Biannual Report - Fachbereich Mathematik - Technische Universität ...

and many more. The evaluation and quality control of teaching done at the department
are two of our main objectives. We think that it is essential to hear and consider students’
opinions regarding these areas because they are the ones directly affected. We also support
the improvement and development of courses and studying in general, a point which every
student should be concerned about naturally. We are working on those subjects together
with Students’ Unions from other departments and with the university administration.
Concerning orientation events, we organise the orientation week for the first semester
students, which takes place at the beginning of each semester. During the semester, there
is an orientation colloquium for the students in their first two years, which is meant to
give them an impression of what the work in the research groups usually is about (meant
to support the decision on a thesis subject). After finishing their first two years, students
attend another orientation event, the "Introduction to Advanced Studies" (Einführung ins
Hauptstudium), giving them more information about the research groups, the relevant
regulations and much more.
Not all of these events take place in the maths department. University-wide orientation
events for secondary school students are also part of our work. There we cooperate with
the student counsellors.
However, not all our activities concern purely study-related topics. The organisation of
games evenings, music evenings, as well as the traditional Christmas party of the department
are examples of what we do to help students socialize among themselves.
We hope that this rather brief introduction helps give an impression of our work.
104 2 Teaching