EUNIS 2024: Papers with Abstracts

Abstract. The year was 1999. Polish higher education institutions – HEIs (14 in number), with several European partner HEIs, started the Tempus JEP (New Educational Tools) project. The goal was to purchase or develop a student information system (SIS). At this time, only one Polish university had a system of this type with a central database, but it was not suitable for deployment in other HEIs. Other institutions either had separate systems in each dean's office, without a common database, or they had nothing and used Excel on an ad hoc basis. The conclusions from market recognition were not optimistic – there was no central system that could be purchased for everyone with the money available in the project. What to do?
The year is 2024. Polish HEIs (96 in number) are gathered in the University Centre for Informatization (MUCI) consortium† and develop a student information system University Study Oriented System (USOS)‡ for their use. This is a non-profit venture. The USOS system supports all study-related processes, is integrated with other domain systems at the university, and with many central systems in Poland, including systems of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (further referred to as Ministry), as well as with European networks exchanging data on student and staff mobility (EMREX§, Erasmus Without Paper – EWP**, eduGAIN††).
How did it happen that almost 100 HEIs, differing in profile, scientific category, size and form of ownership, jointly develop a tool necessary in everyday operation? This endeavor covers approximately 50% of public HEIs and 23% of all HEIs in Poland, about 67% of students of public HEIs and 47,35% of students of all HEIs in Poland (data is from December 2022, the numbers are higher in 2024), including majority of the top twenty most prestigious Polish HEIs.
The purpose of this article is to present the USOS system and the MUCI consortium, as well as the path that MUCI and USOS have taken between 1999 and 2024. I hope that readers will find inspiration in this story, both at the organizational and technical level. The history of USOS and MUCI shows that taking challenges pays off.

Abstract. Three application scenarios for AI-based tools are being analyzed to support the recognition process for university and program changes. These are 1. AI-supported structuring as an AI Module Analyzer, 2. AI-based support for the academic sector in assessing criteria for recognition as an AI Module Matcher and 3. an AI Chatbot to support students in consulting and processing of the application. Practical tests with generative AI and a combination of generative and semantic AI were conducted in several variants, which show as a proof of concept that despite all the difficulties that still exist, there is great potential for AI-based tools to make a decisive contribution to transparent and efficient recognition processes in the near future and thus to increasing permeability and mobility in the European higher education system.

Abstract. As part of the Single Digital Gateway regulation, the European Commission and the Member States of the European Union are required to implement a Once-Only Technical System for the automated exchange of evidence between competent authorities. SDG requires support for three procedures requiring exchange of educational data. This paper shows that institutions that implemented the EMREX system for student data exchange can successfully use a proof-of-concept implementation of a so-called “bridge” to connect to OOTS without any of the two systems imposing changes on the other. Deployment of a potential future production version of this bridge would greatly decrease the cost and impact of connecting to the OOTS for educational institutions that use EMREX.

Abstract. The way to provide IT services in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is undergoing transformation. In addition to locally provided services, we now see emerging new structures involving collaborative services, community cloud and commercial cloud offerings. This development cannot leave local IT unaffected. To the contrary, local IT has to develop to keep its role as a valuable provider to the local users in research, teaching, and administration. In our work, we developed structures to enable local IT to cope with these changes in demands and boundary conditions.

Abstract. Using the advantages of being a relatively small county and the existence of a central e-infrastructure institution for academia and research, Croatia fosters multiple national in- formation systems in the higher education (HE) area. This has created the sound ecosystem that has enabled the creation of first nation-wide European Student Card (ESC), among others. Student cards are frequently used daily, mainly because of the student nourish- ment system which is in place in Croatia but also for other purposes. The new student card is also available in the digital format, in a national digital wallet mobile application. However, one of the main identifying principles remains the same – the visual inspection of the student’s photograph. Therefore, it is important to ensure the quality of the future card photograph which is being submitted by the student. In this article, we present the leverage of AI method to improve the quality of those photographs. The method is based on multiple convolutional neural networks (CNNs).

