A Rich Heritage for TUBAF

The German university’s twin emphasis on theory and practice is evident in the German writings on the roadside signage: Wissen. Praxis. Zukunft. Promoting the brand of a family-friendly university, it has cut a niche in the geo, materials, energy, environment, and economics disciplines. More than 6000 kilometres away to the south is its partner university in Kenya under the Kenyan-German Centre of Excellence for Mining, Environmental Engineering and Resource Management (CEMEREM). Has its track record in international mining education and discoveries influenced and inspired the partner institution, Taita Taveta University (TTU), to make strides in mining education and score two major wins within a month: Lifetime Achievement Award for mining education and the recognition of its mining and mineral processing engineering degree programme by the professional body regulating engineering practice in Kenya, the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK)? Read on to discover more from the storylines told from lived experiences at the two institutions.

Founded in 1765, the Technical University and Mining Academy of Freiberg (TU Bergakademie Freiberg – TUBAF) is the icon of the Silver City. Making the rightful claim as The University of Resources, complete with the revamped tagline, “Think Globally, Act Globally”, TUBAF commands its place in the league of universities as the world’s oldest university of mining and Germany’s leader in third-party funding per professor. Though my visit to the historic mining town of Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia, told a different story in an earnest attempt to challenge TUBAF’s title of being the oldest mining academy, my vote still remains with TUBAF, and for obvious reasons. After all, there is no championship without a contest, and no champion without a contender.

Germanium and indium, both key elements for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), were discovered at TUBAF and the university takes pride in having hosted as students Alexander von Humboldt and the discoverers of other key chemical elements, such as Fausto and Juan José d’Elhuyar (tungsten) and Manuel Andrés del Río (vanadium). These elements are critical drivers of today’s technological revolution in strategic areas, such as defence as well as aviation and aerospace research. They also find extensive applications in medical fields and large-scale energy storage for renewable energy systems e.g., solar technology, and in manufacturing communications equipment as well as the crucial gadgetry shaping the landscape of modern consumer electronics. 

 

Experiencing the Frigid Season

It is (the dreaded) winter here in December (Der Winter)! The shower of snow fills the air in the small German city hosting less than 50,000 inhabitants, situated not far from the Ore Mountains and boasting the name Silver City (Silberstadt) owing to a heritage of silver mining dating back to the 12th century. To a Kenyan born and bred in the tropics like me, every drop of the white matter tells half the story of endurance, resilience, and hope – exactly what any foreign student needs to survive in this unique university town.

The imposing route map of Silver City next the public bus stage. Credit: Nashon Adero

The Silver City of 40,000 inhabitants by 2020. Credit: Nashon Adero

The Beauty of Christmas Season and Culture

Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year). For or all intents and purposes, Christmas is taken seriously as a festive season throughout Germany, if the preparatory decorations and festive activities are anything to go by. So was my experience in Freiberg, a space demanding endurance for any foreigner, and more endurance if one cannot speak German.

The Silver City decorations in December. Credit: Nashon Adero

Walking up in winter to the Institute of Mine Surveying and Geodesy is symbolic of the uphill task which must accompany every resolve to receive good qualifications from the university.

A steep climb to the Institute of Mine Surveying and Geodesy. Credit: Nashon Adero

Making a Difference from Hybrid Experiences

Just like experiencing the changing seasons, exposure has no substitute when it comes to authenticity in sharing informed advice in dynamic intercultural settings. That is why young Kenyan graduates in mining and natural resource management disciplines need to be encouraged to venture into TUBAF for advanced qualifications that can future-proof them for a changing world. For international students, further exposure through workshops and programmes on science communication and international project management at the Centre for Advanced Studies (GraFA) is highly recommended. Support for international mobility to attend international conferences and gauge the currency of research topics has been a hallmark of the university, leading to interesting, contemporary, and impactful theses.

A strong message to international students planning to join TUBAF is that nothing is permanent. A growing number of students joining TUBAF is expected from Taita Taveta University (TTU), due to the long CEMEREM partnership, now entering its tenth year. TTU has performed very well, receiving in November 2024 the lifetime achievement award for training mining engineers in Kenya and in December 2024, winning the recognition of the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) for its mining and mineral processing engineering degree programme.

The winter soon gives way to the exciting spring season and the adored summer. As displayed in the picture below, the Christmas season in Nairobi, the capital of my homeland, has always been different from the frigid experience abroad. Any cold spells in the so-called Green City in the Sun are a far cry from the chills of the Silver City. However, young people need the hybrid experience to be all-round, all-weather, and borderless change makers in a hyperconnected world where skills in mining and natural resource management are poised to play an increasingly significant role.

Visit this link and explore more: https://tu-freiberg.de/en