Dear learning community,
This newsletter offers a colourful mix of offerings: from a night of coding to an AI webinar. And, of course, insights into the openHPI change process.

openHPI Insights

What’s actually going to happen to all the courses on openHPI following the relaunch? Arya, our student intern, answers this question for you.

How are you currently supporting openHPI in the change process?

"At the moment, I’m reviewing and assessing all 176 public courses on the platform. Courses that are a bit older and less relevant to the new target audience will be moved to the archive section in the future.
But don’t panic! No course will be deleted, and all your favorites will still be there. Our long history will be preserved. So, if you can’t find your favorite course straight away after the relaunch, don’t worry: just have a look in the archive section."

What do you focus on in particular when selecting courses?
"The evaluation is based on many different criteria. I pay particular attention to the relevance of the content, the functionality of individual course elements, the quality of the learning materials and the popularity of a course. After all, what was true yesterday may already be out of date tomorrow. That’s why, as the next step, we’ll also be specifically adding to or correcting content in some courses to provide you with the very latest and best content."

And finally: What are you most looking forward to about the new platform?
"I’m delighted that openHPI is focusing on computer science education for school students. With the relaunch, we’re creating a new structure that provides a clear insight into the world of IT and digital technology.

The focus is on the key basic skills required for a Computer Science degree, which makes it easier to get started later on. Furthermore, following the relaunch, there will be much more emphasis on exciting topics such as AI, data science and big data. Without this knowledge, it’s almost impossible to keep up these days. Thanks to openHPI, you can fill these gaps in your knowledge and familiarize yourselves with the most exciting topics in the world of computer science at your own pace!"

For school students

HPI Code Night: A night of programming

On November 27th, school students aged 16 and over with a passion for IT can take part in the HPI Code Night. Working in teams, you’ll develop software projects, receive support from HPI students and get to explore the world of software development. Places are limited to 30 participants!
More information and application here: https://hpi.de/studium/hpi-schuelerakademie/code-night/

Reminder: Apply now for the Digitalkolleg

Want to delve deeper into computer science? At the Digitalkolleg, you’ll explore topics such as Python, web design, game design and AI – online, free of charge and from Year 7 onwards.
The application deadline is September 15th.
Register here: https://hpi.de/studium/hpi-schuelerakademie/digitalkolleg/

Further HPI programs

Co-Agency Design: Consciously shaping collaboration with AI

AI is taking on more and more tasks and transforming the way we think, make decisions and innovate.

The white paper "Co-Agency Design" addresses this: when should AI support, contribute ideas or take over, and when should we remain in the lead?
Two free webinars tackle these questions in a practical way.
Not everything needs an AI agent

• When to hand over – and when to stay in the driver’s seat.
  Go to the webinar: https://snipki.de/mensch-vs-ki-agent-webinar/

Co-Agency Design: Who should take the lead here?

• How we consciously shape innovation work with AI.
  Go to the webinar: https://hpi.de/d-school/event/co-agency-design-wer-sollte-hier-fuehren/

New at HPI: Certificate program on digital transformation in healthcare

Starting on October 6th, HPI Lifelong Learning is offering the CAS Digital Health Management, a new part-time certificate program focusing on digital transformation in healthcare. Further information on the program and dates are available on the HPI Lifelong Learning website.
Learn more here: https://hpi.de/lifelong-learning/?utm_source=newsletterl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=openhpi

Recommendation

How can new ideas strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty?

Four days, 50 students from 25 European universities and this central question! At the European Impact Sprint in August, international teams developed approaches at HPI centered on open source, data protection, technological dependencies and AI expertise.
Find out more here: https://hpi.de/en/four-days-of-the-european-impact-sprint-shaping-europes-digital-sovereignty/

We look forward to seeing you!
Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

Summer brings new insights into the openHPI change process: this time, things are getting more technical again. You’ll also find out more about the Digitalkolleg for school students interested in IT and an exciting HPI research project where AI meets bioinformatics.

openHPI Insights

Whilst the last newsletter focused more on content, this edition takes a more technical turn: in today's Insights, we’d like to introduce you to Christoph. He is a software engineer at HPI, responsible for the technical management of the redesign project and works on the further development and maintenance of the openHPI front end, as well as the full-stack implementation of new features. By the way, he joined HPI himself through an openHPI course.

You know the old openHPI system very well and have been involved with the platform for a long time. Was there a moment during the redesign when your experience with openHPI proved particularly helpful?
“When you’ve been involved with a platform for several years, you eventually come to know not only the code but also many technical details and edge cases. This knowledge proved helpful in many areas during the redesign, such as in further development, to ensure new features could be integrated smoothly into the rest of the platform. At the same time, we constantly have to assess which technical solutions that have evolved over time still make sense today.”

What challenges arise on the front end when a legacy platform is modernized without users experiencing any disruption to their day-to-day use?
“The front end is an area of software development that has evolved particularly rapidly over recent years. As such, we have replaced old frameworks with new ones. In doing so, we select technologies that are easier to maintain in the long term and meet today’s requirements for reliability and security. We’re also placing even greater emphasis on component-based development and using modern build tools.

The point is: modernization like this doesn’t happen overnight; old and new technologies must function in parallel over an extended period. Our users should, as far as possible, be unaware of the technical overhaul whilst parts are gradually being replaced in the background.”

What are you most looking forward to with the new platform?

“We’re currently laying a better technical foundation for the future of openHPI. The overhaul will enable us to respond more quickly and effectively to our users’ needs with new features in the future. What I’m most looking forward to, however, are the new video formats and the more interactive course content. I take courses on openHPI myself from time to time, so as a user I’m also excited about the new possibilities.”

Events

Shaping the Digital Future

Is the IT you’re taught at school not enough for you, and do you want to delve deeper into computer science topics? Then the Digitalkolleg is just the thing for you. In study groups, you’ll explore topics such as Python, web-design, game-design and AI. Applications are open until 15th September.

