AI & Digital Higher Education: BMFTR Funds HRK Projects

The digitization of studies, teaching, research and administration as well as the use of artificial intelligence in everyday university life are the focus of two projects of the University Rectors’ Conference, which are funded by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space.

The projects are funded as part of the High-Tech Agenda Germany (HTAD). The HRK project KI-LOTSE (control center for orientation, technology, service and expertise on artificial intelligence at universities) is intended to support German universities in exploiting the potential of artificial intelligence. To this end, the new service point will, among other things, develop exchange and consultation formats as well as issue handouts and guidelines on the legal, technical and organizational integration of AI applications.

With the follow-up funding from the University Forum on Digitalization (HFD), the successful advisory service on the digitalization of studying and teaching will also be continued. The joint project, which the HRK, the Stifterverband and the CHE Center for University Development have been supporting together since 2014, remains the central contact point and driving force for the further development of digital higher education, including its infrastructural requirements. The HFD supports the testing and concrete implementation of innovative approaches with topic-specific publications, qualification and consulting offers.

Prof. Dr. Ulrike Tippe, HRK Vice President for Digitalization and Scientific Continuing Education, thanks the BMFTR for funding both projects:

“Digitalization and artificial intelligence are sustainably changing how we work, inform ourselves and interact with our environment. In particular, the dynamic developments in the field of AI are currently creating completely new areas of application for universities in research, studying and teaching as well as administration. The HRK’s AI-LOTSE will make it easier for universities to systematically exploit the transformative potential of AI. This is a strategic task. A particular focus of the project will also be on enabling students to use AI in a reflective manner. We are also pleased about the further funding of AI “University forum digitalization, through which a further expansion of this sustainable network is possible, especially in view of the rapid technological and political developments, the possibility of direct, cross-institutional exchange is important. Only through cleverly designed and used cooperation can we adequately meet the numerous challenges, develop digital resilience, build skills and promote innovative ideas at universities.

background

KI-LOTSE

With the KI-LOTSE project (control center for orientation, technology, service and expertise on artificial intelligence at universities), which runs from January 2026 to March 2029, the HRK is setting up a service point that supports universities nationwide in the strategic use of artificial intelligence. Among other things, the project will advise universities on legal, technical and organizational issues that arise when using AI in universities in teaching, studying, research and administration. The project will also build a central collection of application examples and make them accessible online. Topic-focused handouts and guidelines complement the offering.

www.ki-lotse.ai

University Forum for Digitalization (“HFD 4.0”)

As a transfer-oriented competence center, the University Forum for Digitalization (HFD) brings together a broad community around digitalization in studying and teaching, classifies technological trends and supports the concrete implementation of innovative approaches. To this end, actors from universities, politics, business and society are networked, supported and advised. The HFD, launched in 2014, is a joint initiative of the Stifterverband, the CHE Center for University Development and the HRK. The joint project will be funded by the BMFTR in a fourth period (HFD 4.0) from January 2026 to 2030.

www.hochschulforumdigitalisierung.de