Episode 23: Celebrating One Year of Teaching at German UDS

00:00:00: Today, we are delighted to share the incredible story of an experiment that has become a reality.

00:00:06: The German University of Digital Science.

00:00:09: Just over year ago We embarked on this journey with our first degree programs and today... ...we're thrilled to see fruits from labor come alive.

00:00:22: When we talked about creating a fully digital university Many people thought it was just nice idea.

00:00:29: They didn't think it become because part of a regular university operations.

00:00:35: Today, Christoph Meinl and I are here still sitting as co-presidents on this German UDDS.

00:00:43: It's the reality And we can say that exactly what happened Since its founding has became state recognized University with six accredited masters in MBA programs.

00:00:57: In the next half year we will have six more MBA and master programs.

00:01:04: We have international student body under virtual campus that is used every day in this episode from campus to cyber, but don't want to tell a glassy or success story But honestly share what it was like.

00:01:24: Today, Christoph Meinl and I are sitting here as co-presidents of the German UDS.

00:01:31: And we can say this is exactly what happens!

00:01:35: Since its founding it has become a state recognized university... ...I think that was still discussed about this process later with six accredited master's and MBA programs and international student body and virtual campus that is used every day.

00:01:51: In this episode of From Campus to Cyber, we don't want to tell a glassy story about success and other things but honestly share what it was like to build the university.

00:02:02: And maybe in past two years.

00:02:08: So, what we will do is... We just want to talk about first the understanding of behind-the-sane.

00:02:16: What are at this moment?

00:02:18: Christoph!

00:02:19: What you think your status quo now after one year with starting the first students and the first April last year?

00:02:29: so what do you feel today?

00:02:32: The status quo is that we have around a hundred students in the different programs, applied AI, cybersecurity advanced digital reality for technicians.

00:02:43: For IT professionals but also the MBAs for digital transformation and digital technology for people that are involved and responsible to drive a digitization project.

00:02:56: so they're all students.

00:02:58: of course there's teachers or professors.

00:03:02: most our modules presented by professors which are appointed to this university.

00:03:09: in the moment r-seventeen and This is for one year.

00:03:15: I think a great number.

00:03:16: if you look to the state University there is appointment of a professor a process, Which is meanwhile?

00:03:25: One half almost two years And we could make it with the seventeen professors In not even one here.

00:03:35: So, the professors are there to present the modules for students.

00:03:42: The student is here and there's technology around because all has happened.

00:03:47: completely digital so... campus management system, which is for administrating all the student affairs.

00:03:55: Students can apply their students and choose which of the modules they want to read in a quarter And then each module is presented on an alumni learning management system or open edX.

00:04:12: We are using Open Source System.

00:04:15: so all this is running and it's working.

00:04:19: And in a few days, our first two students finish their study... ...and get an MBA degree from the German University of Digital Science.

00:04:30: When I just add some my ideas or our ideas we had as we started last April.

00:04:38: So i think that was big challenge.

00:04:41: We just got the accreditation, I think in mid of February last year.

00:04:46: And then there were only four weeks or five weeks for process to get students and that was a challenge.

00:04:55: but first we did very good job.

00:04:58: What happened is... And that was, for me a very important point to bring together all the ideas of different professors and start with learning platform.

00:05:10: All difficulties we have in producing other videos or organizing this.

00:05:18: What happens is... had an increasing part of teams and employees, so on.

00:05:26: And I think to manage this was also a challenge for us as presidents... ...so that there were increasing governance and handling all these.

00:05:37: It's also based – we can talk about it later – but the financial base of all those.

00:05:43: But I think…it was so fast!

00:05:48: that even if I just look back now after one year, and it's as we sit down for dinner or lunch.

00:05:54: And said hey what did you do during the last twelve months?

00:05:59: So for me Christof... What makes us.. If he just looked to our target and what is not a result today?

00:06:08: so what make use satisfied on what do think should be done?

00:06:15: much more intensive

00:06:17: Like let's start with a remark.

