A contractor who wants to build university partnerships
(Interview from 2017)
Thomas Scheufler
Five continents, six regional ambassadors: Felix del Rosario promotes TUD to young people from Ecuador, and is hoping for new TU Dresden research projects in Latin America.
First name: Felix
Surname: del Rosario
Graduating year: 1974
Degree program: Urban Engineering
Current role: Lecturer in structural design and soil mechanics/developer
Regional ambassador: Since 2009
How he can help: Initial contact, translation from German into Spanish, finding internships and summer jobs
Are you planning a stay in Ecuador? Then contact Felix del Rosario or other regional ambassadors in Ecuador.
Kontakt-online spoke to him about graduation rituals, textile-reinforced concrete, and university partnerships
What did you study at TU Dresden? Why did you decide to study at TUD?
I studied civil engineering at TU Dresden from 1970 to 1974. I came from Ecuador, a developing country in South America, and was very interested in engineering training at a German university. Technische Universität Dresden gave me that opportunity.
Would you tell us an anecdote from your student days? What are your happiest memories? Where did you like to go in Dresden? What was your favorite place at university?
In my day, there was a special graduation ritual for all the year’s graduates: We all had to chug a liter of beer. I had great fun preparing. Eight weeks before, I started meeting regularly with my fellow students to practice how to drink a 1-liter mug of beer without setting it down ;-) Yes, and I remember the weather and the low temperatures in Dresden very well. I wasn't used to that from home and was constantly freezing. At that time, there were a number of cafés in Prager Straße where TUD students could read their books over a cup of coffee. I did that too. My favorite places at the university were the canteen and the library.
What are your links to TUD today? How do you use your TUD ties in your professional and personal network?
Well, many new opportunities are now opening up in the construction industry, and that is in part thanks to research at TUD. One example here is textile-reinforced concrete. This innovation is important not only for Germany, but for the whole world. Using carbon fibers instead of steel reinforcement makes construction more flexible and efficient, while increasing stability and durability. This is crucial for all of Latin America, not least because of the many earthquake regions. It enables greater building stability at lower cost than with the steel structures commonly used in the past.
Felix del Rosario (right) at a TUD alumni week
Why did you become a TUD regional ambassador? Why is the role important to you?
My degree in Dresden was an important part of my life and TUD is my alma mater. It is a great honor for me to represent the university as a regional ambassador in Guayaquil. At the end of my professional career as a civil engineer, I can continue to get young people from Ecuador interested in studying at TUD.
How can you help researchers, students, and alumni of TUD who are interested in studying in your country? What have you already achieved in practical terms?
The Polytechnic University of Litoral (Escuela Politecnica del Litoral, ESPOL) is able to welcome researchers, students and alumni from TUD at any time. University accommodation has been built on the ESPOL campus especially for international visitors. Professors, researchers and students of world-renowned universities live there during their research visits. TU Dresden is welcome to take advantage of this opportunity. For a more in-depth exchange, e.g. internships, a university partnership would have to be set up.
Have you had the opportunity to promote TUD within your networks?
Not yet, no.
What else have you done along these lines?
I organized a series of presentations with the DAAD at various universities in Guayaquil, which were an opportunity for students and researchers to find out about master’s and doctoral programs in Germany. From time to time, I am also approached by young people who are interested in TU Dresden.
What are your ideas and plans for the future as a regional ambassador? What suggestions, tips, and requests would you like to pass on to the Alumni Relations Office?
The Alumni Relations Office will be aware of my work as a TUD regional ambassador in Guayaquil. I very much hope that the Rector and the Vice-Rector for International Affairs will approve new TU Dresden research projects in Latin America – in particular in Ecuador – and will continue to work for the establishment of university partnerships between TU Dresden and the Escuela Politecnica del Litora – ESPOL and
Universidad de Guayaquil.
Contact:
Felix del Rosario
Country: Ecuador
Town/city: Guayaquil