• Location: Digital
• School level: From Year 7 onwards
• Scope: a total of 10 learning units, each 90 minutes long
• When: in the afternoons after school
• Duration: 5 months
• Cost: free

Apply here: https://hpi.de/studium/hpi-schuelerakademie/digitalkolleg/

Recommendation

HPI research solves a well-known problem in bioinformatics

How reliable are AI agents at retrieving biological data when the databases themselves were not designed for AI? This is precisely the question that HPI PhD student Ferdous Nasri is investigating in her research. Together with her team, she has developed a solution to a well-known problem in bioinformatics that is attracting global attention. Find out more in the article.
Click here for the article: https://hpi.de/en/article/ferdous-nasri-solves-a-well-known-problem-in-bioinformatics/

We look forward to seeing you!
Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

In this newsletter, get to know our online lecturer, Paulina. You’ll also learn more about scholarship opportunities for your studies at HPI.

openHPI Insights

Some of you may already know Paulina from our Advent calendar or have met her in person at the Bachelor’s Information Day at HPI or the Potsdamer Tag der Wissenschaften. As an online lecturer, she develops new offers for openHPI, bringing her ideas, experience, and enthusiasm for digital education to the table.

What are the highlights of the new openHPI course formats?
"We’re modernizing openHPI and testing new formats and new types of interactivity to make learning on openHPI even more effective and fun. This is exciting for us and our community."

In your opinion, which digital skills will be particularly important in the future, and what individual benefits do they offer?
"We need to understand the risks in order to protect ourselves! Digital literacy means understanding current developments. Today, we do everything online: socializing, shopping, handling administrative tasks, consuming media, and so on. But do we actually know what we’re using? And the dangers that come with being uninformed. Also, on a societal and economic level, there are more and more digital attacks on companies, institutions and governments. Basic knowledge of cybersecurity can protect us and help us to better understand such events."

And finally: What are you most looking forward to with the new platform?

*"Over the past few months, we’ve had many exchanges with our young community and incorporated your input into the development of our new offerings. Our goal is to share our knowledge with you and create offers that you’ll enjoy and find helpful. I look forward to reading your feedback."
*

Information for future students

Getting Started Support for Future HPI Students

For the 2026/27 winter semester, the Hasso-Plattner-Institute is awarding the HPI Bachelor Starting Fund, a scholarship for applicants to the Bachelor’s program in IT Systems Engineering. The application deadline is July 15th.
More info and application: https://hpi.de/studium/dein-studium-am-hpi/studieren-mit-stipendium/

We look forward to seeing you
Your openHPI Team

Dear learning community,
we’re letting you take another look behind the scenes of the openHPI change process. This time, we’re looking at how a complex project involving many stakeholders is coordinated. We’re also highlighting two HPI offers that let aspiring young IT enthusiasts experience computer science in a practical way.

openHPI Insights

Projects can quickly become complex, especially when many people and teams are working together. Therefore, we would like to introduce you to Sandra in this issue: she is responsible for project coordination in our change process and ensures that everything runs smoothly.

What helps you keep track of things and set priorities in a project with many stakeholders and interdependencies?
“The more complex a project, the more important it is to have a structure that everyone can use for guidance. I bring the methodology — the teams have the knowledge. Interdependencies become clear as I get a picture from all sides. This picture is dynamic. Priorities emerge through consultation with the teams: questioning how much effort is realistic, whether the go-live date is feasible or the scope needs adjusting and then enabling the decision-makers to prioritise effectively.”

What makes working with openHPI special?
“What makes openHPI special is the team’s attitude: everyone is highly motivated, contributes ideas and wants to drive the project forward — they’re very open-minded and solution-oriented. I really enjoy this dynamic. And it means a lot to me to be working on such an important project: I have a background in business informatics myself and attended a basic computer science course back at school. It's great that young people are being given free access to this kind of education.”

You can find out more about Sandra here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-weber-solutions/

Events

HPI Insight-Sessions

An opportunity for Abitur graduates looking for more than just standard university orientation: the HPI Insight-Sessions offer genuine academic input, challenging questions and a realistic insight into studying computer science at HPI. At the next session, Prof. Niclas Böhmer will speak on „Die Qual der Wahl: Algorithmen für Präferenzaggregation“.
When: 9th June, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: Online
Click here to register: https://hpi.de/hpi-insight-sessions/

From AI to game design: The HPI Digitalkolleg

At the Digitalkolleg, school students interested in IT from Year 7 onwards can help shape the digital future. From autumn onwards, you’ll explore various IT topics – from AI to web development and game design. Supported by computer science students, you’ll work on your own ideas through theory sessions and group work to discover what’s possible with IT.
Location: Digital
When: afternoons
Duration: 5 months
Cost: free
Find out more here: https://hpi.de/studium/hpi-schuelerakademie/digitalkolleg/

Impulse Session: Design Thinking in education

On June 24th from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., the free online workshop hosted by the HPI d-School will show how design thinking can transform teaching: moving away from the mere transfer of knowledge toward active learning support. This offer is suitable for both university professors and school teachers.
Learn more: https://hpi.de/en/d-school/event/design-thinking-in-education/
Register here: https://hpi.de/d-school/registrierung/impulse-session-design-thinking-in/

We look forward to seeing you
Your openHPI team

Dear Learning Community,

In this newsletter, we’d like to introduce you to another person involved in the change process, show you some exciting HPI events in June and share a read recommendation on digital technologies in the healthcare sector.

openHPI Insights

How to Manage Change

Of course, rebuilding a platform would be unthinkable without a development team.
That’s why we’d like to introduce you to Katja: She leads the HPI’s software development team, which is currently focused primarily on implementing and optimizing openHPI, and speaks on behalf of her team to provide insight into the technical aspects of the change process.

As a development team, how do you organize the technical aspects of the change process while the platform continues to run?

“We rely on continuous integration. This means we develop the platform in iterative stages. This way, both the backend and the frontend are adapted step by step.”

What are the biggest challenges right now in the platform’s redesign, and how are you handling them?
“For me, the biggest challenge is finding the best possible options to ensure greater platform stability while minimizing future maintenance work. I hope this will allow the development team to focus even more on implementing exciting features in the future.”

And finally: What are you most looking forward to with the new platform?

“I look forward to every small success we can celebrate as a team together with our users. Whether it’s a new feature, a new course, an improved UX, or faster loading times.”

Events

Bachelor’s Information Day 2026 – Experience HPI Up Close

On June 12th, you’ll not only get answers to whether the computer science program IT Systems Engineering (B.Sc.) is right for you, but you’ll also actively experience the HPI campus at Griebnitzsee in Potsdam. This year’s program follows the “Discover, Understand, Connect” approach and guides you step by step through HPI. Of course, it’s free of charge.

Register here and learn more: https://hpi.de/studium/warum-am-hpi-studieren/hochschulinformationstag/

Potsdam Conference on National Cybersecurity 2026

On June 24th and 25th, the Potsdam Conference on National Cybersecurity will take place under the title “WHAT NOW? Reshaping Cybersecurity in Times of Global Upheaval”. The focus is on the question of what concrete steps Germany and Europe must take now to effectively strengthen cybersecurity, resilience, and digital sovereignty. Join the discussion: pragmatically, responsibly, and with a focus on what is achievable.

