© Pfefferkorn_Friends-Jan Gutzeit

What is "OUR UNI"?

What is “the University”, actually? The buildings? Large-scale equipment? Books? Computer centres? It is the people who study, teach, research and work here. This is exactly why the diverse faces of our University were the focus of the campaign with which TU Dresden was going public from 10 December 2018 to the end of July 2019 - for example on a giant banner at the “Hörsaalzentrum” (Auditorium Centre), on flags in front of the Rectorate Building.

In mid-October of 2018, using the slogan “UNSERE UNI – Tu' Gutes, aber rede bitte auch darüber!” (OUR UNI - Do good deeds, but please also talk about it), the Rector, Prof. Hans Müller-Steinhagen (Rector from 2010 to 2020), called on all members of TUD to make a clear statement for “their University” and to participate in the campaign. In response, 115 students, together with employees in science, technology and administration got in touch. 30 applicants were invited to a personal casting session, 16 were selected for individual portraits and a further eight for group photos. The 17th face of the campaign was Rector Prof. Hans Müller-Steinhagen himself.

Who is "OUR UNI"?

The protagonists of the campaign are students, professors, research and teaching associates, administrative staff and staff from Central Units of TU Dresden, who explained in personal statements captured on photos and film why TU Dresden is “their Uni”.

The "faces" of the OUR UNI campaign:

• Dipl-Ing. Elisabeth Abbe
  Doctoral Candidate at the Chair of Space Systems, Institute of Aerospace Engineering

• Prof. Roswitha Böhm

  Professor of French Literature and Cultural Sciences, Institute of Romance Studies

• Prof. Frank Fitzek

  Deutsche Telekom Chair of Communication Networks, Institute of Communication Technology / Spokesman Cluster of Excellence "Centre for Tactile Internet" (CeTI)

• Youmna Fouad, M.A.

  Doctoral Candidate Collaborative Research Centre "Invectivity"; Marwa El-Sherbini Scholarship Holder

• Benjamin Kirbus

  Master's Student Physics and Research Assistant, Institute of Applied Physics

• Prof. Clemens Kirschbaum

  Professor of Biopsychology, Institute of General Psychology, Biopsychology and Methods of Psychology

• Dr. Stephan Künzel

  Resident Physician and Research Group Leader, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology

• Aman Kumar

  Master's Student „Nanoelectronic Systems“

• Doris List

  Group Leader "International Cooperations", European Project Center (EPC), Directorate Research

• Dr. Martin R. Lohe

  Research Associate at the cfaed Chair of Molecular Functional Materials Professur für Molekulare Funktionsmaterialien, Faculty of Chemistry/Food Chemistry

• Prof. Gesine Marquardt

  Professor of Social and Health Care Buildings and Design für Gebäudelehre und Entwerfen von Sozial- und Gesundheitsbauten, Institute of Buildings and Design

• Prof. Hans Müller-Steinhagen

  Rector from 2010 - 2020

• Javane Oktaee, M.Sc.

  Doctoral Candidate at the Chair of Wood and Fibre Material Technology, Institute of Natural Materials Technology

• Dr. Ulrich Pietzarka

  Scientific Director and Custodian Forest Park Tharandt, Faculty of Environmental Sciences

• Stefan Schulz

  Sports Scientist, University Sports Centre

• Andrea Surma

  Administrator for Data Processing, Dean's Office Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences

• Prof. Matthias Vojta

  Professor für Theoretische Festkörperphysik, Institut für Theoretische Physik / Sprecher des Exzellenzclusters „Komplexität und Topologie in Quantenmaterialien" (ct.qmat)

© Pfefferkorn & Friends/Jan Gutzeit

From left to right:

• Martha Heß, Student Sociology
• Dr. Michael Kluge, Department Head Systems Design and Engineering ZIH
• Miao Tang, Student Psychology
• Aman Kumar, Master's Student "Nanoelectronic Systems“
• Dipl.-Ing. Emese Papp, Research Associate, Junior Professurship in Technical Design
• Prof. Hans Müller-Steinhagen, Rector from 2010 - 2020

© Pfefferkorn & Friends/Jan Gutzeit

From left to right:

• Prof. Philipp Kanske, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience
• Dr. Marion Pause, Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
• Prof. Matthias Vojta, Chair of Theoretical Solid State Physics/Spokesman Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat
• Faezeh Nirousham, Student "Regenerative Energy Systems"
• Prof. Clemens Kirschbaum, Professor of Biopsychology
• Gabriele Feyler, Staff Unit Diversity Management

The campaign showed TU Dresden in all its diversity. This is true when it comes to the cultural background of employees as well as students, and it is also true regarding the diversity of subject areas and age groups at our Uni.

The campaign wanted to make people aware that our excellent accomplishments come into being as the result of joint efforts, with the participation of all the people who study and work here. They all make their own highly individual contributions to preserving, updating and expanding knowledge, and to transferring it into society. They help make the lives of many people safer, healthier, more peaceful, social and free.

Where is "OUR UNI"?

The campaign’s motifs were published step by step in various print and online media channels, including Citylight Posters in Dresden’s urban spaces, in newspaper advertisements, on the passenger TV of Dresden’s public transport company, and on the Internet.

The campaign’s actors introduced themselves in more detail on the campaign website. In addition, all University members and the general public had the opportunity to participate with their own photos.

The campaign “OUR UNI” ran alongside TU Dresden’s application in the Excellence Strategy competition until July 2019. The start and end dates of the campaign were based on the schedule of the Excellence Strategy. TUD’s application for the “University of Excellence” title had to be submitted to the German Science Council by 10 December 2018. The decision as to which universities will receive the “University of Excellence” seal was made on 19 July 2019. TU Dresden successfully defended its Title of Excellence.

The OUR UNI campaign was funded by the Excellence Initiative of the German Federal and State Governments.