00:06:19: It sounds so easy to say study program completely digital and the people agree, I'd say yes.

00:06:27: Then some people I see they are thinking about that And then they ask themselves or my study on a campus?

00:06:35: This was not only learning this was also getting friends Getting network working together and Also Making together party.

00:06:47: So to provide a complete digital program, the one thing are all the lectures.

00:06:53: There is good experience with massive open online courses around the world and many people use this but it's not a study.

00:07:11: So a study is to put this together, also to form teams in the students.

00:07:17: To create at least a virtual community which is very important for learning because studying and learning... For most people it's some social thing And I think our welcome weeks where we are beginning of the study programs work with the student from all the program to let them feel a team, this is the university.

00:07:49: gives them an introduction into what the professors are doing in their research work.

00:07:55: What they're doing as a teaching, they experience every week and everyday.

00:07:59: but what's it do in there research is that we are university so its not only teaching also research.

00:08:06: this for students interesting inspiring to say.

00:08:10: our professor tells me this He is two-step ahead to investigate things, what are the tools?

00:08:23: So this one thing.

00:08:24: The other thing is how to organize such a complete digital study.

00:08:32: Students can take part from anywhere in the world and do it whenever they have time or fun.

00:08:41: so also for students a schedule over the day, or with weeks which integrates this study work into their everyday life.

00:08:56: Most of our students are part-time students so they have professions that need to earn money.

00:09:03: So I was very astonished that it's going so fast.

00:09:12: the two students which will finish their study after one year.

00:09:16: This is what in Germany it's called Regelstudienzeit, this is not a typical case at universities.

00:09:24: they are in the campus university and traditional universities.

00:09:28: often students need longer to follow their programs.

00:09:33: another point how to assess results of campus university, it is an oral examination.

00:09:45: It's a closet or other things.

00:09:48: here we have to do all in online version and this was important task to explain to the accreditation agency how does work?

00:10:02: To convince them.

00:10:03: also to convince the Wissenschaftsrat to assess the knowledge and abilities of students.

00:10:15: like this can be done in a campus university.

00:10:17: This is very interesting, but it leads us a little bit into what happens.

00:10:21: if you just remember that we started with our idea then whole process was an accreditation.

00:10:30: so it was theory which wrote about thousand pages afterwards.

00:10:36: now let's see.

00:10:38: So do you think that what we just thought about the future university, the digital University and What happens now in The real life of a university live?

00:10:50: Do You think there are some difference.

00:10:52: Do you Think That We Just have to To change our Our strategy or concept In different ways?

00:10:59: I think it's the first start.

00:11:01: if we could do with students as those that really work was a result from very deep, deeply sought concept.

00:11:15: Concept which in all details described how we proceed and this way in such tasks as what you do here or there.

00:11:26: so usually when universities are started the first phase they get green light for having a rough concept then trying to implement it.

00:11:37: In our case I think this was not a rough concept.

00:11:41: It was real working from the many experience we had in our long lives and work phases, that on all the points where thinking came with proposals how to source it's digital concepts.

00:11:59: so later when you look back It was great, but in every day we think before exactly what we expected and it works.

00:12:13: And I think this is an important factor which helps to succeed with such a completely new

00:12:24: concept.".

00:12:25: But that leads us into the problem or challenge between traditional universities the higher education system, what happens.

00:12:39: And so we just thought as we started and what we discussed now is that we say our lighthouse or a blueprint also for all of other universities because very often discuss was to take care about tasks which are more task for the ministry.

00:13:02: changing the educational system in a digital transformation process is very, very high potential task.

00:13:12: But if you think what for the Digital University as we just thought about this idea before do you think that it's right direction?

00:13:22: because And if you just look to the market and through the market access, it's not easy to handle that.

00:13:29: most of the international students want take more in direction.

00:13:35: they've come from Europe or Germany.

00:13:38: Or have a presence on their study program.

00:13:42: so what do we think how can be handled for future?

00:13:46: What is difference between competition with traditional universities?

00:13:51: The concept of a digital university is in the first moment easy to understand but in the consequences, so people doubt whether this possible.