Secure your ticket here: https://hpi.de/potsdamer-konferenz-fuer-nationale-cybersicherheit/

Recommendation

Understanding Diabetes: Learning Through Personal Experience

How can digital technologies make everyday life easier for people with diabetes? HPI master’s students explored this question during an intensive seminar week. Using CGM sensors, they collected their own real-time data, analyzed glucose trends, and developed digital solutions with real-world relevance. The article offers fascinating insights into the seminar, personal experiences and the students’ ideas.

Click here for the article: https://hpi.de/diabetes-verstehen-eine-woche-cgm-selbstexperiment-am-hpi/

Discover more exciting insights into the HPI universe here: https://hpi.de/

We look forward to seeing you
Your openHPI Team

Dear Learning Community,

What’s happening at openHPI right now? We’re giving you a look behind the scenes, showing you who’s driving the change, and inviting you to events and new offers.

openHPI Insights

How to Manage Change

In this and upcoming newsletters, we’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look at openHPI. We’ll focus on the rebuild and expansion of our platform and, above all, on the people behind it.
We ask: How do you approach such a change process? What challenges do you face? And what are you most looking forward to?
Our platform and course manager Ipsita kicks off the series. She knows the platform like no one else. You may even have seen her name on your certificates. A central part of her work: keeping an eye on the platform’s performance, helping to develop new features, prioritizing them, and help implementing them.

You’ve known openHPI inside and out for many years. What was the biggest challenge for you when it became clear that the platform was going to change?
"The biggest challenge for me was to re-understand and redefine the needs of our community without losing sight of the existing community. At the same time, we wanted to consistently develop the platform’s new focus. This balancing act between the tried and tested and the new isn’t always easy.
An important lesson learned: Change is necessary if you want to keep evolving. To be future-proof, you need a clear vision."

And finally: What are you most excited about with the new platform?
"I’m especially looking forward to the new content and formats. It will be exciting to see how future generations learn with openHPI. At the same time, I’m looking forward to taking our existing users along on this journey."

Events

Meet openHPI at Potsdamer Tag der Wissenschaften

On May 9th, the Potsdamer Tag der Wissenschaften will take place for the 13th time, and you can meet us there. Look forward to exciting puzzles, programming a robot, and of course our duck. You’ll find us on the Potsdam University campus in Golm, in Building 18 (IKMZ), in the central foyer.
More info: https://potsdamertagderwissenschaften.de/

Apply by April 30th! Secure the last spots in the HPI Schülerkolleg

A year of computer science that really takes you further: In the HPI Schülerkolleg, you’ll work on real IT projects and learn programming, AI, and much more. Every two weeks, you’ll meet in the afternoon on our campus with other tech-enthusiastic teens and be guided by faculty and students.
Apply now: https://hpi.de/schuelerkolleg/

Master’s programs at HPI: Apply now!

You can apply for our two master’s programs until June 1st.
In the M.Sc. Computer Science, you’ll delve into core IT disciplines such as Software Systems, Data & AI, Cyber Security, and Algorithms.

The M.Sc. in Digital Health combines computer science and medicine, opening up opportunities for you to work on innovative solutions in the healthcare sector.

Both programs are highly ranked internationally and offer excellent career prospects.

We look forward to seeing you

Your openHPI Team

Dear learning community,

We would like to give you further insights into our ongoing development. In addition, the application phases for programmes such as the HPI Summer Camp for school pupils and the d-school, which focuses on design thinking and the reflective use of AI, are currently underway. It is worth taking a look and getting involved.

openHPI Insights

Our duck is no longer standing on the sidelines watching. It has put on its hard hat. After all, if openHPI is also to become more inclusive for students and schools, a fresh coat of paint is not enough. A genuine transformation is required. So we are planning, tinkering and rethinking. Rooms are being redesigned, pathways clarified, and offerings tailored to young learners. After all, a platform is like a house: it must be able to grow when new ideas move in. This also means that this home will continue to be a place for all learners who are enthusiastic about computer science.

For this reason, there will be occasional restrictions or short interruptions in the coming months. We ask for your understanding. Behind the scenes, a lot of work is being done to ensure that openHPI is ready for the next generation of curious minds.

Events

Summer camp

While we are renovating, elsewhere the doors are already opening for the next step: a summer adventure full of computer science and exciting projects. The HPI summer camp is aimed at students aged 16 and above who want to learn more about computer science. For one week, they will experience how modern computer science works on the campus in Potsdam.
The programme includes:

• Practical workshops and projects
  
• Lectures and exercises
  
• Work on current computer science issues
  
• Exchange with other young people who are enthusiastic about computer science
  

The summer camp is particularly suitable for students who want to find out whether studying computer science, specifically at HPI, is right for them.

Applications are open until 15th April 2026: https://hpi.de/bewerbung/2026/hpi-sommercamp-2026/
Further information can be found here: https://hpi.de/studium/hpi-schuelerakademie/sommercamp

Offers from the HPI d-school

Course: Foundations for Design Thinking

There is also a new offer for students: In the summer semester of 2026, the HPI d-school is launching the course Foundations for Design Thinking. In interdisciplinary teams, you will work on real-world challenges and strengthen skills such as user-centred thinking and creative problem solving.
Duration: 23rd April to 23rd July

Language: English

Where: Potsdam-Griebnitzsee campus

Application deadline: 12th April

More information and application here: https://hpi.de/d-school/bildungsangebot/foundations-for-design-thinking/

Webinar: Why productivity feels like exhaustion

Productive, but still exhausted? In the free webinar "Why productivity feels like exhaustion", Samuel Tschepe explains why AI creates more pressure than relief in many organisations. The focus is on the five crises from the white paper "The Agency Continuum": from fatigue to de-skilling and the question of how decision-making authority can be sensibly distributed between humans and AI.

The webinar is part of a four-part series, but can also be attended individually.

