresden of 27 September 2019 in the amended version of 28 September 2022 form the basis for orientation.
All doctoral candidates of TU Dresden who have been accepted for doctoral studies and registered in Promovendus are eligible to vote and will receive an invitation to vote online on 10 June.
Candidates for the election of the Doctoral Council are:
Majka Hausen | Faculty of Linguistics, Literature and Culture |
Belkais Kebir | Faculty of Education |
Iman Shabanilemraski | Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering |
Najiba Sharaf | Faculty of Education |
Shamini Ramkumar Thirumalasetty | Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus |
István Simon |
Faculty of Business and Economics |
Jasmin Stein |
Faculty of Psychology |
Gundula Thiele | Faculty of Psychology |
Maren Weissig |
Faculty of Architecture |
This is where the candidates introduce themselves personally:
Majka Hausen
My aim is to help organise the structures in the ProRat so that they work better. In my opinion, the committee regulations prescribe too much, so that many people are deterred from participating. On the other hand, they impose rigid rules on the few members, which leave little room for manoeuvre for the necessary tasks of actual representation of interests. In view of the fact that the members of the ProRat are themselves in the doctoral phase, a simplification of the prescribed procedures seems necessary to me. After all, it is not a decision-making body.
After two years of involvement, I think I should carry on a bit longer. In my opinion, the ProRat is currently in the set-up phase and I am still interested in working for an interest group, since I myself is part of that group.
Belkais Kebir
As a member of the TU Dresden Doctoral Council, I strive to effectively represent the interests and concerns of my fellow doctoral candidates and take concrete action to improve their academic experience. My aim is to promote a supportive and inclusive environment by advocating for improved resources and support services. I am particularly passionate about addressing the concerns and challenges of international students and ensuring that they feel fully integrated into the academic community. I am particularly motivated to serve as a voice for international students within the TU Dresden community. Having personally experienced the challenges and opportunities associated with studying in a foreign country, I understand the unique perspectives and needs of international doctoral students. Furthermore, I strive to strengthen communication and collaboration between doctoral students, faculties and the university administration in order to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable improvement of conditions for all doctoral students.
Iman Shabanilemraski
Meine Motivation, mich für den Promovierendenrat zu engagieren, gründet sich auf meinem starken Interesse an der Förderung der Interessen und Anliegen der Promovierenden an unserer Universität. Ich glaube fest daran, dass der Promovierendenrat eine entscheidende Rolle dabei spielen kann, die Stimme der Doktorandinnen und Doktoranden zu repräsentieren und ihre Bedürfnisse zu vertreten.
Durch mein Engagement im Promovierendenrat möchte ich aktiv dazu beitragen, die Qualität der Promotionsbedingungen zu verbessern, indem ich mich für eine bessere Betreuung, Ressourcenbereitstellung und Unterstützung für Promovierende einsetze. Zudem strebe ich danach, die Kommunikation zwischen den Promovierenden und den universitären Gremien zu fördern, um eine transparente und effektive Zusammenarbeit zu gewährleisten.
Als Mitglied des Promovierendenrates möchte ich eine Brücke zwischen den Promovierenden und der Universitätsleitung bilden, um gemeinsam Lösungen für bestehende Herausforderungen zu finden und eine positive Studien- und Forschungsumgebung für alle Promovierenden zu schaffen.
Najiba Sharaf
As a doctoral candidate, I am extremely committed to the progress of my academic community and I'm keen to expand my career options.
In my viewpoint , the Doctoral Council can play a decisive role in representing the voice of doctoral students and defending their needs.
Doctoral Council is the platform of communication and sharing information to create a collaborative environment where doctoral candidates feel supported and connected.
I want to be the voice of the international students and express their needs and problems.
Shamini Ramkumar Thirumalasetty
Throughout my academic journey, I've had the privilege of immersing myself in a rich tapestry of perspectives, collaborating with peers from diverse disciplines, and actively engaging in various academic endeavors. These experiences have endowed me with a profound understanding of both the challenges and opportunities that confront doctoral students within a institution.
As a doctoral candidate deeply devoted to the progress of our academic community, I am eager to channel my skills, experiences, and dedication into this pivotal role. If elected, I pledge my commitment to championing the needs and aspirations of all doctoral candidates. My foremost aim will be to cultivate a nurturing and inclusive environment that empowers students to flourish intellectually, professionally, and personally.
István Simon
I have been involved in the TU Doctoral Council since 2022. In the first year, I served as the deputy, and this term I am the spokesperson for the council. Under my coordination, we have laid the foundation for fair and democratic rules of procedure to ensure the council's safe and efficient operation for the coming years and future generations. I am committed to continuing this work, advocating for the importance of emotional intelligence and soft skill development. I strongly believe that PhD students have the potential to make a positive impact on society and deserve the best possible research environments for their future endeavors.
In the upcoming term, my goal is to offer guidance and assistance to PhD candidates, organize engaging PhD events for networking and idea exchange, and contribute to fostering sustainable scientific careers for PhD candidates in Dresden and Saxony. I aim to connect them with networks and organizations seeking specialized expertise in areas such as technology, management, and innovation. Additionally, I aspire to enhance university culture by addressing inclusion and discrimination issues as vital aspects of social health and well-being. I anticipate that this approach could lead to new opportunities for prevention and intervention initiatives.
