The IT Center Year in Review 2025
Source: Freepik
2025 was a year full of change for the IT Center, both technically and organizationally, as well as on a human level. While new services were launched, major infrastructure projects were implemented, and digital work processes continued to converge, there were also many moments that enriched our everyday work. Whether new AI initiatives, important security measures, service updates, or team events: the year was marked by change.
In our annual review, we summarize the developments that had a particular impact and the highlights that accompanied us in 2025.
The IT Center Christmas Party 2025
Source: Own Illustration
On December 12, 2025, it was that time of year again: the IT Center’s annual Christmas party brought colleagues, former employees, and family members together to end the year in a festive atmosphere. With a wintery atmosphere, good food, and a varied program, the celebrations continued into the evening.
Review of SC25: HPC Highlights From St. Louis
Source: Own illustration
The Supercomputing Conference 2025 (SC25), one of the world’s most important conferences in the field of high-performance computing, took place this year in St. Louis, Missouri (USA). Under the motto “HPC ignites,” around 15,000 participants gathered to discuss current research results, technological developments, and future trends in supercomputing. The IT Center was represented by three participants, who took the opportunity to exchange ideas with international experts and gain valuable insights from the vibrant HPC community.
Changed Opening Hours Over Christmas and New Year
Source: Freepik
Another year is coming to an end, and the IT Center wishes all students, employees, and partners a relaxing holiday season and a successful start to the new year.
Our opening hours will be adjusted as follows during the Christmas period and at the beginning of the year.
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.
