Aims & Values

Technische Universität Braunschweig is a technical university with a rich tradition and a proven research and teaching profile. It has:

• A complete engineering branch covering architecture, civil and environmental engineering, electrical engineering, informatics and mechanical engineering;
• A strong natural sciences branch with an excellent professional network within TU Braunschweig;
• Business sciences, social sciences, humanities, educational sciences and subject-specific teaching skills, all of them well integrated into TU Braunschweig.
• All the departments contribute to defining the university’s focus.

TU Braunschweig is part of the TU9 group of leading technical universities in Germany, and for each of its core disciplines, the engineering subjects, it ranks among the top 9 universities in Germany.

TU Braunschweig focuses on the following strategic research fields:

• Mobility¹;
• Infections and Therapeutics;
• Future City;
• Metrology.

These are complemented and interlinked by various overarching topics.

• The focus areas are implemented through emerging interdisciplinary research centres in cooperation with non-university institutions and industry.
• TU Braunschweig’s fields of study should in general orientate research towards these three key fields. Top-level research, even if outside these fields, is explicitly encouraged.
• TU Braunschweig aims to make substantial contributions towards meeting the challenges that society faces in these areas. In this regard, it is a member of the group of top (German) technical universities.
• As a technical university, TU Braunschweig places its emphasis on the sciences and their development, distinguishing itself from universities that exclusively practice applied sciences.
• TU Braunschweig engages in knowledge transfers in the areas of technology transfers, start-up support, and further education.
• TU Braunschweig provides implementable innovations (through patents and more).

^{1 Motor vehicles, aerospace technology, railways, intermodal transport and traffic reduction.}

• TU Braunschweig offers its students an excellent education and training on soft skills – and thus outstanding job opportunities, especially in industry, the sciences and at educational establishments.
• First-class teaching and attractive study conditions are key components of the TU Braunschweig image.
• Our courses are guided by our research and impart broad, in-depth fundamentals, as well as offering diverse possibilities for individual specialisation. We also practice knowledge transfers through research-oriented further education.
• We strive to continuously advance the quality of our teaching through the involvement of our students, and we encourage innovation in teaching.
• To do so, we work as a team and on numerous collaboration projects both within TU Braunschweig as well as with other universities and research institutions (both national and international), schools and companies.
• We develop special courses of study in cooperation with our partners.
• We promote the cooperation of central and decentralized facilities to continuously improve the quality of the studies and teaching that we offer and to facilitate study processes. We offer services and advice to our students and to anyone interested in studying at TU Braunschweig.

An essential prerequisite for the success of our university is having competent and motivated faculty and staff in the academic field as well as in services and administration:

• Above all, TU Braunschweig relies on professors and managers with excellent professional expertise, social and leadership skills. These professionals are characterized by perseverance, respectful interaction with staff and students as well as an appetite for life-long learning.
• TU Braunschweig offers young scientists attractive and reliable conditions for obtaining further qualifications (the “Structured Doctorate”).
• TU Braunschweig is consistently family-friendly on all levels. It supports women and men in achieving a successful (scientific) career and promotes gender equality.
• We offer career models for young scientists and are able to work with different personal backgrounds.
• We feel an obligation towards the development of all faculty and staff.
• TU Braunschweig supports vocational training and makes use of the exceptional opportunities that a university can offer in this regard (e.g. the “Green Training Factory”).

• TU Braunschweig has the governance structures and efficient processes it needs to promote institutional innovation.
• This is true at every level (university, departments, institutes, centres and administration).
• Our governance structures follow the principle of subsidiarity².
• TU Braunschweig continues to develop its governance structures, thus ensuring its strategic capacity.

^{2 Only if a challenge cannot be met at a given decision-making level is it escalated to the next level.}

• Nec aspera terrent. Adversities shall not deter us – this motto of the founders of our university still serves as our maxim.
• We strive to be among the best. We work at the highest level, with a focus on quality, performance and finding solutions to the problem at hand.
• We work autonomously on our individual tasks, with a sense of responsibility towards our university.
• We adhere to the rules of good scientific practice.
• As a technical university, we actively seek exchanges with industry and society, while at the same time maintaining our independence.
• We feel an obligation towards a public scientific and ethical dialogue about our work and, in particular, about our teaching and research activities.
• In its role as an academic focal point, our university is a vital engine for the region and fulfils a cultural and societal purpose.

• We treat each other with respect and appreciation.
• We feel an obligation to cooperate within the university and with our partners.
• We demand and encourage creativity in our students, faculty and staff.
• Together, we are proud of our academic achievements.
• We value our diverse campus life.

• “The Executive Board will lead the university under its own responsibility. It is to shape the university’s development and ensure that the university fulfils its obligations…”³
• In doing so, the Executive Board cooperates with our committees and departments, institutes and centres.
• Those in managerial positions are committed to practicing participatory leadership. They encourage self-determination, autonomy and the development of their staff’s individual capacities.
• Participatory leadership requires everyone involved to take on responsibility.
• Decisions, processes and structures at Technische Universität Braunschweig are subject to the principles of transparency and justification.

^{3 Lower Saxon Higher Education Act (Niedersächsisches Hochschulgesetz, NHG), §37 (1).}