At the end of September 2021, nine graduates of the former "Hochschule für Verkehrswesen" (HfV) Dresden met in Quedlinburg on their own initiative and organisation to celebrate their 50th graduation anniversary. They graduated together 51 years ago, in 1970. They wanted to celebrate the golden jubilee. In 1992, the "Hochschule für Verkehrswesen" had been transferred to the "Friedrich List" Faculty of Transport Sciences. A highlight of the meeting was the awarding of the "Golden Diploma Certificates", which they had requested from the faculty in advance. We are pleased to publish a report, which was written in the aftermath of the meeting, here:

"The wheel of time turns faster and faster and consequently our traditional student meeting from 21 to 23.09.2021, this time in the beautiful world heritage city of Quedlinburg, is now already in the past. Yes, we had all, as was mutually confirmed, looked forward enormously to a reunion, especially since this meeting was under the sign of the 50th anniversary of the departure from the HfV. The meeting was originally planned for the merry month of May last year and already booked, but "Corona" came in the way.

After the last meeting in 2018, this time nine alumni partly with their spouses accepted the invitation, which is traditionally always issued by a different organizer. Unfortunately, we had to realize that five former fellow students had to cancel their participation for health reasons, which is not so unusual at our advanced age.

After arriving at the really cozy, quaint and historic hotel "Zur Goldenen Sonne", we met in the evening in a relaxed atmosphere and lively exchanged thoughts about the family and social events of the past years. Of course, we also discussed current transport and energy policy strategies, which were greeted with much skepticism.

On the second day, after a sumptuous breakfast, we met at the bus stop at the municipal market to discover the beauties of the city and delve into its history with the Quedlinburg Bimmelbahn and the help of its city guide. Afterwards, we visited the equally impressive Schlossgaststätte and again found time over food and drink to reminisce in particular about our unforgettable student days.

The highlight of our meeting was undoubtedly the evening "festive event" in a separate room of the hotel. After the delicious dinner of Mediterranean cuisine, our former seminar group supervisor Dr. Dietrich Junghanns, meanwhile 86 years (!) old, solemnly presented the golden diploma certificates to the "old diplomands" with well-put words. This was a real surprise for all of them, as the author had kept quiet about the previous application for these.

At this point we would like to thank especially Ms. Richter-Baxendale ("Friedrich List" Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences / Public Relations), who made a special effort for a complete and timely preparation of the certificates. The certificates for the Golden Diploma Graduates who did not participate in the meeting were sent to them in the meantime by mail using the TU folders.

After the said handing over, the author then expressed his thoughts in episodic and rhyming form about the course of his studies, which was acknowledged with thoughtfulness and hilarity.

In addition to many conversations, songs and various lectures of a funny nature and a tradition quiz, there was extensive dining, moderate alcohol consumption - in stark contrast to earlier times - and remembering the long-gone university days, its formative professors and lecturers and the associated personal experiences with all its ups and downs.

The "old students" were completely surprised by the various offers and perception possibilities of the alumni network of the TU Dresden, which were not known to them at all. Unfortunately, there was no similar network in GDR times, so that contact with the former HfV and, after the merger with the HfV, with the TU, was lost for most of the graduates. What a pity!

The conclusion of our meeting, which was shared by all, was: "It was just great!" Now everyone is looking forward to another reunion in May of 2023 in the hope that everyone will stay interested, healthy and lively."

Author: Wolfgang Ullrich