What exactly are committee elections (Gremienwahlen)?

Next week, on January 27, 28, and 29, it’s time for committee elections again! As students, you can vote for student representatives on various committees. But what kinds of committees are there?

Academic Senate (Akademischer Senat) (AS)
The AS is the highest committee at TU Berlin, where all decisions affecting the entire university are made. For example, decisions are made here on general study and examination regulations (allgemeine Studien- und Prüfungsordnung), research projects, construction projects, the establishment and dissolution of study programs, and the appointment of professors. In addition, the budget committee is appointed by the AS. The Academic Senate consists of 13 university teachers, 4 academic staff members, 4 students, and 4 technical, service, and administrative staff members.

Extended Academic Senate (erweiterter akademischer Senat) (EAS)
The EAS elects the president and vice president and decides on the basic regulations. It consists of 31 university teachers, 10 academic staff members, 10 students, and 10 technical, service, and administrative staff members.

Kuratorium (KU)
The Kuratorium consists of six public figures elected by the AS and one representative from each of the four status groups. This means that you can also elect a student representative here. The Kuratorium is responsible for approving the budget, for example.

Advisory Board of the Central Women’s and Equal Opportunities Officer (Beirat der zentralen Frauen- und Gleichstellungsbeauftragten)
This advisory board consists of two representatives from each status group. The advisory board elects the central women’s and equal opportunities officer and supports her work.

Faculty Councils (Fakultätsräte)
Each faculty has its own faculty council. The faculty council is the central decision-making body of the faculty and is responsible for all faculty tasks. For example, it issues the study and examination regulations (Studien- und Prüfungsordnung) and takes care of job distribution within the faculty. It consists of two students, seven professors, two academic staff members, and two technical, service, and administrative staff members. The faculty council elects the dean (Dekan*in), who heads the faculty.

Faculty women’s advisory councils (Frauenbeiräte der Fakultäten)
the women’s advisory council exists in each faculty and consist of one woman from each status group. The women’s advisory boards elect the part-time women’s and equal opportunities officers at each faculty and support their work.

These committees make important decisions about your everyday life at the TU, so get informed and vote! To learn more about the various candidates, check your email, as some lists will be sending out introductory emails. You can also find information in the election newspaper.