Abstract. This paper presents advancements in Research Tracking Systems (RTS) of Higher Education Institutions, aimed at enhancing the efficiency and reliability of research management within higher education institutions. Building upon prior work, our focus lies on empowering the Post-Award teams with refined features tailored to streamline their processes. Leveraging a user-friendly interface design and integration of the CrossRef Application Protocol Interface (API), proposals’ external reviewers benefit from enhanced usability and reliability in their evaluations. Furthermore, Lead Project Investigators (LPIs) and Administrators now have access to financial APIs, facilitating informed decision-making regarding project budgets. Additionally, the incorporation of automated reminders for LPIs serves to improve deadline adherence and overall efficiency. These enhancements alleviate burdens on stakeholders and significantly improve the effectiveness and reliability of research management within our institution. Through ongoing refinement and evolution of the RTS, we are committed to meeting the evolving demands of research management and supporting the diverse needs of our research community.

Abstract. Technical interoperability between information systems is usually thought to be solved in a dedicated manner by linking two or more technical systems together. However, in the context of research data and services management, the interoperability challenge can and should be more broadly scoped as that of interoperability between different descriptive systems. This leads to a need for flexible mapping between sets of descriptors and their values such as we see with the practice of metadata cross- walking.
In this paper, we are presenting a Metadata Schema and Crosswalk Registry (MSCR) implementation that can play an important part in implementing interoperability. The development of the MSCR is taking place in the context of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and it aims to provide concrete solutions to information heterogeneity on semantic, structural, and syntactic levels. MSCR can be used to create a FAIR registry of schemas and crosswalks, which together provide the basis for validating and converting metadata documents in different formats.
Although the MSCR is being developed within the research data domain, applying its features to other domains, such as the exchange of educational information is straightforward. Higher education institutions (HEIs) could use the MSCR to not only better communicate the already existing work towards interoperability such as mapping documentation between standards for exchanging learning and research-related information, but also to enhance the concrete data integration infrastructure through the use of MSCR-managed schemas and crosswalks.

Abstract. The migration of IT services to a cloud infrastructure is complex - depending on the existing service landscape - and requires special awareness. Recommendations and guidelines can help, but must be adapted to the respective context. This article focuses on an example that is research-related and is distributed across institutional boundaries: the prototype of a national networked infrastructure for education currently being developed in Germany. We determine the associated expectations of various stakeholder groups regarding a migration to the cloud, compare these with the current state of the literature and contrast them with our practical experiences gained during the migration. This identifies gaps in existing recommendations that need to be addressed in the future.

Abstract. The EU regulation eIDAS 2.0 requires the implementation of an EU-wallet for every citizen with a PID cross border, QeS signing options and attestations, also for HEI/EDU purposes and applications, with SDG cross border. We consider extension approaches for security, privacy and trust at these process and infrastructure environments.

Abstract. This article considers the intricacies of data management in the context of the implementation of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education’s latest initiative: the Ludzie Nauki platform. The article’s primary objective is to underscore the importance of high-quality data. Supported and funded by the Polish government, Ludzie Nauki is linked closely with the national current research information system (CRIS). A critical aspect of this initiative is the management of the metadata associated with scientific publications, which integrates data from diverse sources to enrich the publication dataset. Business needs necessitate that the platform serve as a reliable source of information on Polish scientists, supporting scientific careers, and fostering collaboration between science and industry. Ludzie Nauki aligns with European Union data management trends, as well as adhering to FAIR principles, open science initiatives, and the Data Governance Act. It also interfaces with various CRIS systems, promoting interoperability and standardisation. The article also discusses challenges and solutions in data governance, technical implementation, and the awarding of golden records for scientific achievements, which demonstrates Ludzie Nauki’s commitment to enhancing research’s visibility and impact with robust data management practices.