00:14:05: So we see it and I underestimated that It's not too easy to convince interested young people.

00:14:14: Not only young people.

00:14:15: interested people do the experiment of an digital study.

00:14:23: in a moment, it looks like an experiment because one cannot see that other places or things.

00:14:32: Of course many campus universities they offer also some topics on digital form.

00:14:39: but there is big difference to completely digital program.

00:14:43: so students Let's look, for example to the Global South which has an idea of getting a foreign degree.

00:14:51: Often they discuss with families and collect money and expect to come here into Germany or

00:15:01: U.S.,

00:15:03: The group of students who are financial reasons not able think about this study abroad say do not come immediately to the idea that they can study with us, which is so much cheaper than coming here.

00:15:22: To study online and having the same result... ...to getting a degree in Germany University degree MBA or master's degree from where they live?

00:15:38: So to convince them Needs time.

00:15:42: we have to show observance and so I am very happy about our first group of students because there was when We get one month before the permission no way To make marketing or other things.

00:15:55: So in that thing's, we also Our German UDS foundation Also offered some scholarships?

00:16:10: Already are active in scientific and scientific Congresses or a paper, or in the world.

00:16:20: It is so that people said I encouraged to step-in.

00:16:24: In something was nobody knows Really?

00:16:27: A special type of humans though We are proud but our it's a few number students.

00:16:33: what we can be very proud on that.

00:16:37: What we have to work hard, to explain and convince people.

00:16:41: this is the same way for getting qualified like in a campus university.

00:16:48: At the end as well on the campus University as well at The Digital University it depends from the single student From the single person To make something out to study In a way to intensively learn to manage to get a degree.

00:17:04: I think what is for me a very important point, that we just received lot of respect from the traditional universities.

00:17:12: First for this step going to private university and not for applied University of Sciences.

00:17:20: so they saw it's necessary.

00:17:22: there are someone who takes care about these things.

00:17:27: On the other side, if we just look back so one year in daily operations.

00:17:33: So what it was for me very surprising with first that you have students from even two to twenty-two different countries and on the other site I saw that which is sort of at the first beginning uh... that we just wanna have a little target groups into global south.

00:17:54: Do you think we have to change our strategy now after one year in the daily operations?

00:18:00: To be more orientated to North America, for example or Europe and so on.

00:18:07: Or what do you think is first experience with this target model in the global south?

00:18:16: I think it's too early to generalize.

00:18:19: say that would be right way.

00:18:22: if look back our marketing organization.

00:18:26: It works since three months, two and a half month.

00:18:32: And of course they have to learn what they do... ...and in which part on the world or country or continent.

00:18:42: their interest is particularly high for us to a German university, to really help them get a degree that's recognized around the world.

00:18:58: And in such things we have little bit of weight.

00:19:02: so we tried it with India and partners there as two wind students In Mexico.

00:19:12: someone has our local offices In the moment we start to becoming active in the Arabian region so, We will see what's going.

00:19:25: there are different peoples with different cultural understanding was different Expectations about costs of such a study.

00:19:35: So we need patient To do this.

00:19:41: typically it then too an academic institution to become visible in renovate needs twenty years.

00:19:50: Of course, we hope to get it in two years.

00:19:53: But I think

00:19:54: this is the challenge Christoph,

00:19:56: how?

00:19:56: One year is definitely very short.

00:19:58: What?

00:19:58: what is that the challenge for us as well?

00:20:00: you have on one side The market access and and entrance for all of different Richard's and touch at markets And not only other sides.

00:20:08: branding together brand then off course.

00:20:10: It takes time.

00:20:12: so if We just Have a look back For the first Year So we started with a clear structure of pedagogic system for producing the models.

00:20:24: Do you think that we just have some limits in the digital model, or is it on the other side after our first experience?

00:20:32: And this my opinion... We saw there was much more potential in the digital structure, in the scaling aspects and so on.

00:20:43: So what did we learn after one year producing our modules... ...and teaching experiences?

