More double doctorates, new exchange programmes for master's and diploma students, better German language preparation: TUBAF's cooperation with Chilean universities is to be expanded so that even more doctoral candidates and students can benefit from it. Fourteen young people from Chile are currently studying and completing their doctorates at Freiberg University as part of the existing cooperation programmes with the Universidad de Santiago de Chile, the Universidad Católica del Norte, the Universidad de Atacama, the Universidad de Concepción and the Universidad de Magallanes.
IUZ Director Dr Julia Sishchuk currently sees particular development potential in the collaboration with the Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH). The general cooperation agreement has been in place since 2016; doctoral students have been able to do their doctorate at USACH and TUBAF simultaneously since 2017. "Five double doctorates completed to date and three further doctoral projects testify to the success and future potential of the programme for students," says Sishchuk. Her team presented the collaborations at ExpoEstudiante 2026 in Santiago de Chile.
But more students from Freiberg are also set to spend a semester abroad at Chile's largest state university with a STEM profile, attend online courses or work towards a double doctorate: "From a specialist point of view, it is ideal for students and doctoral candidates who are involved in mining or metallurgy to familiarise themselves with the challenges of active local industry. Chile is equally interesting for students and doctoral candidates from the fields of mineralogy, geology, geophysics and chemical engineering. Apart from the subject specialisations: Between Tierra del Fuego and the Atacama Desert as well as the sea coast and high mountains, Chile is very attractive for outdoor fans and anyone who wants to improve their Spanish skills."
Friends and Sponsors Association supports the TUBAF - Chile support group
Chile is also of interest to the Association of Friends and Sponsors of TU Bergakademie Freiberg (VFF): as a kind of pilot programme, the VFF is currently opening up to Chilean alumni and drawing up rules of procedure and membership for a TUBAF-Chile support group. The pilot programme aims to create a longer-term bond between alumni and TUBAF after they return to their home country, as well as networking between students, employees and companies interested in Chile - and could serve as a model for further international alumni work.
Advancing research together
In research, scientists are already working on the bioleaching of minerals, issues in mining and metallurgy or in the field of green hydrogen in current cooperation projects. "Germany and Chile could play a central role in the energy transition, as Chile is pursuing the long-term goal of becoming an energy exporter rather than an importer of fossil fuels. Chile is also the world's largest copper producer and has large lithium reserves," summarises Professor Michael Schlömann, the Rector's Latin America Representative. "Chilean partners can also collaborate on EU research projects: According to current statistics, Chile is one of the most frequently represented countries in Latin America in the "Horizon Europe" funding programme and the thirteenth most frequently among the non-EU countries (non-associated countries). Researchers can contact me Michael [dot] Schloemann [at] ioez [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de (at any time)."
Around 80 Chileans are studying at all Saxon universities, according to the Saxon Ministry of Science. In summer 2025, the Free State of Saxony opened a "Saxon Science Liaison Office" in Santiago de Chile. During a visit to Freiberg in November 2025, the Chilean ambassador Magdalena Atria learnt about the research priorities of TU Bergakademie Freiberg. Guests from Chile can even expect their own guest house at TU Bergakademie Freiberg: in 2017, the Chile House in Freiberg city centre was handed over to the university by founder Dr Erika Krüger.
