13.11.2026

Info Letter October 2026

Dear Readers:

It’s been just under a month, and we’re still overjoyed: on 2 October, the German Science and Humanities Council announced that we and Ruhr University Bochum have been awarded funding as a Consortium of Excellence! Our concept for the Ruhr Innovation Lab convinced the international jury.

Once again, I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved. This outstanding success was only possible because we all worked together. Things will really get underway starting next year. My colleague from Bochum, Martin Paul, and I will share information about the next steps and how we will implement the individual measures at our universities during a town hall meeting on 21 December.

Meanwhile, our regular research and teaching activities continue as usual: In the middle of the month, we welcomed approximately 4,200 new students to our university. I wish you all a great start at our university and a successful semester to everyone.

Best regards
Manfred Bayer
President of TU Dortmund University

News from TU Dortmund University

Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund University Celebrate Success in the Excellence Strategy

With the Ruhr Innovation Lab, the partners convinced an international jury of their outstanding scientific quality.

In the photo, you can see the audience and the cheerleaders doing the wave together.

First-Year Students Welcomed at the Stadium

12 October marked the start of the 2026/27 winter semester – with around 4,200 new students and the traditional kick-off.

In the photo, you can see four students sitting on a bench outside. There are trees in the background, and the sun is shining.

TU Dortmund University Launches studium+ for Bachelor’s Students

Four pilot departments are making the start of studies easier with further learning opportunities and less crowded schedules.

“Eichmann and No End in Sight”: How International Criminal Justice Has Evolved

The exhibition at the Dortmunder U examines the Eichmann trial and other Nazi-era court proceedings.

Lectures Shed Light on Societal Challenges

At the Gambrinus Forum, Prof. Maike Luhmann and Prof. Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann spoke about loneliness and anorexia.

Photo: An older man with glasses, a light‑blue shirt and a red patterned tie smiles, while blurred people are visible in the foreground.

How Prof. Richard Schrock was Awarded a Nobel Prize as a First-Generation Student

As part of the “Initial Spark” series, he explained how his basic research made chemical processes more sustainable.

The photo shows the more than 200 participants in the lecture hall.

International UNESCO Chair Conference in Dortmund

Over 200 participants met on the campus to discuss collaborative approaches for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Photo: Several people discuss a technical device behind glass.

More Effective Medicines Through Innovative Methods

Professor Markus Thommes has received €1.1 million in funding to put a new melt electrostatic precipitator into operation.

Photo: Several people are standing inside a building under construction, chatting.

Hansa Carré Conversion is Making Headway

A tour of the complex in the city center gave an idea of the layout of the floors the university will move into in February.

The earth trickles through an hourglass held by a hand.

Public Lecture Series on “Climate: Change, Values, Science”

In the 2026/27 winter semester, the digital lecture series will take place for the seventh year in a row.

All news

Editorial office: Lisa Burgardt

Phone: ++49 (0) 231 - 755 6456
E-mail: lisa.burgardt@tu-dortmund.de

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