Source: Own Illustration
As part of RWTH Aachen University’s Welcome Week, the IT Center was represented at the Freshers’ Fair in the foyer of the Audimax on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Between 1 and 4pm, numerous international students took the opportunity to learn about key services and receive immediate assistance.
Focus: Information and Direct Support
Our booth primarily served as a point of contact for questions regarding RWTH’s IT services. During the three-hour event, we were able to handle approximately 56 direct inquiries. We provided support particularly frequently with:
- Setting up eduroam
- Registering for Microsoft 365
- Configuring email clients
- questions about our support options (phone, email, chat, and the “Ritchy” support bot)
The high demand clearly demonstrated how important low-threshold, in-person support is, especially at the beginning of one’s studies.
Source: Own Illustration
Support-to-go via QR Code
In addition to on-site assistance, we relied on our proven “Support-to-go” method. Using QR codes, specific instructions from IT Center Help could be provided and accessed directly on a smartphone.
This proved particularly helpful when settings could not be completed immediately – for example, because login credentials were missing or the student did not have their own device on hand. This allowed students to continue the setup process on their own later.
Additional Services
In addition to technical support, we also provided information about other services offered by the IT Center. These included the fIT courses and our social media channels.
Source: Own Illustration
Source: Own Illustration
Conclusion
The Freshers’ Fair 2026 once again provided a valuable platform for direct interaction with students. The large number of specific inquiries underscores the importance of our on-site presence and highlights how crucial easy access to IT support is at the start of the academic year.
Responsible for the content of this article is Merrit Mielke.
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