00:20:51: If you compare Campus University with our Digital University.

00:20:56: there are differences And this is clear.

00:21:01: One can provide a campus experience.

00:21:07: we can provide a kind of own way to organize the study.

00:21:17: So, we give all materials for one week in beginning weeks and then they can organize when will deal with that fact do this homework or work on project?

00:21:34: A huge advantage of such a digital university is that we can offer the single topics, the single modules independently from the study program and can invite people which need to be upscaled.

00:21:52: For example, in our study programs AI applied AI there is such a fast development.

00:21:59: new knowledge comes up old becomes obsolete.

00:22:03: And so the people can take all these single pieces of our programs for their continuing education and here I hope that companies better understand.

00:22:18: First, it's necessary to take care... ...to educate their people and hold them in the knowledge level which is up-to-date.

00:22:31: And on the other side responsible for doing this offers them the possibility of working with people.

00:22:39: It's difficult to go into a campus but taking part in digital programs is very easy.

00:22:47: So each model has its advantages and disadvantages.

00:22:51: It's not one-to-one, and this enlarges the possibilities for different types of students.

00:23:00: so For us our digital model I can imagine that many people which had difficulties in their educational past or stepped out from the university didn't finish to study And became aware during their work said it would be good to have a decree.

00:23:21: It's difficult for them to go into a compass, but to enrol with us helps him get the decree which fits in every day life family and all he needs they.

00:23:38: Let's come back to what we just discussed about one year experience of the German UDS.

00:23:45: So I think, while we did well is... We prepared a good and well-functioned system for learning platform on all our offering models.

00:23:57: What i think in next step?

00:23:59: Is it special at Germany UDS For example how do you integrate AI not only as models and a study program, so what is AI?

00:24:11: So we talked about an AI charter during the last two weeks.

00:24:15: And the second point is of course virtual campus for orientation identification... ...and at least also we just have to talk abut other charts on all this new technology or these options to integrate them in our teaching and daily teaching structures.

00:24:33: So what is, I think a most important target for us?

00:24:38: to be more and more digital also in our processes.

00:24:41: If i see what happens during one year we just had lot of administration work and building up all the things that do you think?

00:24:49: We should try to do next steps in this direction.

00:24:55: What are your perspective thinking about this direction?

00:25:01: as I think particularly for a young university that needs to find their way into this world, the academic world in research and other things we have create position offering AI study programs.

00:25:17: Offering programs at once digital reality.

00:25:21: On the other side We had professors To teach us And these professors do also research.

00:25:30: All together, all the professors try to do is use this new digital technology in their teaching work.

00:25:42: So there's a really community between students and teachers which commonly think how these new AI technologies can be used to improve learning, can be use in a right way which is the big questions and all educational institutions now.

00:26:08: How to organize examinations?

00:26:11: What are the tasks for students?

00:26:13: what need they learn or becomes obsolete because AI will take over?

00:26:20: so it's really my eyes Humboldt University with a humboldts idea of the community, students and researchers to follow common research questions.

00:26:38: To stepping in an unseen future which is where AI plays very important role.

00:26:48: And this was AI.

00:26:50: The other thing is the virtual world, the meta-worlds.

00:26:54: When we digitally cooperate how can bring in some haptic and understanding?

00:27:01: Some rooms... We have this cove project here where students and professors cooperate together to improve from simple rooms and labs into more and I expect soon to see our main building in the virtual world,

00:27:23: so that

00:27:24: students can see when we go into the German University of Digital Science.

00:27:28: then

00:27:30: Exactly,

00:27:30: of course.

00:27:31: Yeah this is I think it's very necessary because This is the different to real and only learning platform.

00:27:39: So there must be in a place where people just can have an identification worldwide.

00:27:44: And that brings me through to the next point.

00:27:46: so let's let's think about our position In the competition off all all the universities.

00:27:53: then what is our next step?

00:27:55: Do we want to Have more collaborations with international universities.

00:28:01: You just mentioned our first steps into a different kind of.

00:28:04: so what does it mean for collaboration other university?