Jasmin Stein
My aim is to increase the visibility of the Doctoral Council and to establish regular events that enable academic and informal exchange between PhD students at TU Dresden. Such an exchange offers (in addition to fun, of course) the opportunity to gain insights into topics that affect us all in the context of our doctoral studies and to work together to define and communicate our interests and problems. Personally, I am particularly interested in topics such as mental health, working conditions, and good scientific practice during our time as PhD students.
Gundula Thiele
In my doctoral studies so far, I have found a lot of support and encouragement in the exchange with other doctoral candidates and would like to work to ensure that others can also find such a network. From my point of view, the Doctoral Council is a platform to bundle the voices of us doctoral candidates in terms of self-representation at the university, but also a central hub where we can meet and initiate new things. That's why I would like to get involved here and enable others to have the same experiences that have helped me so far.
I would like to find ways in which doctoral candidates from different fields can meet at a low threshold. On the one hand, for interdisciplinary exchange in order to get to know each other better in terms of content, and on the other hand, to exchange information about work structures, supervision and personal experiences during the doctorate. For me, this exchange on a structural level is just as important as the content, in order to learn from the experiences of others and to better understand one's own needs and opportunities through exchange.
Maren Weissig
I am Maren Weissig, I studied art, art and cultural studies and architecture. I am doing my doctorate in architectural history at the Faculty of Architecture. I draw my motivation for my doctorate from my enthusiasm for research and my many years of practical experience on different continents, where I was warmly welcomed in very different cultural working and living environments and was successfully involved in many projects.
I am happy to pass on this enthusiasm to my fellow doctoral students.
Since 2020, I have been committed to the academic and personal interests of doctoral candidates as an active member of the TU Dresden Doctoral Candidates' Representative Council. I am also actively involved in various committees and working groups. I am highly motivated to continue working in my fifth year in office to create a positive and stable welcoming community for us doctoral candidates at our Technical University.
I understand university culture in diversity and equal opportunities very broadly. In particular, I focus equally on diversity dimensions such as ‘age’, ‘ethnicity’, ‘gender’, ‘chronic illness or disability’, ‘social background’, ‘classist context’ and intersectional connections. I would also like to continue to address individual life courses, the transition to and progression of undergraduate and doctoral studies, further academic qualifications, financial security, family support, self-care and the compatibility of doctoral and private life.
It is a matter of course for me to represent the interests of doctoral students vis-à-vis the university management and the state of Saxony and thus strengthen the voice of doctoral students. As the first spokesperson for the TU Dresden-wide elected Doctoral Students' Council, I established the basis for the self-representation of our doctoral students. Doctoral students in particular deserve appreciation, visibility, awareness of their needs and individual support. Our academic achievements are an important building block in science, teaching and practice. My commitment is aimed precisely at these researchers. It is important to create a space for doctoral candidates where they can socialise, support each other, network and exchange scientific ideas, but also where they can express and share their needs and concerns regarding their research and life at TU Dresden. I would like to continue actively shaping and improving this process in the future.
I am happy to share the activities, projects and initiatives from my practical involvement at our university in the interests of doctoral students:
Statement on the Saxon Higher Education Act (SächsHSG): Following the collected needs of the doctoral students, I formulated these in collaboration with the representatives of TUBA Freiberg as a statement for the hearing of the Second Act on the Amendment of Higher Education Law Provisions / Amendment of the Saxon Higher Education Freedom Act.
Our demands are included in the Saxon Higher Education Act of 31 May 2023 and are incorporated into the basic regulations of TU Dresden.
ITFMW at TUD: The ‘International Day of Women and Girls in Science’ was prepared over two years with the support of the Gender Equality Representatives and held for the first time at TU Dresden on 11 February 2023. Organised as a networking day, this day of action recognises the scientific achievements of our female researchers worldwide and brings them together on an international level. After this kick-off, the day of action has been incorporated into the university culture, organised for the second time this year and will continue to give female scientists a chance to speak, whose achievements have been honoured by the Vice-Rector for Research.
Statement on the WissZeitVG: I work closely with the representatives of the Bundesverband Promovierende e.V. (Federal Association of Doctoral Candidates). Our statement on the planned amendment of the Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act had a decisive positive influence.
‘Chatting at Lunchtime’ - the direct line to the Doctoral Council: During my term of office as spokesperson 2022-2023, I took the time over a cup of tea together or a walk through campus for an open and relaxed chat, exchange of information and ideas or further help and support.
Regulars' table for doctoral students:
Following on from similar formats of previous doctoral student representations, a networking meeting is being revived and reorganised. The regulars' table for doctoral candidates offers an excellent opportunity for us from different disciplines to exchange ideas, network, learn from each other, support each other or simply have fun together in an easy and uncomplicated way. I am a co-organiser.
Commenting on and helping to shape the GWP guidelines at TU Dresden
During the term of office of the 4th, 5th and 6th doctoral student representatives, our members took a position on the development of the GWP guidelines at TU Dresden and provided valuable input.