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Free access to AI tools: This is how students in NRW benefit!
Access to modern AI applications at the FernUniversität Hagen supports students in a data protection-compliant and free of charge manner.
Free access to AI tools: This is how students in NRW benefit!
With the KI:Connect.NRW portal, the FernUniversität in Hagen has created free, data protection-compliant access to artificial intelligence (AI) for its students. The initiative enables learners to use modern open source tools, including the powerful Llama (Large Language Model Meta AI), version 3.3 of which has been available since April 18, 2024. This initiative is part of a larger project funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and coordinated by RWTH Aachen. The aim of the project is to provide all public universities in North Rhine-Westphalia with central access to generative AI services.
Together with the diverse applications of generative AI, the FernUniversität offers its students valuable support during their studies. Possible uses include creating and summarizing texts, structuring and analyzing scientific content, and developing creative ideas for projects. The AI tools offer particularly practical benefits in targeted learning and research, where users can generate sample data. This multifaceted support enables students to significantly expand their personal AI skills.
Advantages of access to KI:Connect.NRW
FernUniversität students have free access to modern AI tools via their personal FernUni account. Access is via a user-friendly web-based interface that ensures data protection as requests are processed anonymously via European servers. Personal data is not required for use, which provides additional protection for students. Unlike many other projects, the use of content for AI training purposes is strictly excluded. This speaks for the high level of data protection responsibility that the project pursues.
In addition to the available tools, students can take the “Learning with AI” course to explore the diverse uses of AI in their studies. This represents a valuable addition to general higher education and lowers the inhibition threshold for the use of new technologies in everyday academic life.
However, the integration of AI into higher education is not only limited to the distance learning university. How on kiconnect.pages.rwth-aachen.de described, universities nationwide gain access to commercial AI services that are efficient and cost-effective. Such technical services include the provision, procurement, operation and further development of AI systems that are accessible via a uniform programming interface for research projects and software services. These measures support educational institutions in further increasing the use of AI and providing a high-quality, individualized knowledge base.
Promoting AI initiatives in higher education
The use of artificial intelligence in higher education is promoted nationwide through various programs. Since the end of 2021, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has launched initiatives to promote the use of intelligent systems in training. As part of the federal-state initiative “Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education”, projects are supported that deal with the development of innovative study programs and learning support systems.
Bildungsserver also reported on the importance of targeted funding in order to sustainably establish key technologies such as AI in the university system. The AI Campus offers a learning platform funded by the BMBF that further spreads knowledge about AI through online courses, videos and podcasts and supports the training of students in this promising area. Other initiatives such as the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence (hessian.AI) also promote the development of practical solutions in AI research and training.
In view of the rapidly advancing digitalization in studies and teaching, the benefits of AI continue to be discussed. Studies on the impact of chatbots, including the widely used application ChatGPT, demonstrate both the potential and challenges associated with individualized communication and privacy concerns. The BMBF's AI action plan, published on November 7, 2023, focuses on further developing the necessary skills and infrastructure.
In summary, it can be said that access to AI services via KI:Connect.NRW not only represents support for FernUniversität students, but is also in the context of a broader digital transformation in the education sector. The promotion and integration of artificial intelligence into academic training is a central pillar for the future of higher education.