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TU Graz launches international alumni network at ETH Zurich

12/02/2016 | TU Graz news | University

TU Graz promotes cross-border alumni activities as part of internationalisation strategy. The first highlight of “alumni eXtended” was the opening of the “TU Graz Alumni Chapter Suisse” at ETH Zurich yesterday evening.

TU Graz opens its first alumni eXtended chapter at ETH Zürich. TU Graz Rector Harald Kainz (right) celebrates with TU Graz alumna and head of the new chapter, Cornelia Kawann (center) and TU Graz alumnus and dean of the informatic departments of ETH Zürich, Emo Welzl (left). © Lunghammer - TU Graz

TU Graz has a tradition of cultivating good ties with ETH Zurich in research and teaching, and links with representatives of Swiss industry, some of them graduates of TU Graz, are very important. It was time to ring the changes regarding the worldwide activities of the new international alumni network of TU Graz – “alumni eXtended” by opening a branch in Switzerland. Harald Kainz, Rector of TU Graz on the meaning of “alumni eXtended”: “TU Graz takes the initiative when it comes to relations and cooperation projects. Of particular importance for us is the relationship with our graduates throughout the world. Expanding our alumni activities supports us in bringing the international TU Graz network more closely together and in implementing our internationalisation strategy even more successfully.”

Worldwide network of location Styria

The planned activities of the Swiss chapter serve to network between members and interested parties from industry and academia. For this reason the chapter is planning an annual programme with topics with a high relevance to society. Rector Harald Kainz: “In this way we are not only closely interlinking TU Graz and location Styria with Swiss industry, but also positioning TU Graz in the international context with its academic fields of competence and strategic focuses.” The topic of the first annual programme of the “TU Graz Alumni Chapter Suisse” is dedicated to the field of energy. Cornelia Kawann heads the branch and is an ideal choice since she was the first woman to be awarded a doctorate in electrical engineering at TU Graz and now works full time at the Swiss Electricity Commission in Bern. The “alumni eXtended” alumni network of TU Graz is supported and funded by the Styrian Economic Chamber, which works to secure advantages for Styrian commerce through close ties with partners from industry.

Top-class guests

The lively interest in the alumni activities of TU Graz in Switzerland was shown by the presence of around 100 top-class guests from research, industry, politics and society at the celebratory opening of the chapter at the alumni pavilion of ETH Zurich yesterday evening. Among these were Swiss graduates, Austrian liaison offices in Switzerland, members of Swiss universities – especially ETH Zurich and contact persons from Swiss energy companies. Apart from speeches by Rector Kainz and other representatives of the TU Graz alumni network, there was an introductory talk by Prof. Karl Rose on the energy revolution and technology. A taste of Styrian culture was also communicated in the form of traditional Styrian fiddle music and a Styrian buffet.

Information

After the chapter in Shanghai, which together with the University of Graz was launched in October 2014, the “TU Graz Alumni Chapter Suisse” is the second alumni chapter of TU Graz to be opened and the first under the newly established international “alumni eXtended” alumni network. Further details about the activities of alumni eXtended.

Contact

Wolfgang WALLNER
Mag. Dipl.-Ing.
TU Graz Rectorate Staff Unit for Alumni Relations
Petersgasse 10, 8010 Graz
Tel.: +43 316 873 6044
wallner@tugraz.at