Abstract. Large Language Models (LLMs) have become the hot topic in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the last few years, especially with the advent of the Generative Pretrained Transformer (GPT) models and the release of ChatGPT in November 2022. Demand from faculty members for access to such models quickly arose and proved to be hard to address in an orderly manner by central IT providers due to technical, privacy and payment constraints by the major suppliers. Additionally, specific research questions might require more control over the model and deployment. Thus, access to non-public on-premises models became desirable and became possible with open-source solutions (e.g. Llama 2 by Meta and Mixtral 8x7B by Mistral AI). Due to the large model sizes, on-premises deployments are demanding in terms of hardware and system engineering. In this paper, we present our deployment of a large language model for the University of Mu ̈nster, a service we call UniGPT. We focus on the high-level architecture, consisting of the frontend, backend, and models, and also discuss the experiences with our deployed service.

Abstract. The Norwegian Government's Skills Reform (2020) - Lifelong Learning aims to ensure continuous skill enhancement to prevent obsolescence in the workforce. A significant measure in the reform is the establishment of a digital competence ecosystem to address the societal challenge of a widening skills gap. This paper discusses the development of the ecosystem, the challenges in the current situation, the needs of the target group, and the incorporation of various registers to facilitate lifelong learning.
The ecosystem aims to provide holistic and seamless user experiences, facilitate data accessibility, and promote closer interaction between the workforce and education providers. Despite a high level of education and a rich learning environment, rapid changes in the labour market necessitate continuous knowledge updating. However, a decreasing trend in training participation, especially among individuals with low formal education, presents a challenge.
This paper discusses some central components of a platform for lifelong learning, national registries, and certain services to enable such an ecosystem: A National Education Registry, a Learner Registry and Result registries. These registers will provide comprehensive overviews of formal educational offerings, collect, and verify digital credential data, an authoritative registry for individuals in education, and provide a framework for retrieving and sharing academic results, respectively. The development and establishment of this competence ecosystem for lifelong learning is a collaborative effort involving both public and private actors.

Abstract. Initially starting with a now widely adopted but in scope quite narrowly focused sync & share cloud storage service (named sciebo.nrw) in 2015, Mu ̈nster University expanded the scope of on-premises higher education and research cloud services to Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) in 2016 with the plan for an open-source based platform for research data storage and processing using state-of-the-art cloud technology. After forming a multi- university consortium, developing a project plan, acquiring funding from the North Rhine- Westphalia (NRW) state ministry of science (MKW) and conducting the procurement, the Uni Cloud took off in 2019 and has since gained a very wide adoption amongst university researchers at the University of Mu ̈nster, with 5.5 Petabyte of user data stored. It is now a core element of the e-Science services of the university and the platform of choice for large scale research undertakings (especially in collaborative research centers) and innovative IT services (like Gitlab, GitOps, UniGPT, JupyterHub, etc...).

Abstract. wwWallet introduces an innovative approach to Verifiable Credentials management, combining the convenience of cloud-based wallets with the enhanced privacy features of edge wallets typically deployed as native mobile applications. It is an open-source, web-based platform that surpasses the limitations of mobile devices while employing a non-custodial approach for users' cryptographic key control. The decentralized Root of Trust is a pivotal feature of wwWallet's design, bolstering both the security and privacy of user data. Aligned with the current version of the European Digital Identity Architecture and Reference Framework, wwWallet adheres to evolving specifications, ensuring its sustained relevance, compliance, and interoperability in the digital identity landscape.

Abstract. This paper outlines key strategies for establishing and maintaining a Special Interest Group (SIG) that promotes professional development and knowledge sharing. It highlights the importance of a clear mission, the recruitment of passionate members, and the need for management support to enhance learning and networking. A robust communication framework and simplified administration are recommended to keep members engaged and focused on the goals of the SIG. Regular meetings, updates, and newsletters are essential for consistent member engagement. Methods for maintaining direction and fostering a collaborative environment include developing a strategic roadmap and encouraging active participation. The guide also stresses the importance of measuring the group's impact through feedback and adapting accordingly. Furthermore, encouraging collaboration and aiming to advance the field are seen as critical to the SIG's success. By following these tips, one can create a dynamic, collaborative, and impactful SIG.

