Rothlauf: Pushing forward the digitalization of the University of Mainz in a new term of office!

Rothlauf: Pushing forward the digitalization of the University of Mainz in a new term of office!

Today, on June 20, 2025, it was announced that the Senate of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) supports the Executive Board's proposal to appoint Prof. Dr. Franz Rothlauf to be appointed for a fourth term as Chief Information Officer (CIO). This new term will run from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2028. In his role as CIO, Rothlauf exerts significant influence on the development and use of information and communication systems at JGU.

The President of JGU, Prof. Dr. Georg Krausch, praised Rothlauf for his achievements in the IT sector, especially in student administration and research management. Since taking office in 2016, he has been actively shaping the university's digitalization and is responsible for the selection and introduction of new technologies.

Strategic measures for digitalization

In the coming term, Rothlauf plans to focus even more on automating processes. The aim is to design these as self-service systems for employees and students. This is in line with the current challenges and opportunities of digitalization affecting universities worldwide. According to the University Forum on Digitalization, universities must respond strategically and politically to the changes that digital transformation brings with it in order to meet the increased requirements.

Franz Rothlauf, born in 1971, studied electrical engineering at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and graduated in 1997. After completing his doctorate in business informatics at the University of Bayreuth in 2001 and his habilitation at the University of Mannheim in 2007, Rothlauf has been working as a professor of business administration and business informatics at JGU since 2007. With over 90 specialist articles and several published conference reports, he brings a wealth of experience.

The Role of the CIO and the Challenges of Higher Education

The CIO has voting rights to participate in all meetings of the Presidium and can suggest topics from his area of ​​responsibility for the agenda. In particular, the effects of digitalization on higher education are complex. It not only affects teaching, but also the understanding of roles and organizational structures at universities. Challenges such as increasing student numbers and high dropout rates require innovative approaches.

The University Forum on Digitalization shows that digital transformation represents a challenge that involves both risks and opportunities. Universities have to deal with the new legal framework and the increased demand for skilled workers. Rothlauf is aware of these challenges and aims to position JGU as a pioneer in digital higher education.

Overall, the reappointment of Prof. Dr. Franz Rothlauf is a decisive step for JGU in a phase in which the answers to the digitalization of higher education are at the forefront. The coming years promise to be exciting as Rothlauf and the Executive Board work to further expand the digital infrastructure and actively shape change.

Further information can be found at University of Mainz Press, JGU administration and University Forum for Digitalization.