556 graduates and 69 doctoral and post-doctoral graduates are saying goodbye to TU Bergakademie Freiberg this year. More than 200 of them will celebrate their academic degrees on 2 November in the Alte Mensa in Freiberg city centre. The most common degrees are in engineering, natural sciences and economics.
A good 60 per cent of graduates now have a Master's degree from Freiberg University in their pockets; 23 per cent completed their studies with a Bachelor's degree and 14 per cent with a diploma. For the first time this year, students were awarded a Bachelor's degree in Engineering. This innovative engineering degree course was introduced at TU Bergakademie Freiberg in autumn 2020.
The graduates obtained their degrees between 1 October 2023 and 30 September 2024. "We are proud of what our young academics have achieved to date - and of what they will achieve in the future!" said Rector Prof Dr Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht at the ceremony. "As alumni, as professionals, they have an impact on the whole world: with knowledge, skills and personality; with everything they still take with them from their alma mater Fribergensis. We encourage our alumni to apply for jobs in Freiberg and the surrounding area. With the joint initiative of the city, district, science and business "Freiberg.Science.City", the region of Central Saxony presents itself as an attractive place to live and work."
69 graduates with a doctorate or habilitation
Of the 69 graduates, that is young scientists with a doctorate or habilitation, around one third are female. 26 researchers came to Freiberg from abroad to obtain their doctorate. The total of 18 countries of origin of the graduates are evenly distributed across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
A special honour was bestowed on eleven people who received their doctorate this year: They will receive a personalised medal with a historical embossing and the inscription "To Encourage Diligence" for completing the doctoral process with the grade summa cum laude (with distinction).
Nine other people were honoured with prizes at the event.
Georgius Agricola Medal for commitment to studies
The best graduates from the six Freiberg faculties are traditionally awarded the Georgius Agricola Medal by the Association of Friends and Sponsors of TU Bergakademie Freiberg. The prize, named after the father of mineralogy, is awarded annually for outstanding academic achievements and honourable commitment and is endowed with 500 euros. This year, the students Klara Liesegang, Annika Charlotte Lehmann, Simone Maria Schachner, Patricia Kaiser, Sepideh Memarbashi and the student Yannic Carsten Kötteritzsch received the prizes.
DAAD prize for international students
Once a year, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) awards a prize of 1,000 euros to foreign students who are studying at a German university and stand out for their outstanding academic achievements and remarkable social or intercultural commitment. In 2024, Khuslen Enkhbold from Mongolia will receive the DAAD prize at TU Bergakademie Freiberg for his outstanding achievements and his important contributions to the integration of international students in Freiberg.
Julius Weisbach Prize for good teaching
Dr Claudia Funke from the Institute of Experimental Physics receives the Julius Weisbach Prize for outstanding teaching at the ceremony. She combines classroom teaching in physics with interactive online elements and practical components in a particularly motivating way. The teaching prize is also donated by the Association of Friends and Sponsors of TU Bergakademie Freiberg.
Impressions of the celebration