Abstract. The Berlin Campuscard Alliance was involved in the EDSSI L2 project, where a technology demonstrator for an NFC-based student eCard was presented. As many HEIs in Europe start to think about transitioning to an ecard system, but facing high hurdles in the technology required, we decided to channel our very innovative Berlin Campuscard App development into a new project with the goal of offering European HEIs a solution for this problem. Our app contains several firsts and is one of the only apps currently in Europe, which can completely emulate the NFC technology used in smartcards by HEIs. This was accomplished by creating a ground-breaking solution, which to our knowledge has not been tried anywhere else, the cloud-based secure element.
This enables a host-card emulation with integrated security, without using the local secure-element of the device, which, because of the lack of standardization, would make testing of the app very problematic. Our solution solves this by moving this component to the server side, thereby standardizing it and making testing of the devices more manageable.
This technology in conjunction with the results of the EDSSI L2 project is the basis for the creation of a common solution for a European student eCard, which will offer students the seamless user experience when travelling from one HEI to another.

Abstract. The digital journey of higher education institutions is challenging. This community of practice paper summarises the main reasons for this. As a result, it not only suggests the adoption of enterprise methodologies but also explains how to do so. As many institutions are struggling to establish these methodologies and models, a set of comprehensive guidelines are compiled and motivated from the literature. General advice on how to establish new methodologies (e.g. getting management support) is left aside as it seems to be well-known and often repeated in the community. This paper addresses the specific challenges of implementing and sustaining enterprise architecture, with a primary focus set on Germany, as a driver and fundamental method for digital change in higher education.

Abstract. CIOs of higher education institutions need appropriate IT management tools for gaining digital transformation. Enterprise architecture is a suitable method for managing digital transformation. However, the EA frameworks are complex tools for use, and they need architecture expertise and time to adapt them to achieve their full benefits. This compare case study describes how the Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences CIO forum is utilizing the selected Higher education reference model (HERM) and Business technology (BT) standard and their capability models. An ethnographic approach has enriched this study – the author has used his experiences using the BT standard as an IT secretary general of the CIO forum. In contrast to several EA method and framework studies, there is much less information about the effects of BT standard or HERM on IT management. The study includes some propositions for practitioners to use the capability models in information and knowledge management in the HEI sector and recognize research gaps for future research.

Abstract. The annual ZKI top trends survey for 2024 had a focus on Digital Sovereignty (DS) and asked about the views on aspects of DS, Open-Source-Software, Clouds, Collaboration Structures and Security. This article illustrates the survey results and discusses key issues and outcomes.

Abstract. Education is a fundamental component of universities and is linked with the non-trivial possibly time-consuming task of creating suitable timetables for teaching. The correspond- ing problem is known as Curriculum-Based Course Timetabling, which takes into account various constraints while seeking a conflict-free timetable. We addressed this problem by following a knowledge representation and reasoning approach, describing constraints and feasible assignments of courses to time slots. Possible assignments are gathered through a prototypical web interface, and the corresponding constraints are respected by automat- ically finding a timetable using an AI. We discuss the resolved redundancies, time saved and potential future benefits when comparing the traditional and new approach regarding the needs of teachers, students and administration at the University of Potsdam.

Abstract. Higher education institutions (HEIs) face challenges in adopting digital practices. Neither newly founded nor existing institutions can yet be considered digitally transformed. One important reason for this is the lack of experts which are capable of driving digital transformation (Dx). This shortage of skilled labour for Dx is not only visible in HEIs but throughout society. The solution to this shortage may lie in providing qualified teaching of Dx at the university level in a highly digitised ecosystem that applies Dx to itself. Experiencing digital transformation in problem-based learning scenarios can facilitate a deeper understanding of the methods involved. Breaking up academic programmes into smaller learning units may facilitate lifelong learning and professional development, particularly for experienced individuals. This paper presents the organisational, educational, and scientific perspective of the Digital University (DU) as a mature digital ecosystem which implements this vision for society. The highly interrelated principles between the core functions of the DU enable optimal growth as well as financial and environmental sustainability. The paper discusses bootstrapping new institutions as well as transforming existing universities into this digital ecosystem. In consequence, this paper envisions the DU as a realistic future scenario, which might develop a disruptive power enabling Dx for all HEIs in the long run.

