Workshop of the State Initiatives for Federated Identity Management
Source: Pixabay
On November 12 and 13, 2025, the biannual workshop of the state initiatives for federated identity management (IDM) took place at the IT Center of RWTH Aachen University. This year’s meeting was organized by the staff of the IDM.nrw project, which supports universities in North Rhine-Westphalia on their way to a state-wide, federated identity management system.
Representatives from Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, as well as from the German National Research and Education Network (DFN), came to Aachen to exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and initiate joint developments.
Calendar Sync Launched: Webex Meets Exchange
Source: Freepik
Since the introduction of Webex at RWTH Aachen University on November 2, 2023, we have repeatedly received requests for a link between the Webex and Exchange calendars. Now we can fulfill this request: With the new “Hybrid Calendar Connector,” seamless synchronization of both systems is possible.
Recognizing Phishing – Deceptively Real, Yet Highly Dangerous
Source: Own illustration
Why this topic matters
Phishing emails are among the most common types of cyberattacks- even at universities. Attackers attempt to obtain passwords, personal data, or access to systems by sending emails that appear deceptively legitimate.
These messages often look official: they contain logos, signatures, and sender addresses from well-known institutions such as RWTH Aachen Universitys. That is precisely what makes them so dangerous.
In this article, we will show you how such phishing messages are structured and what clues can help you recognize them early on. We will also present current examples from the RWTH so that you can better assess how genuine these emails often appear.
WestAI: Review, Exchange, and Outlook – An Overview of the Consortium Meeting
Source: WestAI
The AI Service Center WestAI, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMFTR, formerly BMBF), is one of four nationally funded AI service centers in Germany and is a central point of contact for applied artificial intelligence in North Rhine-Westphalia. The center aims to accelerate the transfer of AI research into practical applications and, in particular, to provide small and medium-sized enterprises and research teams with low-threshold access to modern AI technologies.
In this blog post, we take a look at the current role of WestAI, summarize the most important results of the latest consortium meeting, and provide an outlook on the further developments planned for the coming years.
A Different Kind of Advent Calendar
Source: Own illustration
It’s getting dark earlier, temperatures are falling, Christmas markets are opening: we’re slowly getting into the Christmas spirit. Between baking cookies and buying presents, Advent calendars sweeten the days leading up to the holiday.
Why not learn something instead of (or in addition to) chocolate this time?
Basic AI Supply in North Rhine-Westphalia: How the IT Center Is Contributing With KI:connect.nrw
Source: Own Illustration
Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly at universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. To ensure that they are well positioned in the long term, common technical foundations and responsible solutions are needed.
A new paper by Digitale Hochschule NRW (DH.NRW) describes precisely this approach. It shows how basic AI services can be established for all universities in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Ritchy – Your Opinion Matters!
Source: Own Illustration
Since April 2025, our chatbot Ritchy has been available to assist you around the clock, even after our regular support hours. It provides answers, tips, and suggested solutions, and is designed to complement our personal customer support services.
We have already introduced Ritchy in a previous blog post and explained its advantages and special features.
If you would like to learn more about our chatbot, we highly recommend taking a look at this article.
New Design, New Possibilities: Module Manuals in RWTHonline
Source: Own illustration
Just in time for the start of the winter semester on October 1, 2025, the revised module manuals are available for students and employees in RWTHonline.
The new PDF files now contain further information: In addition to the previous content, there is now information on teaching and learning methods, the sustainability relevance of the module content, and contact details for the program organization.
RWTHonline With a New Look
Source: Own Illustration
On December 10, 2025, the employee view in RWTHonline will get a new, modern interface! This marks the next stage in the ongoing development of the system, with a focus on usability, personalization, and a contemporary design.
Learning with AI – How effective is it really?
Source: Freepik
AI systems are revolutionizing the way we absorb information and process knowledge. Examples include voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa, learning platforms such as Duolingo, a wide range of commercial AI chatbots, and, in a university context, RWTHgpt and Ritchy at RWTH Aachen University. These technologies use machine learning to provide personalized learning experiences tailored to the needs of individual users.
But the key question is: How can AI be used in a way that truly improves learning and is not counterproductive?