White paper: https://hpi.de/d-school/ressource/the-agency-continuum/

Register now: https://hpi.de/d-school/registrierung/free-webinar-session-1-five-crises/

We look forward to seeing you

Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

digital education is on the move, and so are we. We take you with us, give you insights into our developments and show you how future topics are already being shaped at HPI today: from offers for school students to exciting events and stories from HPI.

openHPI Insights

With openHPI, we have been bringing IT knowledge closer to people for almost 14 years, sitting right at the heart of digital transformation. The openHPI duck is proud to be part of this. At HPI, it experiences how new technologies are emerging, AI is becoming commonplace and digitalisation is becoming a prerequisite. It pays particular attention to young people, their curiosity and their potential.
At the same time, our duck sees the gaps: computer science is not yet firmly established in many schools and offers are missing or depend on the commitment of individuals. It becomes clear to the openHPI duck: It wants to do more than just watch.
That's why we are continuing to develop openHPI into a platform with learning opportunities specifically for students and schools. Using digital formats, we want to start early, close knowledge gaps and encourage talents.
We're taking you with us on this journey. The newsletter remains your overview of courses, offerings and events at HPI, embedded in a larger story of new beginnings and the joint shaping of digital education.

Events

Schülerkolleg: Applications now open

Starting this week, you can apply for the Schülerkolleg. This talent development programme is aimed at school students with a strong interest in computer science. Over the span of a school year, you will work on key computer science topics in several modules and gain insights into how the HPI works and what it is like to study there.

Applications can be submitted until April 30th via the HPI-Schülerakademie: https://hpi.de/studium/hpi-schuelerakademie/schuelerkolleg/

Digital Health Innovation Forum 2026

On March 25th and 26th, HPI in Potsdam will bring together leading voices from research, politics and business to discuss the digital future of healthcare. The hosts are Prof. Dr. Ariel Dora Stern and Prof. Dr. Lothar Wieler.

More information and registration here: https://hpi.de/en/hpi-digital-health-innovation-forum/

HPI Insights

Digital health from a practical perspective

Providing safe care for patients, even without hospitalisation? In an interview, Dr. Anne Sophie Platzbecker explains how the Hospital-at-Home concept works, what she has learned from her research and practice, and why new care models are important now.

To the interview: https://hpi.de/en/article/hospital-at-home-the-benefits-of-being-treated-at-home/

We look forward to seeing you
Your openHPI team

Dear Learning Community,

We are starting a new year together, full of ideas, curiosity and a love for learning. We are delighted to have you back.

2025 was a great year for us, especially in the school sector: we offered six courses for pupils and one course for teachers. We want to continue this trend this year and are off to a strong start with the following offers...

Course

Reminder: Start the new year on a fair note

An exciting course awaits you at the start of the year: Digital Justice – How you can get involved in creating a fairer AI future. You will learn why AI is not neutral, how discrimination arises through algorithms and what real consequences this can have. Using concrete examples, the course shows you how to critically question AI, handle data more consciously and contribute to greater digital fairness yourself. Ideal for teaching or independent learning.

Duration: 15 January – 5 February

Language: German

Level: Beginner

Register now: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kibiasessus2026

Recommendations for school students

Study taster in January: Check out the HPI

Are you wondering whether studying computer science is the right choice for you and want to experience the HPI live? Then take advantage of the study taster from 19 January to 23 January 2026 at the Hasso-Plattner-Institute in Potsdam. You will attend real lectures on topics such as algorithmic problem solving, cyber security, and robotics & computer vision, talk to students, and ask the student advisory service any questions you may have. Guided campus tours will also give you an impression of what studying at HPI is like and what everyday life is like there.

The taster course is free of charge. Register now and see if the HPI is right for you.

More information and registration here: https://hpi.de/studium/dein-studium-am-hpi/schnupperstudium/

Registration for the HPI Summer Camp

Thinking about summer in the middle of a snowstorm? Of course! The HPI Summer Camp is the perfect plan for your summer: From the 17th to the 21st of July 2026, you will discover the latest trends and developments in IT together with young people from all over Germany. You will work in teams on a small software project, gain your first practical experience and get an authentic insight into studying computer science and campus life at HPI. You will be accompanied by HPI students who will support you and answer any questions you may have about studying.

Registration starts next week.

More information can be found here: https://hpi.de/studium/hpi-schuelerakademie/sommercamp/

We look forward to seeing you!

Your openHPI team

Dear Learning Community,

In the last newsletter of the year, we give you an outlook on exciting learning opportunities in the new year and look back together at what we have achieved in 2025.

Course

Digital Justice – How you can get involved in creating a fairer AI future

AI has long been shaping your everyday life: whether you're scrolling through feeds or streaming content. But algorithms are not neutral: they can distort, discriminate and reinforce inequalities. In this free course for pupils from Year 9 onward, you will learn from real-life cases such as the Dutch child benefit scandal or faulty AI image generation how such mechanisms arise and what consequences algorithmic decisions can have.

At the same time, the course shows you how you can contribute to greater digital fairness yourself: through conscious use of data, critical questioning and active feedback. In this way, you will strengthen your media literacy, sharpen your view of AI technologies and learn to help shape them responsibly.

Ideal for classroom teaching as well as independent learning at home.

Duration: 15 January – 5 February

Language: German

Level: Beginner

Register here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kibiasessus2026

Recommendation for students

Global Design Thinking Workshop – Applications for 2026 are now open

Want to move directly from digital learning to real teamwork? This six-day workshop immerses you in the mindset, methods and tools of design thinking. You will work on a real-world challenge, develop solutions as a team and receive guidance from experienced coaches. The format is aimed at students of all disciplines and entry levels: ideal for trying out new skills and earning 3 ECTS credits.

Date: 6 March online or 12–18 March 2026 on site in Potsdam

Language: English

Level: Beginner

Registration until 11 January 2026 here: https://hpi.de/en/d-school/education-offer/gdtw/

Looking back on 2025

Thank you to you, our strong community

2025 was a year in which we learned and developed a lot together. In a total of 18 courses, you explored a wide range of computer science topics and gained new perspectives. Around 65,000 course enrolments impressively demonstrate how active and curious our community is.

The first openHPI Advent calendar was a special highlight, providing you with little puzzles and moments of revelation every day in the run-up to Christmas. (Don't give up and keep puzzling, even if some of the tasks are tricky.) And of course, we mustn't forget our new best friend: the openHPI duck, who has been accompanying us on the platform and at events since this year. We can also look back on great collaborations, such as with the AI Service Centre and SAP.

Thank you for your commitment, your ideas and your enthusiasm. Together with you, we are starting the new year feeling inspired and look forward to continuing to grow with you in 2026.

We look forward to seeing you

Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

On December 1st, it finally begins: the first openHPI Advent calendar launches. Every day, there will be a short computer science snack and a new puzzle for you.

To make the wait a little easier, here is a little warm-up:

1 1 2 3 5 8 13 ...

