Source: Own Illustration
A lot has happened since our last post on the KI:connect.nrw project. More and more universities in North Rhine-Westphalia are joining the project, which enables state-wide, data protection-compliant, and legally secure access to generative AI via the central web application KI:connect.
Nine universities are now successfully connected to the RWTH and are using KI:connect in productive operation:
- FernUniversität in Hagen
- FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences
- Bochum University of Applied Sciences
- Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences
- Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences
- RWTH Aachen University
- Cologne University of Applied Sciences
- TU Dortmund University
- Westphalian University of Applied Sciences
KI:connect is thus already actively available to more than 234,000 students and staff in studies, teaching, and research.
Eight universities are currently in the final phase of system configuration and are still specifically adapting KI:connect to the individual requirements and work processes of their users. This means that, in addition to RWTH Aachen University, a total of 17 universities are now part of the state-wide service.
A further seven universities are in the process of preparing contracts to join the KI:connect network.
Source: Own Illustration
KI:connect.nrw thus already covers almost 90% of interested universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. [1]
The number of participating universities and active users continues to grow steadily.
More Than Just Technology – Comprehensive Service
KI:connect offers participating universities much more than just technical access to AI models. The project takes on the complex tasks that each university would otherwise have to solve individually, thus providing relief at all levels:
- Legal certainty from a single source: Comprehensive documentation on data protection, copyright, and service law – developed by experts and legally reviewed.
- No in-house development necessary: Universities can get started right away without using their own IT resources for setup and maintenance.
- Professional procurement support: From contract drafting to technical integration.
- Continuous support: The RWTH team supports universities with questions about the use KI:connect. At the same time, the system is continuously being further developed, allowing universities to focus on what really matters: the innovative use of AI in studies, teaching, and research.
KI:connect Is Gaining Reach – Together Into the Future
As a community service provider, RWTH Aachen University is pioneering the use of generative AI systems in the higher education landscape of North Rhine-Westphalia. With each additional university, not only does the reach of the community grow, but so does the diversity of possible applications for generative AI in studies, teaching, research, and administration.
Interested universities can find out more about participating at servicedesk@itc.rwth-aachen.de.
Responsible for the content of this article is Melisa Berisha.
[1] The following sources served as the basis for calculation:
https://www.it.nrw/sites/default/files/itnrw_presse/368_22.pdf
https://www.mkw.nrw/themen/wissenschaft/wissenschaftseinrichtungen/hochschulen-nordrhein
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