The work of the GraFA is also accompanied by the implementation of various projects.
These serve to further develop the structure and content of our services, general and diverse networking and focus on the promotion of young researchers.
Quickstart Saxony Transfer
The lighthouse project Quickstart Saxony+ is aimed at students who are thinking about dropping out of university or have already dropped out, as well as companies who want to utilise the potential of dropouts. Our network supports drop-outs at various stages and shows them ways forward.
More information at: https://studienabbruch-und-weiter.de/
BeSOS
In recent years, the proportion of pupils with psychological stress has increased noticeably. This can also be seen statistically: Around half of all young people today find themselves in a situation with an increased risk of mental illness.
This usually leads to a significant impairment of the ability to orientate oneself, especially when it comes to situations that are still unknown. As a result, targeted career and study guidance is considerably more difficult and can even be impossible in some cases.
The existing career guidance system is not adequately prepared for this specific challenge in terms of methodology. This is where the BeSOS project comes in, supporting teachers in overcoming this situation and helping to improve careers and study guidance for the pupils concerned. "BeSOS" stands for the objective of the project: the creation of a counselling toolkit to strengthen or restore the vocational Oorientation skills of pupils with psychological stress.
More information at: https://besos-sachsen.de/
Sisters Mentoring
Together to success! The Sisters Network & Mentoring supports female students throughout their studies. It offers exchange, motivation and support in different phases of study, with career orientation, career entry and questions about an academic career. Like a big sister, the Sisters are confidants with whom you don't have to master your studies alone.
More information at:Sisters Mentoring and Network
ARMINT - Building academic resilience in basic STEM subjects
With ARMINT, TUBAF aims to increase academic success by building academic resilience as a protective factor against mental stress and illness. This is to be achieved through the innovative design of basic training in mathematics and physics for engineering and science degree programmes. Subject content is taught from a resilience perspective and combined with mental training tools in e-learning. In addition, mentally stressed first-year students are supported with special measures to strengthen their ability to study. The programme also promotes digital skills at an early stage.
YEMAYA - Empowering women scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa on the mining-water-soil nexus
The YEMAYA Women in Science Project represents an innovative programme aimed at empowering women in STEM disciplines and advancing sustainable development in the rural regions in Sub-Saharan Africa affected by unsustainable mining. Launched in 2019, this initiative highlights a collaborative effort among five universities across Africa: the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); Machakos University, Kenya (MU); Taita Taveta University, Kenya (TTU); University of Mines and Technology, Ghana (UMaT); and University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Ghana (UESD), in conjunction with the TU Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF) in Germany.
Initially funded by the BMBF and led by Prof. Yvonne Joseph, now supported by the Erasmus mobility programme and continued by Dr. Kristina Wopat in cooperation with Prof. Yvonne Joseph & 10 professors as well as the International University Center, YEMAYA focuses on enhancing the competencies of female researchers in partner universities in obtaining relevant sustainability skills, including biodiversity management techniques, water and soil monitoring and cleaning, climate protection, and sustainable mining in a training-of-trainers approach. Beneficiaries then share their skills and knowledge with their home institutions and communities. Under that project, participating African universities have adopted the model community "YEMAYA Village" where they implement project recommendations and research to facilitate social change and development. The project further strengthens institutional collaborations and promotes innovative teaching and research practices.
Lehramt4YOU
For Lehramt4YOU, two degree programmes at TU Bergakademie Freiberg (B.Sc. Applied Natural Science and B.Sc. Applied Computer Science) have been optimised in such a way that the specialist training for lateral entry into the secondary school teaching profession in Saxony is complete. Interested students can take part in our accompanying educational programme, which enables them to gain practical experience in the school sector during their studies. The project is scientifically supported by the Centre for Teacher Training, School and Vocational Education Research at TU Dresden.
Completed projects
EMPOWER - Good Governance and Social Entrepeneurship Programme
2018-2024
Core objective: Training international doctoral students to participate in development programmes for developing or emerging countries.
EMPOWER was a practice-oriented training programme that focused on areas such as economic thinking, entrepreneurship, communication skills development, project management, time and self-management, conflict management, workshops with professors, politicians, development economists and business leaders, and the development of practical projects in teams.
The last cohort started in Freiberg in 2022 and ran for two years.
