Our Contribution to the University

Practical problems often lead to solutions that benefit the entire university. What began as an improvised video studio for COVID-19 teaching videos became a university-wide service. The e-assessment platform, developed for realistic computer science exams, is now used across faculties. The AI policy generator, originally intended for our own courses, is now also used at other universities.

Institutional Roles

Prof. Herrmann is engaged in the following roles in university governance:

• Dean of the WIAI Faculty: Since October 2025, leading the Faculty of Information Systems and Applied Computer Science with over 2000 students.
• Spokesperson of the Chief Information Office: Since 2020, coordinating the university’s digital strategy.
• Contact person for data protection issues: Advising the WIAI Faculty on GDPR-compliant processes in research and teaching.
• Member of the HISinOne Steering Committee: Supporting the implementation of the new campus management system.
• Member of the AI Round Table: Developing university-wide AI guidelines and strategies.

University Study-Start Portal (2026)

In his CIO role, Prof. Herrmann initiated and implemented the university’s new study-start portal: a shared entry point for prospective students with more than 200 pages covering over 100 degree programs, online since July 8, 2026, and operated by the communications department. The portal was built in eleven weeks with AI support – and reviewed by humans: of 2,449 feedback items from the communications department, student advisory service, registrar’s office, and departmental representatives, 83% were implemented, each change reviewed before release. The central lesson: speed needs governance – the most important tool was not the AI model but the feedback and approval loop. Whether the portal works as a marketing instrument is currently being measured in an A/B test, data-minimizing and without third-party tracking.

University-Wide Services

Three services originally developed for our own purposes are now available to the entire university:

25 Years of WIAI: Open Day (June 2026)

For the faculty’s anniversary on June 26, 2026, at the ERBA campus, our team contributed several stations:

Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bamberg

Development of AI Guidelines

Rather than blanket rules or strategies, we develop context-specific recommendations at the University of Bamberg. The first version of the recommendations on “AI in Teaching” is largely based on our chair’s experience. AI is not seen as a replacement for human thinking, but as a tool for critical reflection and learning improvement – as a means that is particularly questioned with regard to its effects on learning processes and the ability to acquire academic working skills.

AI Policy Generator

The AI Policy Generator allows instructors to choose from pre-formulated modules to develop guidelines for their courses that regulate the use of AI tools. The tool generates text that can be directly copied into course descriptions. The generator promotes critical engagement and enables concrete discussion of meaningful and appropriate ways to use AI in teaching.

CIO.Dialog Series on AI at the University of Bamberg

In a three-part event series in the summer semester of 2025, specific use cases for research, teaching and administration were discussed. We contributed with a hands-on presentation in each session and shared our experience.

Major Projects for Better Teaching

The chair played a leading role in securing two major university-wide projects to improve teaching.

DiKuLe: Developing Digital Cultures of Teaching (2021–2025)

5.4 million euros for digital teaching improvement. Results: Establishment and expansion of a video studio as a central service – exam booklets at several chairs – annual DiKuLe symposium with 100–150 participants. Prof. Herrmann was co-author of the proposal and co-project leader of the overall project.

Chair sub-projects:

• Establishment of a video studio
• Development and evaluation of the booklet incentive system

BaKuLe: Jointly Shaping Bamberg Cultures of Teaching (2025–2031)

Almost 7 million euros over a period of 6 years. Goal: Establish bottom-up approaches to create new structures for meaningful teaching at the University of Bamberg. Prof. Herrmann was co-author of the proposal and is co-project leader of the overall project.

Chair sub-projects:

• Teaching Forum – open think tank for experimental teaching concepts to overcome structural barriers
• AI-resistant assessments – new practice-oriented assessment formats beyond traditional exams in the AI era
• Feedback app – situational feedback and reflection tool to make learning processes visible

IT Security and Data Protection

Vulnerabilities in University IT Systems

Numerous IT systems are developed and operated at the university with limited resources. Occasionally we discover vulnerabilities in them. We report these to the responsible university departments and support remediation. Examples:

• 2021-12: log4j: Various university IT systems were affected. Support in identifying vulnerable systems.
• 2020-06: Moodle Learning Platform: Configuration error endangered all courses and personal data. Collaboration with IT Service for remediation.
• 2019-12: Panopto Video Platform: Camera configuration enabled unauthorized remote access to cameras. Report prevented surveillance of students and people in front of buildings.
• 2019-04: FlexNow Exam Software: Role/access controls endangered exam results. Coordinated solution with vendors and universities.

Data Protection Consulting

As contact person for data protection issues in the WIAI Faculty, we support colleagues in designing GDPR-compliant research projects and courses.

Contact and Inquiries

For inquiries about:

• Use of university-wide services (video studio, psi-exam, booklet system)
• AI initiatives and policy development
• Data protection consulting
• Collaborations in teaching and research

please contact

• Prof. Dr. Dominik Herrmann:
  • dominik.herrmann@uni-bamberg.de
  • Phone +49 951 863-2661
• Dagmar Seidler-Rieß (Secretary):
  • office.psi@uni-bamberg.de
  • Phone +49 951 863-2795