From Dresden to Down Under with a mechanical engineering degree
(Interview from 2017)
Thomas Scheufler
Five continents – six regional ambassadors: Senior ambassador Rolf Kelm is raising the profile of TUD in Australia. He is one of the regional ambassadors with the longest professional career and wants more young graduates to join the network.
First name: Rolf J.
Surname: Kelm
Graduating year: 1966
Degree program: Mechanical engineering, specializing in precision mechanics & control engineering
Current role: Director of Anatech Pty. Ltd.
Regional ambassador: Since 2009
How he can help: Initial contact, translation from German to English
Are you planning a stay in Australia? Then contact Rolf Kelm or other regional ambassadors in Australia.
Kontakt-online talked with him about living Down Under, being overseas – and a whole lot more
What did you study? Why did you decide to study at TU Dresden?
I studied mechanical engineering at TU Dresden from 1961 to 1966, specializing in precision mechanics & control engineering. I chose TU Dresden because it was the best university of technology in the GDR at that time. And I can say today that it was the right decision.
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?
I moved to Dresden from Berlin and found it fascinating as a cultural and baroque city, despite the destruction. As a student, I often wandered around downtown. I remember in particular the ruins of the Frauenkirche church and the ruined castle with broken mirrors that you could still see hanging on the walls as you walked by. When I visited Dresden again 30 years later in 2011, I was very moved by the successful reconstruction of the Old Town. My favorite place at university was the Zeuner-Bau building and Großer Hörsaal lecture hall, and the "Lichtenheldt crank gears" display, which was completed shortly before I graduated in 1966 and is still running today.
What are your links to TU Dresden today? How do you use your TUD ties in your professional and personal network?
My age and the distance between Sydney and Dresden means I only have occasional contact with my alma mater. These ties do not benefit me professionally.
Why did you become a TU Dresden regional ambassador? Why is the role important to you?
I looked at the world map of TUD regional ambassadors on the Alumni Relations Office website in 2009 and saw that there were none in Australia. So I signed up. I thought that people Down Under should also know that there is a TU Dresden.
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?
It is almost impossible to arrange semesters abroad for engineering students in Australia for a number of reasons. Overseas students have to pay very high tuition fees (up to A$14,000), they need a visa, and there are many other obstacles. For other disciplines and subjects, I lack the professional contacts.
Have you had the opportunity to promote TUD within your networks?
Very little opportunity so far.
At work
What else have you done along these lines?
I get inquiries from time to time from people who want to vacation here or who are looking for employment. However, those two cases have little do with TU Dresden. Other people are looking to arrange a year of work experience after their degree in Dresden, but don't know where to ask. I usually refer them to australien-ausbildung.de as a good starting point.
There is, however, almost no interest on the part of Australian students or graduates in further study at TU Dresden. This is due in part to the global ranking of German universities. Another factor is that many students prefer to go to English-speaking countries such as the US or UK; that boils down to age-old ties.
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?
As a senior ambassador, I will continue to do my best to raise awareness of TU Dresden Down Under. In my opinion, we need to recruit more young graduates for the great role of regional ambassador so that they can contribute their plans and their activities to the alumni network. I feel the Alumni Relations Office is very good at providing information, and you can always contact them with any questions.
Contact:
Rolf Kelm
Country: Australia
City: Sydney