00:28:08: So, What I think is very important that networking is more and more important than this digital world.

00:28:14: Exactly if we talk about exchange point University as the service will be just over in so on And i Think The platform idea behind That Is Very Important.

00:28:23: I think We are Just for educational platform.

00:28:28: So what do you think is the next step?

00:28:31: if you just talk about our position.

00:28:33: So I think we are not only a European university, but worldwide.

00:28:38: In the digital world there is no borders and original borders.

00:28:41: so this is an important thing because people often say that they're the first German University or the first European... There's two things what have to be discussed?

00:28:54: First of all it's our strategy thinking and platform orientation or thinking in collaboration with other universities.

00:29:03: And the second point is, uh... Thinking about new directions on business models and so-on.

00:29:09: I think it's a very important for us as a strategy of next year.

00:29:13: We have some very special offer For cooperation with other Universities.

00:29:19: we call this University as a Service for people that are a little bit familiar with the IT technologies and the cloud.

00:29:29: The cloud brought to everyone, the possibility of using computational power without having an own computer.

00:29:40: simply is the internet connection necessary to perform huge computational tasks, to store data and others.

00:29:57: So without personal infrastructure resources one can do great things.

00:30:05: University as an offer.

00:30:06: our digital programs or modules are taken by every other university.

00:30:13: For example, in a case they want to introduce an AI study program and do not have professor for AI.

00:30:21: They can offer their students our programs.

00:30:25: This is with the ECTS points or credit points.

00:30:28: universities can exchange such teaching offers.

00:30:34: This is difficult with the campus universities, they cannot do it!

00:30:37: They need to find a person that comes to the campus and presents this topic for students there.

00:30:44: here we can offer this university as service an university in India, China and Mexico also here at Potsdam.

00:30:58: This is a great thing.

00:31:01: we have to develop it so the University has to understand.

00:31:05: this.

00:31:06: helps them for example enlarge their programs by providing lectures which are on our program.

00:31:17: The other thing was aspect of the worldwide cooperation.

00:31:23: In traditional universities there is a campus, there's a region around and many focuses on this region or interaction with companies in the neighbourhoods people families and things like that.

00:31:38: In digital world for us the neighborhood as well global south is as well America, US or anywhere in the world and to experiences that one can cooperate without borders.

00:31:55: This isn't a sign of the new digital world And In the university area we are also first To provide such kind of experience and have such possibilities.

00:32:08: So in that sense our University is every time a global, with global access.

00:32:18: With students from all worlds.

00:32:20: this also provides some eventually challenges because there's different cultural background.

00:32:28: they have to cooperate together.

00:32:30: There are also foreign students at his campus university, but mainly the people from the regions there speak the same language.

00:32:40: So we have this English as a language that works around the world and in that sense is new possibilities, new challenges... I'm very happy in my age to experience

00:32:56: this.

00:32:56: Yeah, so let's summary what we just discussed, Christoph.

00:33:01: We are still motivated after the hard journey and there were many hurdles.

00:33:07: What we did discuss is also financial background which isn't easy for private university especially as a non-profit university where you have work really hard during these days.

00:33:17: And also, there were skeptical glances and technology or technical glitches in financial.

00:33:24: We just have to move about lots of hurdles during the next two years I think.

00:33:31: but at that moment when we realize what happens with all the real works... There's something emerging here is still going up which doesn't exist worldwide.

00:33:45: So, there are some other universities.

00:33:47: they're just telling us.

00:33:48: They are working online but I think we have the first online university like this in the world and... So I think the decision to found this university for us, or both of us was a right decision.

00:34:00: And if we see what happens here in the University with our new team and all the new professors so that is makes us very happy?

00:34:11: What leads us into thinking about next two years?

00:34:16: maybe some more experience one year as students who have just finished their study program.

00:34:24: So thank you all for listening to today's episode and if you have questions or would like get in touch with us, don't hesitate reach out via the German UDS website or channels.

00:34:36: Thank You very much!

00:34:37: And we are still going on.

00:34:39: See you next time.