Dear colleagues,
dear employees,
dear students,

2017 was an eventful year for TU Dresden, as we have made important advancements in research, teaching and administration. Naturally, these advancements are also associated with changes in our daily routine. But if we look closely, change has been a loyal partner of TU Dresden since 1990. In order to survive in a changing, globalising and increasingly competitive world, we also have to change continually. The proven adaptability of TU Dresden, however, awards our university sufficient momentum, so that one thing is always avoided: stagnation!

In order to keep up with the complexity of change on and outside our campus, we need to reflect upon our great social privilege: to raise questions, seek knowledgeable solutions, and impart our gathered intelligence. This is because solid knowledge is the best way to refute falsehoods and to offer orientation. Or, in the words of Wilhelm von Humboldt: “Immer im Forschen bleiben” (Always keep researching). Our university is the perfect place to put this motto into practice, as it encapsulates the synergy of diversity and the free and creative exchange of ideas.   

I thank you for your untiring commitment and your contributions to the positive development of our university. We can all look back proudly on what we have achieved and harvest our motivation for the future from this. On behalf of all the members of the University Executive Board, I wish you and your families all the best for the Festive Season as well as health, joy and energy for the coming year, so that we can pursue our personal and professional goals with determination.

Truly yours,

Prof. Hans Müller-Steinhagen
Rector
Technische Universität Dresden