Modern teaching techniques and equipment for efficient studies Modern teaching techniques and equipment for efficient studies

What special challenges do you face as Digitalization Manager for the Department of Law?

One of the most fascinating challenges is helping to frame the transition from the traditional way of working to modern, digital solutions. You can see this, for example, in the introduction of innovative technologies such as digital examinations and modern teaching technologies that make studying more efficient and accessible. For example, the Legal Education Act of North Rhine-Westphalia (Juristenausbildungsgesetz, JAG NRW) was modified earlier this year. Students can now take some of the written portion of the state exams on a computer. In the long term, these examination conditions will also be used here within the department. The idea that our department would move so far in that direction was inconceivable just a few years ago!
But there’s a lot that goes with it, such as the necessary general modifications to the technical equipment in the lecture halls. In our case, the Department of Law building will undergo generation renovations in 2026 to provide sufficient e-testing spaces. And frankly we will need top-notch facilities if we want to keep erecruiting the best legal minds.
At the same time, it is especially satisfying to shepherd all of the participants, from students to professors, on the path to digitalization and to see how they accept the new tools and integrate them into their daily work. There’s a common conception that jurists have no interest in IT or digitalization. But the reality is actually quite different. The legal system is already working digitally, including digital files. We also have digital problems, legal problems, and ultimately, it’s crucial that these are addressed starting with the legal training process.

What are or were current projects that could impact the entire University?

One central project that affects the entire University of Bonn is the introduction of a new Campus Management System. This system will fundamentally change the way in which students and teachers handle administrative processes.
Another important project is the introduction of centralized anti-plagiarism software, which will be used not only in the Department of Law but in other faculties as well. The goal is to find a uniform and economic solution that covers all needs and provides the teachers with reliable support in the review of academic work.

How is cooperation shaping up with Central Administration and the other digitalization managers (Digis), and what parts do you find best?

Before I studied law, I actually started out as a computer scientist. Cooperation with Central Administration and the other digitalization managers is notably collaborative and enriching. We reflect a truly wide range of backgrounds and professional histories. But without strong faculties, there would be no movement whatsoever on this topic at the University. We come together to talk on a weekly basis, about the issues facing the faculties but also to some extent those facing central institutions and Central Administration, as part of our effort to find solutions. In many cases, we’re drawing on the best practices established within the individual departments and faculties and trying to see if and how these can be implemented centrally. Of particular importance is the work translating between technical requirements and the needs of the teachers and students to ensure that the digital tools are user-friendly and actually relevant to daily life.