What comes next? And what is this sequence of numbers called?

Do you know?

If not, here's the answer: 21. This is the Fibonacci sequence.

In short, the Fibonacci sequence is created by adding the two previous numbers together. This simple rule leads to patterns that appear in many areas, such as plant growth, spiral structures, or when it comes to estimating complex processes as accurately as possible. It's a great example of how a small idea can reveal larger connections.

And that's exactly what the Advent calendar is all about: a short task every day that draws you into topics such as databases, algorithms or logic in a playful way. At the same time, you will get to know different departments at HPI, such as the Engine or the d-school. No prior knowledge is required. The main thing is that you enjoy solving puzzles. The solutions are revealed three days later, and those who diligently solve all the puzzles might even have the chance to win one of our openHPI rubber ducks in the end.

Click here for some Advent fun: https://open.hpi.de/courses/xmas2025

We look forward to seeing you there.

Ho ho ho

Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

Get into the Christmas spirit with openHPI: Daily IT snacks, two exciting AI courses and the AI@HPI Conference: everything you need for a smart Advent.

Courses:

openHPI Advent calendar: your daily computer science snack

Do you want brain food instead of chocolate? Then join the first openHPI Advent calendar: behind 24 doors, starting on 1st December, you'll find small tasks on topics ranging from databases and algorithms to logic. Along the way, you can get to know the HPI and its various fields of study. Whether you're cozy in front of the fireplace, on the train or enjoying your first coffee of the day. You'll also have the chance to win a small gift.

No prior knowledge required: all you need is a knack for solving riddles.
Participation is free, and the solutions will be published three days after each door.

Click here for some Advent fun: https://open.hpi.de/courses/xmas2025

Chatbots made easy: Using large language models with ease

Want to go beyond just trying out AI assistants and actually use them? In this two-week course, Felix Boelter, AI engineer at the AI Service Centre Berlin-Brandenburg, will show you how to build your own chatbot, connect it to your documents and everyday tools, and integrate it securely into your workflows. No need for in-depth programming knowledge, and based on the principle of "little theory, lots of practice". You will also learn how OpenWebUI, OpenRouter and Docker work together to develop high-performance assistants for analysis, reporting and automation.

Duration: 26th November - 10th December

Language: German

Level: Beginner

Register now: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kianwendungen2025

Efficient AI for Weather Forecasting

Want to make weather forecasts more sustainable and accurate? In this two-week, hands-on course, you will learn how energy-efficient AI can drastically reduce computing power and CO₂ emissions without sacrificing accuracy. Using concrete examples, you will apply LoRA fine-tuning, diffusion models and GNSS-based data collection to improve forecasts from the data centre to your own device. By the end, you will know how to use efficient AI methods for sustainable, highly accurate weather forecasts.

Duration: 3rd December - 17th December

Language: English

Level: Beginner

Register here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/weatherpredictions2025

Event

Reminder: AI@HPI: Shaping AI Sovereignty

Value-oriented, sustainable AI? Between 2nd and 4th December, at the AI@HPI conference in Potsdam, you can discuss with voices from research, industry and politics how to develop framework conditions for the sovereign use of AI. Don't miss it!

Further information & registration: https://hpi.de/en/ai-hpi-conference/

We look forward to seeing you.

Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

You've already completed all the openHPI courses and now you want to really deepen your knowledge? Or do you dream of further developing your passion for IT in an international, research-intensive environment?

Then listen up: the application phase for the Master's programme in Computer Science at the Hasso Plattner Institute is about to begin!

Study at one of Germany's leading IT institutes, with a state-of-the-art campus, intensive student support and exciting specialisations ranging from cybersecurity to data & AI and digital health. Together with the University of Potsdam, the HPI offers free tuition and even scholarship opportunities for international students.

The application period for the 2026 summer semester runs from 1st November to 1st December 2025.

Find out more and apply now: https://hpi.de/studium/computer-science-msc/

And if you want to get a personal impression right away: The Master's Info Session will take place on 28 October at 6 p.m. (CET) – online and open to all those who are interested.

Register here: https://hpi.de/en/event/master-info-session-online-msc-computer-science/

We look forward to seeing you there.

Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

The fog is creeping in, the pumpkins are glowing, and at openHPI it's time for new learning adventures! While ghosts roam outside, exciting new courses await you at openHPI: from an introduction to programming to arguing with AI. We are also looking forward to a special highlight in December: the AI@HPI Conference in Potsdam.

Courses

Learn argumentation with AI - for school and everyday life

Good discussions thrive on strong arguments, not just opinions. In our new course from KISS Pro starting on 8 October, students will learn in 18 short learning units how to clearly formulate their opinions, structure arguments logically and participate confidently in discussions. What makes this course special is an AI that accompanies the learning process: it explains technical terms, provides counterarguments and gives feedback. This strengthens argumentation skills step by step – in a practical and interactive way.

Duration: 8 October–24 October

Language: German

Level: Beginner

Register here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/chatgpt2025

Teacher professionalization for AI in schools and classrooms

Another KISS Pro course will start on 5 November – this time specifically for teachers. The focus will be on how AI can enrich teaching. In addition to practical applications, ethical, legal and social aspects will also be addressed.

Duration: 5 November – 3 December

Language: German

Level: Beginner

Register now: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kifortbildung2025

KISS-Pro is a joint project within the framework of the learning:digital competence network, funded by the EU and the BMBF.

Python for Beginners

Want to get started with programming? Beginning on 8 October, Christian Drumm and Stephan Jacobs will take you on a six-week journey through the world of Python. The course covers variables, loops, functions, and libraries. We will be working with Jupyter Notebooks - perfect for beginners.

Duration: 8 October–26 November

Language: English

Level: Beginner

Register now: https://open.hpi.de/courses/python2025

Event

Forecast: AI@HPI Conference in December

From 2 to 4 December, the AI@HPI Conference will take place in Potsdam under the motto Shaping AI Sovereignty. Discussions will focus on how to create innovative, value-oriented and sustainable framework conditions for artificial intelligence. The conference brings together speakers from science, business and politics to develop strategies for a sovereign and independent approach to AI.

Further information and registration: https://hpi.de/en/ai-hpi-conference/

We look forward to seeing you there.

Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

The summer holidays are over and autumn is just around the corner. It's time for fresh inspiration and new learning adventures! Exciting courses are starting at openHPI: from the basics of Python to arguing and teaching with AI. In autumn, you will also have the opportunity to get to know HPI in person at career fairs and learn more about studying computer sciences in Potsdam.

