(Interview from 2017)

Dagmar Möbius

TU graduate Monif Alhourani (54) donated 4000 euros to make the "CampusKISTE" project reality. KONTAKT spoke to him.

Mr. Alhourani, you work in the United Arab Emirates and have donated a lot of money to a German project. How did that come about?
I studied at TU Dresden and I still have ties to the university. I learned about the project from the alumni relations officer. I believe that if you have the means, the skills, and the will to promote higher education, you have to do it. Bringing children into the world and raising them is a noble task. Bringing their children to a daycare center means that young women can continue studying and achieve their goals. That is why I felt a duty to support such a noble cause.

When did you study at TU Dresden?
I am Palestinian and was born in the Gaza Strip. In 1981, I came to Dresden as a 19-year-old because I had received a scholarship. I could not choose exactly where I went, but I was very happy because Germany and the Technische Universität Dresden in particular had a very good reputation. My family was just as happy as I was and supported me all the way. I studied Civil Engineering at the Department of Structural Engineering.

Was that the career you aspired to?
Actually, I wanted to be an architect, but I wasn't very good at descriptive geometry. I was much better at physics and other technical subjects, so I was advised to study civil engineering. Later, it proved to have been the right decision. It also turned out that civil engineering students had more free time than our peers at the Faculty of Architecture.

What do you remember when you think back to your student days?
Before starting my degree, I learned German for a year at the Herder-Institut in Leipzig. Nevertheless, I still had my difficulties with the language during my first few months at the university. I lived in a university dorm on Hochschulstraße and had some compatriots nearby. I have fond memories of the canteen and our faculty's unique building. Above all, I really liked the city of Dresden. The work and friendships with my German fellow students were also great.

And the professors?
I remember Professor Schröder for reinforced concrete, Professor Heinrich for mathematics and Professor Zumpe for engineering mechanics. They were nice and taught us very well.

What was next for you after graduation?
My degree from TU Dresden was a great help in getting good jobs at large, reputable companies. I have worked for various firms in Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, rising from site engineer to director. Since 2008, I have been self-employed in the field of building construction. I am now a shareholder of a construction company in the UAE and a project development company in Germany.

Could you name some specific buildings?
In over 30 years in my profession, I have built a lot. I specialized in waterfront structures like wharves and docks, and infrastructure projects. In recent years as a self-employed professional, I have implemented projects for sustainable and renewable energy. In Germany, I work on housing construction. I am currently developing two projects in Leipzig and Berlin. I hope that I will soon have a reason to be working in Dresden.

Do you work with graduates of TU Dresden?
No, not at the moment. But I hope to establish such ties in the near future, in particular through my German company. Lately, I've been traveling to Germany about every two months.

You visited TU Dresden and the "CampusKISTE" at the end of January 2017. How did you find Dresden and the university after so many years?
The visit, both to the city of Dresden and to TUD, was emotional for me. Many things have changed after all those years. There is a lot of construction work going on in Dresden, but the city retains its beauty and elegance. And as I walked around the TU campus, deep inside I still felt the atmosphere of my old student experience. That feeling was very important and very meaningful to me. It's never too late to visit your old university, because the university is never too old! I was particularly pleased about the visit to "CampusKISTE." It is very important to keep alive the belief that dreams can be made reality through working together.

Update 2022:
"I am still active as an entrepreneur, but I am especially focused on construction projects that hinge on promotion of renewable energy. I am also increasingly getting involved with projects in the field of virtual intelligence and  clean energy applications, such as batteries for EV (electric vehicle) charging stations."

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