The university is a cosmopolitan place
Diversity of opinion and international exchange are the basis of our research and teaching activities.
The academic discourse between students and teaching staff regardless of their origin, nationality, faith, gender or sexual orientation is a matter of course for us; we stand against any form of discrimination or belittlement. We refer to the constitutional principles of freedom of research and teaching and see their protection as a constant obligation. We therefore call for the constitutional principles of parliamentary democracy and the rule of law, and thus in particular the dignity of every human being, to be protected against attacks. We hereby express our deeply felt disapproval of xenophobia, violence and intolerance.
#GehWählen: Strengthening democracy together - Call for the 2025 Bundestag election
Under the motto "#GehWählen" (#Vote), a campaign is being launched today by Saxony's universities and student unions, the Conference of Saxon Student Bodies and the Leipzig Science Network, calling on all eligible members of Saxony's universities to exercise their right to vote in the Bundestag elections on 23 February 2025. At a time when democracy and co-determination are more important than ever, the campaign sends a powerful signal in favour of political participation.
Series of events in the winter semester 2024/2025
"What does democracy mean (to us)?"
This is the question behind the new series of events organised by TU Bergakademie Freiberg and the Studium Generale, the Freiberg for All network, the DGB Südwestsachsen and the Akademische Buchhandlung.
The series will kick off on 28 November at 7 pm in the Alte Mensa with Dr Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk, one of the most sought-after historians of East German history.
13.03.2025 Mithu Sanyal, 7 pm, Lecture Hall ZeHS, Winklerstr.
Mithu Sanyal is best known for her novel "Identitti", which questions topics such as identity, racism and cultural appropriation in a humorous and provocative way.
Sanyal will read passages from her book as part of the reading, accompanied by a subsequent discussion. The discussion offers the opportunity to gain deeper insights into her literary and socio-political perspectives. In addition to her writing, Sanyal is also known for her essays and non-fiction books, in which she tackles controversial topics in a courageous and nuanced way.
"Eisiges Schweigen flussabwärts. Russia and its neighbours"
19.03.2025, reading and discussion with Michael Thumann, Audi max
The reading and discussion with Michael Thumann on his work "Eisiges Schweigen flussabwärts" promises a fascinating insight into current geopolitical developments and the human stories behind them. In this book, Thumann, a renowned journalist and foreign policy expert, combines in-depth analyses with a literary narrative style that focuses on personal stories.
The book sheds light on the political and social tensions in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
26.03.2025, reading and discussion with Ruprecht Polenz, Alte Mensa
Do something! This is the slogan of the cross-party recognised democracy influencer Ruprecht Polenz. In his short intervention, he conveys the value of our form of government and society in a completely new way and describes more than a dozen concrete ways to get politically involved. After all, the resilience of democracies begins very concretely, with each and every one of us and therefore with us at home. Polenz's book is not just an instruction manual, but in particular an encouragement in dark times.
Tickets for the event series
Tickets:
Admission to the events is free. A seat reservation is required! http://tickets.freibergfüralle.de
Nationwide campaign against xenophobia
The universities united in the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) have launched a nationwide campaign against xenophobia in Germany. "Universities are cosmopolitan places. Diversity of opinion and international exchange are the basis of their research and teaching activities. In view of the currently recognisable increase in xenophobic tendencies, universities feel called upon to stand up for these values," explained former HRK President Prof. Dr Horst Hippler.
For TU Bergakademie Freiberg, too, regional roots and internationality go hand in hand. Around 4,000 young people study in Freiberg - around 50 per cent of whom come from abroad. Students from over 60 countries of various denominations and cultures have found a second home in the university town. "As a university, we exemplify cosmopolitanism and tolerance," explained Rector Prof Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht. Many of the foreign students have come to Freiberg because of the excellent national and international reputation of the Bergakademie. For centuries, the university has not only attracted young people from Saxony and other federal states, but also from abroad. To ensure that this remains the case, it is important that the university and the city continue to demonstrate this openness.
"Freiberg not only offers our students a modern university with a special familiar charm, but also a diverse cultural environment," said the Rector. This can be seen, for example, in the Festival of Cultures, which is organised annually in Freiberg. The festival is organised by the "One World and Integration" working group of the Freiberg Agenda 21 e.V. The city of Freiberg, the district of Central Saxony, the TU Bergakademie Freiberg and numerous international restaurants, companies and private individuals support the event.
#TogetherCountry
The TU Bergakademie supports the #Zusammenland initiative. More than 350 scientific institutions are setting an example with their participation in the "#Zusammenland - Vielfalt macht uns stark" initiative.
Open-minded universities
HRK statement
Science needs liberal democracy and the rule of law
No place for anti-Semitism
"TU Freiberg is also opposed to all forms of anti-Semitism. Our professors, staff and students stand for an open-minded university, tolerance and equality and thus against any form of discrimination," explains the Senate.
Jewish life on campus must not be jeopardised, Jewish researchers, teaching staff and students must be able to feel safe at all universities. Research on anti-Semitism, its origins and its effects, corresponding offers in studies and teaching as well as the transfer of knowledge to multipliers and decision-makers are of the utmost importance for successfully combating anti-Semitism.
German universities are centres of democratic culture, places of dialogue and sites of diversity. With the campaign "Weltoffene Hochschulen gegen Fremdenfeindlichkeit" (Open-minded universities against xenophobia), universities have already set an example and called for clear commitments and decisive action in favour of a tolerant and open-minded society. In addition, universities in Germany have a special historical responsibility to resolutely oppose all forms of anti-Semitism.
In memory of the victims of National Socialism who lived and worked in Freiberg, "Stolpersteine" can be found in the city centre, including on Burgstraße. The "stones against forgetting" commemorate the terrible events of anti-Semitism in the past.