Courses

New course: Python for Beginners

Want to get started with programming? Then this six-week course is just right for you. Starting on October 8, Christian Drumm and Stephan Jacobs will introduce you to the basics of Python: from variables and loops to functions and libraries. The course is aimed at high school students, university students, and professionals with no prior knowledge. The course uses Jupyter Notebooks, which are ideal for beginners and professionals alike.

Duration: October 8 – November 26

Language: English

Level: Beginner

Sign up now: https://open.hpi.de/courses/python2025

New course: Learn argumentation with AI - for school and every day life

Debating is a skill that must be learned, whether in school, university, or the workplace. In this course from KISS-Pro, you will learn how to develop your opinion clearly, structure arguments logically, and present them convincingly. Using a current controversial issue on climate change as an example, you will practice defending your position in a clear and confident manner.

Start: October 8–24

Language: German

Level: Beginner

Register here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/chatgpt2025

KISS-Pro is a joint project within the competence network lernen:digital, funded by the EU and BMBF.

New course: Teacher professionalization for AI in schools and classrooms

Starting on November 5, another course from KISS-Pro will begin, aimed specifically at teachers. It's worth the wait! The focus is on how artificial intelligence can be used effectively in everyday school life. You will learn how AI systems promote individual learning processes. At the same time, the course highlights the ethical, legal, and social aspects that are important when using AI in the classroom. The aim is to support teachers in consciously exploiting opportunities and reflecting on risks.

Language: German

Start: November 5

Level: Beginner

Register here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kifortbildung2025

Events

Study orientation dates in autumn

Want to study computer science and graduating soon? Then take the opportunity to get to know the Hasso Plattner Institute in person! At various study and career fairs, we will show you what makes studying computer sciences at HPI in Potsdam so special: from exciting projects to excellent career opportunities.

Here are our dates:

• October 8, 2025 – Dream Job IT & Technology, Cologne
  
• October 21, 2025 – Dream Job MINT Fair, Munich
  
• October 30–31, 2025 – vocatium, Wuppertal
  
• November 4, 2025 – Dream Job MINT Fair, Hamburg
• November 4–5, 2025 – vocatium Magdeburg
  

Reminder: Registration for the Digitalkolleg

The application deadline for the HPI Digitalkolleg is September 30! Over five months, you will acquire practical IT knowledge in small groups: from Python and web development to bots, mods, and more. An ideal opportunity to actively shape the digital future.

Klick here for more informations and to register!

We are looking forward to seeing you there.

Your openHPI team

Dear Learning Community,

Whether you're interested in time series forecasting, taking your first steps in programming, or coming up with creative ideas for the future: We have exciting learning opportunities, events, and chances to get involved waiting for you at HPI this late summer.

Courses

New course: Time Series Analysis

Time series are everywhere: in weather data, stock prices, and user behavior. In our new course by Mario Tormo Romero, AI engineer and senior data scientist, you will learn how to analyze such data and make reliable forecasts.

You'll start with the basics, such as trends, seasonality, and stationarity, and work your way up to modern methods such as RNNs, LSTMs, and transformers. You'll then be able to apply your knowledge directly using practical examples from various industries.

Start: September 17, 2025

Language: English

Subscribe here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/timeseries2025

Reminder: Summer Coding Vacation Courses

While some of you are already back at school or returning to everyday life after vacation, others are still enjoying their summer break... even if it is rainy.
Perfect for sitting down at the computer with some snacks and learning to code!
Our free holiday courses on Python and Java are running until September 9, ideal for students in grades 8 and 10, with no prior knowledge required.

Register now: https://open.hpi.de/courses/ferien2025

Offer for school students:

Digitalkolleg – register now!

Reminder: Apply now for the HPI Digitalkolleg 2025/26!
You don't just want to use the digital world, you want to help shape it? Then secure your place at Digitalkolleg! In small groups, you will spend five months learning practical IT skills in Python, web development, bots, mods, and more. Secure one of the last spots now!

Application deadline: September 30

Find out more and apply now: https://hpi.de/studium/hpi-schuelerakademie/digitalkolleg/

Event

Gamer today, game changer tomorrow?

Visit the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) at Gamescom in Cologne (Hall 10.1, Aisle F, No. 021) from August 20–24, 2025, and find out how you can turn your passion for gaming into a practical computer science degree.
What you can expect at the HPI booth:

• “Ropeat,” the new game from the HPI GameDev Club
• Insights into studying, game design, and real projects
• Information about scholarships, women's advancement, and applications

Meet students, ask questions—and maybe you'll soon be a game changer yourself!

Recommendation

People. Technology. Future. – Shape innovation with the HPI d-school

How can we help shape the future in a responsible and creative way? At the HPI d-school, everything revolves around human-centered innovation, AI, and digital skills for tomorrow.

For students:

In the Academic Programs section, you can apply for a practical additional degree in design thinking – the application period for the winter semester is now open!

Apply now: https://hpi.de/d-school/studierende/design-thinking-studium/

For professionals:

In the Professional Development section, you will find a wide range of continuing education opportunities: from AI and future skills to leadership and design thinking to customized programs for companies.

Find out more: https://hpi.de/d-school/professionals/

Want to stay up to date?

Sign up now for the HPI d-school newsletter:

We look forward to see you.
Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

Summer is just around the corner, and with it come exciting developments, new courses, and plenty of opportunities to shape your digital future! Whether you are already part of the openHPI community, interested in studying at HPI, or simply curious about the world of IT, this newsletter will give you all the highlights at a glance.

Info

Strengthening digital sovereignty – the HPI is set to grow

You may have already heard the news: the Hasso Plattner Institute is set to expand significantly by 2035.
A new center for research and teaching with a focus on artificial intelligence is being built in Griebnitzsee, Potsdam. The Digital Engineering Faculty, jointly supported by the University of Potsdam, is set to become an internationally recognized center for top-level research – sending a strong signal for education, openness, and the future.
We at openHPI are delighted to be part of this development and to inspire young people to take an interest in IT at an early age – as future students at HPI.

More information can be found here: https://hpi.de/artikel/potsdam-wird-zum-hub-fuer-talente-aus-aller-welt/

Offers for students:

Code your future in our summer courses

Our popular school versions of the programming courses on Python and Java are making a comeback this summer!

Both courses are aimed at students from age 13 and 15 – no prior knowledge is required. Whether you want to develop games, explore your first AI applications, or understand how computers actually “think,” our online courses teach you real programming skills in a fun and relevant way. Sign up now for one or even both courses.

