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?
MoodleCafé in the 2025/26 Winter Semester
Source: Own illustration
In the current winter semester, the Center for Teaching and Learning Services (CLS) is once again inviting participants to the digital exchange format MoodleCafé. MoodleCafé offers teachers and teaching assistants at RWTH Aachen University the opportunity to gain insights into successful teaching practices and to contribute their own questions or experiences.
This semester, the event series focuses on the topic “Best Practice in RWTHmoodle – Structured, visually clear, and didactically diverse course rooms”. The aim is to highlight the diverse design options offered by RWTHmoodle and discuss practical examples. Teachers from various disciplines will present their Moodle course rooms and show how structure, didactics, and design interact to optimally support learning processes.
RWTHmoodle – Results of the User Survey Are in!
Source: Own Illustration
This year, you once again had the opportunity to participate in the RWTHmoodle user survey to evaluate the teaching and learning platform. The survey took place from August 4 to 24, 2025, for all persons who were booked into at least one course in the 2025 summer semester. Approximately 38,300 people were invited to participate by email, of whom 1,190 took part in the survey. Read the rest of this entry »