Abstract. This article presents a process-oriented way to develop long-term retention of research data as a university-level service. In addition to the processes, the article examines the service management model, in which several university units participate. In addition, a straightforward technical solution is presented, which offers service development both horizontally and vertically in the future.

Abstract. To address the technological, semantical, organisational and legal challenges that currently disrupt a seamless digital teaching and learning experience in Higher Education institutions (HEIs) in Europe, incentivised through the European Commission and embedded in the European Digital Education Hub (EDEH), HE experts have come together in a community of practice to jointly develop an interoperability framework for European University Alliances (EU-A). Access to and participation in manifold digital learning opportunities is a key element of the “Virtual Campus” that is currently under development at each EU-A. The paper has four parts. Firstly, the scene will be set to shed light on interoperability challenges at EU-A. Secondly, the collaborative development approach is explained to underline the importance of an iterative methodology with a high level of community engagement that ideally develops into a sustainable community of practice. Thirdly, a view into the architects’ office illustrates the status quo of the framework development and gives an outlook on the steps to be taken until the end of the project. Finally, lessons learned are reflecting on the so far achievements and practical hurdles that need to be overcome.

Abstract. This paper sheds light on integrating LoRaWAN technology—a Long-Range and Low- Power, wide-area networking protocol—within the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) to create a sustainable, energy-efficient, secure European multi-campus university ecosystem. The AUTh project advances asset management and surveillance practices through the IoT with LoRaWAN. This research articulates the project's lifecycle from design to operation, highlighting energy and cost savings alongside enhanced coverage. It emphasizes the system's scalability, with plans to extend the network across five campuses. AUTh showcases the substantial impact and positive outcomes such as increased safety, improved resource management, and alignment with European intelligent and eco-green standards for all HEIs. On the other hand, this case study provides detailed insights into the challenges, solutions, and best practices encountered, serving as a blueprint for educational institutions seeking to employ IoT technologies for enhanced asset management, security, and efficiency. Lastly, this study highlights the transformative impact of the project and, generally, LoRa technology in creating a connected, intelligent educational environment, setting a new standard for IoT applications in Higher Education inside and outside of Europe.

Abstract. Value creation and its transformation is one of the organisational elements required for successful digital transformation.
This paper provides an overview of value and value co-creation. It also shows how value creation can be seen in IT services in higher education and how it is part of the service lifecycle at Tampere University. It describes how service design methods have been used to capture customer insight and co-create value, and to validate the value of existing services in a collaborative environment with customers.
The presentation also shows how the method of learning by doing can be used as a tool to increase the organisation's ability to use the joint sphere for validating and co- creating value in the services and to increase the ability for continuous improvement.

Abstract. The rapidly evolving landscape of Higher Education and the increased demands of our digital society make it imperative for Higher Education Institutions to adopt mechanisms for assessing their Digital Readiness levels. Towards this direction, within the DigiReady+ project, a data-driven framework for the measurement of Digital Readiness in Higher Education has been proposed. In this paper, we present the UDReady platform, an information system that is based on the proposed framework and allows Higher Education Institutions to assess their Digital Readiness based on data available from their heterogeneous information systems.

Abstract. This study sheds light on HEIs in Europe, focusing on visionary leadership amid the ever- changing digital transformation. The research first sheds light on the trends, challenges, and opportunities in the digital environment and then delves into the strategic stages for digital innovation while addressing barriers such as the digital divide, cyber security, and regulatory complexities. It emphasizes effective data governance and management, supporting clean, timely, and accurate data alongside accurate execution of processes. This integrated approach combines data integrity with procedural consistency, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency. Finally, it is worth emphasizing that this research's results, approaches, and proposed actions are entirely consistent with the European Union's strategy for digital education, which aims to create inclusive and innovative learning environments that are prepared for the Future.