Duration: July 11–September 9

More information and registration here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/ferien2025

Study computer science at HPI – IT Systems Engineering (B. SC) – Application deadline: July 15

Would you like to study practical computer science at the pulse of time? Then apply for our bachelor's degree program in IT Systems Engineering by July 15. And best of all, you'll learn from the best. This is confirmed by our regular top ratings in the nationwide CHE ranking, Germany's largest university ranking.
Young women also have the opportunity to receive a Women in Tech Empower Pack scholarship.

You can find more information about the program and how to apply here: https://hpi.de/studium/it-systems-engineering-bsc/[https://hpi.de/studium/it-systems-engineering-bsc/](https://hpi.de/studium/it-systems-engineering-bsc/)

Events

Meet the HPI at Gamescom

From August 20 to 24, 2025, you can experience IT up close at Gamescom in Cologne: We'll be bringing a game we programmed ourselves, and you'll have the chance to learn all about studying at HPI. Come by and see us!

We look forward to seeing you.

Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

This newsletter is once again full of highlights and exciting opportunities to shape the digital future together! We are kicking off with the last course in our sustainability series, and the mid-term results are impressive. We also invite you to get a taste of campus life at our University Information Day, apply for the Digitalkolleg 2025/26, or attend the Tech Leadership Conference in July.

New course on openHPI

Half-time and outlook for the Sustainability Series

The course AI and Sustainability – Balancing Innovation and Responsibility marks the finale of our "Sustainability in the Digital Age" series. The course highlights the critical tension between artificial intelligence and sustainability, showing how technological advances promote efficiency and innovation while also leaving a significant ecological footprint. In addition to opportunities and challenges, the course also provides concrete recommendations for the sustainable development of AI applications.

Start: June 12

Language: English

Level: Junior

Register now: https://open.hpi.de/courses/aisolutions2025

The series is already halfway through: two courses have been successfully completed and the third is currently underway. A total of 5,069 participants have registered so far, and up to 95% would recommend the respective course to others. This is a strong sign of how important and relevant the topic of sustainability is in the IT industry. We are delighted by your interest and commitment. Thank you all for supporting this important topic!

Offers for school students

Visit the HPI on University Information Day

On June 13, you can find out more about studying at HPI and discover our campus on Potsdam's Griebnitzsee lake during the Hochschulinformationstag Potsdam (Potsdam University Information Day). You can look forward to an informational lecture on the “IT Systems Engineering” program, a campus tour, and exciting insights into the creative learning environments at HPI. Ice cream will be provided.

The event starts at 9 a.m. at the Uni Potsdam.

Register here: https://hpi.de/studium/warum-am-hpi-studieren/hochschulinformationstag/

Shape your digital future – apply now!

Are you interested in IT and want to know how you can help shape the digital world? Then the free HPI Digitalkolleg is just right for you! During 5 months, you will learn in small groups everything you need to know about Python, website development, bots, mods, and more . The application period for the 2025/26 Digitalkolleg runs from May 15 to September 30.

Join us and become part of the digital future: https://hpi.de/studium/hpi-schuelerakademie/digitalkolleg/

Event

Invitation to the HPI Tech Leadership Conference 2025

Securing Europe's digital sovereignty and shaping future technologies – that is the goal of the Tech Leadership Conference. Under the motto “Navigating the Future”, the HPI invites executives, deep tech companies, and scientists to discuss the role of AI, quantum computing, and digital infrastructures in European industry.
Exciting speakers from META, Deloitte, SAP, NVIDIA, and many more will be there. Look forward to exchanges, new ideas, and exciting perspectives – we look forward to seeing you there!

When: July 17–18

Where: Hasso Plattner Institute, Potsdam

For more information and to register, visit: https://techleadershipconference.de/

We are looking forward to see you!

Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

Whether it's sustainable AI, secure encryption, or Germany's digital resilience, in May we're taking a look at key topics for the future. We're also looking for dedicated new members to join our development team. It's worth taking a look and getting involved!

Reminder: Efficient AI Techniques in the LLM Era

How can artificial intelligence be made more sustainable, especially in the age of large language models?

In the new course in our series “Sustainability in the Digital Age,” PD Dr. Haojin Yang (HPI) shows you how model compression, low-bit quantization, and collaborative inference can save computing resources and reduce energy consumption.

Start: May 27, 2025

Language: English

Duration: 2 weeks

Level: Advanced

Register now for free: open.hpi.de/courses/aimethods2025

New student workshop: “Cryptography and Encryption”

How do secure passwords, chat encryption, and other security measures work?

The second course in our new workshop format is all about cryptography – from its history and technical fundamentals to practical applications. In an interactive exercise, you will encrypt messages yourself, discover real-world examples, and master a small challenge!

For students in grade 8 and above

Start: May 27, 2025

Duration: approx. 2–3 hours

Language: German

Level: Beginner

Register now: https://open.hpi.de/courses/krypto2025

Event: Potsdamer Konferenz für Nationale Cybersicherheit 2025 (Potsdam Conference on National Cybersecurity 2025)

“What if...?” Strengthening Germany's resilience in times of crisis – this is the motto of the conference on cybersecurity hosted by HPI on May 21 and 22.

The focus will be on securing critical infrastructure, the role of AI, cyberattacks as a geopolitical tool, and strengthening digital resilience against the backdrop of international crises, growing tensions, and a political reorientation in Germany.
Discuss the cyber security of tomorrow with experts from politics, economics, and science.

More information and registration: https://hpi.de/potsdamer-konferenz-fuer-nationale-cybersicherheit/

Jobs: Become part of the HPI universe

Want to get started as a software developer or lead the entire team? Then come join us at HPI!

Software Developer (m/f/d): Develop innovative applications for research and teaching

Team Leader Software Development (m/f/d): Work with your team on modern solutions and efficient interfaces between HPI systems

All information and application details can be found here:

Software Developer position: https://jobs.plattnerfoundation.org/HPI/job/Potsdam-Softwareentwickler-%28mwd%29-14482/1157492555/

Team leader position: https://jobs.plattnerfoundation.org/HPI/job/Potsdam-Teamleiter-Software-Development-%28mwd%29-14482/1145510255/

We are looking forward to see you!

Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

In this edition, we have put together a colorful mix of topics for you: three new exciting courses, a fascinating insight into the use of AI in hospitals – and, as always, many more ideas for further reflection and learning.

