AI EXPERTISE FOR Higher education

Orientation.
Navigation. AI.
For Higher Education.

KI-LOTSE is the central hub for orientation, technology, service, and expertise on Artificial Intelligence in higher education (in Germany).

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General

21. April 2026

We are online!

The project KI-LOTSE of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), is now available online.

The Initiative

KI-LOTSE: The Service Centre of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK)

The project is specifically designed to support strategic managers and decision-makers in higher education in systematically and responsibly managing the use of AI in studies, teaching, research and administration.

KI-LOTSE picks up where many other initiatives leave off: at the level of institutional governance and leadership, guided by the values, profiles and needs of higher education institutions. Rather than presenting isolated solutions side by side, KI-LOTSE provides a structured overview of topics and shared challenges, infrastructure and legal developments, and the resulting strategic options. Building on this, KI-LOTSE offers practical services and resources, providing a reliable entry point into this sometimes complex and rapidly changing field for higher education leadership and other stakeholders in academia and administration.
KI-LOTSE is a project of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) and funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

About the project

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News

General

21. April 2026-General

We are online!

The project KI-LOTSE of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), is now available online.

Mission

A central hub instead of fragmentary solutions

KI-LOTSE brings together guidance, services and resources to help higher education institutions reach sound decisions more quickly. As a nationwide service centre operated by the HRK, it is able to pool specialist expertise at a macro level.

What KI-LOTSE aims to achieve

The work follows two strands: strategic development and systemic transformation. This includes advisory formats for higher education managers teams, think-tank activities such as thematic working groups and expert consultations, as well as the provision of ressources for direct use within universities. A key component is the curated collection of good practice examples, which serves as an information tool for strategic decision-making at management level.

Legal aspects are also addressed in two ways: as a topic (general guidance and classification) and as a service. Legal support involves classifying and assessing typical issues, e.g. through guidance documents, monitoring and advice on procedures, but also acting as a point of contact for specific queries.

The project also addresses issues relating to infrastructure and access to AI. To this end, KI-LOTSE connects stakeholders across Germany and provides an overview of existing AI infrastructures and AI tools within the higher education sector.

At the same time, the topic of competence development is a central focus: a resilient higher education system should prepare students and staff for AI not only in technical terms but also foster critical reflective capacity and value-based orientation in engaging with AI (‘AI literacy’). KI-LOTSE provides comprehensive support on pedagogical issues relating to learning and teaching with and about AI.

Mission

For Whom

KI-LOTSE primarily addresses leadership and strategic decision-makers in higher education, as many AI-related questions converge at this level. At the same time, the project’s topics, services, and resources are also aimed at stakeholders in academia and administration, as well as others with an interest in the higher education system.

Service