Generative AI is fundamentally changing university studies – opening up new opportunities, but also new challenges. The aim of this initiative is to support our students with a diverse range of workshops, self-study formats, and networking activities, enabling them to use AI competently, critically, and responsibly in their studies.
Student Life Cycle: Starting studies, specialization phase and final exam
Target group: Prospective students, current students, lecturers and staff at universities
University: Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
How does generative artificial intelligence change studying, and how can universities effectively support students in this process? The Learning Support unit of the Teaching and Learning Center has taken these questions as its starting point to develop a constantly expanding range of services that combine orientation, skills development, and critical engagement.
The starting point is an information section in the campUAS course room of StudyCompass. Students can find information there about the AI tools offered by Frankfurt UAS and the university's AI fundamentals course. We also provide links to helpful university and external learning resources and materials. Given the rapid development of generative AI applications, this information section is continuously updated and expanded.
In the winter semester of 2025/26, a basic workshop, "Using AI in Studies," was developed and successfully conducted several times. It imparts fundamental theoretical and practical knowledge of generative AI, thus introducing students to key AI competencies. In the workshop, we also encourage students to reflect on geopolitical and socio-ecological challenges so that they can use generative AI responsibly in their studies. A compact, short format is available for courses upon request, which can also have a specific thematic focus depending on requirements.
The "TalkBar" event series, organized by the Self-Learning Center, regularly offers online sessions throughout the semester for all university members, focusing on key lifelong learning skills. An important component of the series is the presentations on generative AI and AI literacy, which promote a competent and reflective approach to AI in studies and work.
Another key project is already underway: a digital self-study course on academic writing, developed in collaboration with colleagues from various departments. Generative AI will be integrated as a consistent perspective throughout the entire course. For students, academic writing and the competent use of AI tools have become intrinsically linked, despite all the legitimate questions this technology raises.
The Learning Support team continuously expands its knowledge on topics related to generative AI through internal and external training and actively exchanges information within the department, with the academic divisions, and with other universities, institutions, and networks. This networking directly informs the further development of existing services and provides impetus for new formats. In addition, two training programs for tutors regarding the use of AI were developed and implemented online in collaboration with four universities within the Hessian tutoring network.
In the medium term, we plan to develop an advanced AI workshop as well as individual thematic formats, e.g. a prompt workshop, a workshop on the socio-critical classification of generative AI or an exercise on the detection of manipulative and misleading AI-generated content (e.g. deepfakes, “AI slop”).
Natascha Hempel | natascha.hempel@fra-uas.de
Tel.: +49 69 1533-3217