Abstract. In the digital era, European University Alliances like "Unite!" work to reshape tertiary education by bridging nine prominent universities to champion regional integration, technology transfer, and quality science and engineering education. This paper delineates the methodologies used to harmonize varied IT infrastructures visualizations and descriptions across partner institutions, fostering knowledge sharing and facilitating standardized IT landscape comparisons. The absence of a general universal approach in representing teaching-related IT systems in higher education propelled the development of a unique, synchronized representation methodology. The paper offers a look at TU Graz's digital infrastructure as an illustrative example. Through iterative collaboration, the alliance will develop a comprehensive IT infrastructure report, aiming to serve as a valuable blueprint for other educational entities.

Abstract. FAIR Digital Objects (FDO) are a concept to transfer digital objects to the world of the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Re-Usable) that form a common baseline for the handling of research data. Combined with an enterprise-ready cloud storage system, FDOs can be used to make these systems fit for purpose in the research data management (RDM) context. This allows profiting from scalability by connecting data spaces concepts defined in Gaia-x. The presented concepts are implemented based on a shared, geo-redundant storage system and within the research data management platform Coscine that is made available to researchers in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Abstract. This paper is dedicated to the vital role of Acceleration Services in fostering the digital transformation of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Institutional transformation is pivotal for promoting innovation, elevating research and teaching quality, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhancing the societal impact of HEIs. Through a focused case study, we shed light on the implementation and impact of acceleration services within an HEI, specifically the A University Partnership for Acceleration of European Universities (aUPaEU) project. A comprehensive analysis of this case study, with a focus on university networks for innovation and technology (Unite!) Agora serves as a testament to the success and outcomes of Agora acceleration services in driving institutional transformation within the aUPaEU initiative. Agora is a shared platform for collaboration that offers a multitude of acceleration services to help HEIs connect, share knowledge, and create new solutions. Also, to create methodologies, sustainability plans, coaching services, and tangible digital technologies, using an acceleration agora to achieve integrated, shared, and long-term R&I transformations through collaborative efforts.

Abstract. This article discusses the importance of scalability in e-learning platforms, using the Polish NAVOICA platform as a case study. Scalability adapts a platform’s infrastructure to increasing numbers of users and courses. NAVOICA relies on container technologies, orchestration, microservice architecture, and cloud computing, which ensure its flexibility and security. This positions NAVOICA strongly to address the challenges of modern online education, such as the rising popularity of massive open online courses (MOOCs), expanding user bases, and the increasingly widening array of courses.

Abstract. This study presents a novel approach by investigating the efficacy of an artificial intelligence (AI) -aided tool, Annif, in generating course-specific keywords for university courses. With the increasing number of university courses, there is a need for an effective method to assist students in navigating and selecting courses based on their interests and job market compatibility. The traditional manual keyword approach, while accurate, can be laborious and time-consuming. AI has the potential to automate this process, but it is crucial for teachers to validate the results to ensure accuracy. This study seeks to explore the potential of AI in this context, addressing two key questions: the ability of AI-generated keywords to establish course connections and the reactions of teachers to the use of AI in keyword generation. The results reveal that the AI tool can provide accurate keywords for about 64% of the courses. While teachers found this approach useful, the study highlights the need for teacher validation to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the AI-generated data. Therefore, while AI can significantly contribute to keyword generation, human intervention is still indispensable to maintain its quality in the academic context.

Abstract. The Information Technology (IT) Center of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), in the context of the digital transformation of education, developed a studio to produce quality learning multimedia material. With the appropriate creation of multimedia resources, learning can be facilitated whether it is face-to-face, online, or even hybrid education. This paper deals with the construction of an educational studio as well as the creation of a new service to produce added-value multimedia material for the academic community of AUTh. The studio serves a dual purpose:
Creating high-quality, learner-centered audiovisual educational materials ensures students receive engaging and comprehensive content tailored to their learning needs. Supporting a wide range of university activities. This includes interviews, promotional videos, events, conferences, and more. By capturing and sharing these activities, the studio strengthens the university's outward engagement and visibility.
This transformative project stands as a testament to the IT Center's strategic foresight in adapting to the evolving educational landscape, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.