New course in the “Sustainability in the Digital Age” series

Starting on May 27, our course series will enter the next round: In the new course “Efficient AI Techniques in the LLM Era”, PD Dr. Haojin Yang (HPI) will show you how to make AI systems more resource-efficient and sustainable – using methods such as model compression, low-bit quantization, and collaborative inference, among others.

Language: English

Level: Advanced

Duration: 2 weeks

Register now: open.hpi.de/courses/aimethods2025

AI meets sustainability – another course in the sustainability series starting June 12

Starting on June 12th, we will be taking a deeper look at the topic of sustainability and artificial intelligence: In our new course “AI and Sustainability - Balancing Innovation and Responsibility”, we will be examining the opportunities and challenges that arise at the meeting point of technological innovation and ecological responsibility.

Language: English

Level: Beginner

Register now at: open.hpi.de/courses/aisolutions2025

Practical Introduction to Computer Vision with PyTorch

Do you want to delve deeper into modern image processing? Then our new course “Practical Computer Vision in PyTorch” is perfect for you! Starting on May 7th, you will learn how to develop, train and apply models for classification, object recognition, segmentation and more with PyTorch.

Language: English

Level: Advanced

Duration: 2 weeks

Register now: open.hpi.de/courses/computervision2025

AI for more efficiency in everyday hospital life

Staff shortages, full wards – challenges that many hospitals face every day. At HPI, the KaKI project is working to address precisely this issue: AI-supported bed occupancy management is designed to improve patient care, relieve the workload on staff and use resources more efficiently.

Read the article to find out how this is done in practice: https://hpi.de/artikel/mit-ki-den-krankenhausalltag-optimieren/

Discover more!

The Hasso-Plattner-Institute website offers many more exciting articles, research insights and events related to digitalization, innovation and future technologies.

Visit the site now: https://hpi.de/news-events/news/

We wish you and your families happy and relaxing easter holidays. Enjoy the spring – and maybe a learning session or two in between.

Best regards

your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

In this newsletter, we have put together some great news and offers for you, especially for students and teachers. With the new openHPIschool channel, we are taking a further step towards schools. In addition, a free teacher training course, a cybersecurity competition, and an inspiring HPI alumni story await you.

New channel on openHPI

As we already announced last year, our platform is gradually being improved with small and large adjustments. The first step is our new openHPIschool channel, where you can now find all courses relevant for schools.

Explore now: https://open.hpi.de/channels/openhpi-school

Dear teachers, dear students: If you would like to see more courses on the schoolChannel or have ideas for future topics for the classroom, please contact the helpdesk!

Offer for students: HPI Schülerkolleg – Apply now!

Students from the 7th grade onwards who want to delve deeper into the world of computer science can now become part of the HPI Schülerkolleg! The free offer enables them to get to the bottom of exciting topics such as programming, artificial intelligence or robotics, together with their peers after school. Do you know any students who might be interested? Then feel free to pass this information on!

Application deadline: April 30th

More information & application: https://hpi.de/studium/hpi-schuelerakademie/schuelerkolleg/

Teacher training: Python using the Deeper Learning concept

We cordially invite you to a free training course on the use of Python in teaching at HPI in Potsdam as part of the DigiProMIN research project. Our computer science experts will help you get started and provide you with extensive teaching materials. The focus is on the concept of Deeper Learning, which emphasizes creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

When: June 3, 2025, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Hasso Plattner Institute, D-Space

Register by May 19, 2025 by sending an informal email to: digipromin@hpi.de

The number of participants is limited to 40 people – be quick!

Register now: the Potsdam Cyber Games

If you want to solve exciting challenges in the field of cyber security, you can now register for the third Potsdam Cyber Games. The Capture the Flag competition takes participants to the headquarters of the cyber underworld. The mission: Unmask the Underground. Not much experience yet? No problem! Everyone can take part in the competition from the comfort of their own home, even if they have not yet studied cyber security.

The competition starts on April 1 – so register quickly: https://potsdam-cyber-games.de

From stage fright to “Best Pitch” – The path of an HPI alumnus

Most people know the feeling from their own school days: a presentation is due, and suddenly there is only stage fright, trembling hands, heart pounding when looking at the class. Niklas Kämmer, now an HPI alumnus, also experienced this. But during his studies at the Hasso Plattner Institute, he not only found the professional tools for his future, but also the courage to rise above himself and believe in himself. In this interview, he explains how nervousness turned into self-confidence – and what role HPI played in this.

The article can be found at: https://hpi.de/vom-lampenfieber-zum-stolz-alumni-niklas-kaemmer/

Best regards,

Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

The openHPI course series “Sustainability in the Digital Age” starts next week! It brings together practical solutions from science, education and business. Together with leading experts from SAP, the Hasso Plattner Institute and international partners, we are developing strategies for a more sustainable IT world. In this newsletter, we present the first two courses in the series in more detail.

Please note: the courses do not build on each other and can be taken independently of each other – choose the courses that interest you the most!

Course 1: Environmental Impact of AI Systems

Did you know that training an AI model during the day in sunny regions could result in only about 2/3 of the CO₂ emissions compared to training it at night? You can learn this and more in Vanessa Parli's course Environmental Impact of AI Systems starting March 4. You will also learn about the carbon footprint of AI models, how their environmental impact is measured, and the challenges of sustainability assessment.

Language: English

Duration: 2 weeks

Register now at: open.hpi.de/courses/envai2025

Course 2: Energy-Efficient Software Development

The next course starts on March 25 with Energy-Efficient Software Development led by Detlef Thoms (SAP). Digital systems enable more energy efficiency in the real world – but every digital action itself consumes energy. Applications such as artificial intelligence and media streaming in particular are driving up energy demand enormously. Learn how sustainable software development can help reduce global energy consumption!

Language: English

Duration: 2 weeks

Register now: open.hpi.de/courses/cleanitsap2025

We are looking forward to see you!

Your openHPI team

Dear learning community,

In February, our course on AI bias will finally start. You can also look forward to the start of our new course series on sustainability in the digital age in March. In addition, an exciting career opportunity at HPI and fascinating insights into the future of digital health await you at the Digital Health Innovation Forum.

Reminder: Understanding and Avoiding AI Bias

Finally, the time has come. The course offered by the AI Service Center Berlin-Brandenburg with Jennfer Fritz about understanding and avoiding AI bias is starting.

Start: February 12, 2025

Duration: 2 weeks

Language: German

Register for free here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kibiases2025

New course series on openHPI: Sustainability in the Digital Age

How sustainable is the digital world? What impact do AI systems have on our carbon footprint? How can software be made more energy efficient? These questions are the focus of our new course series “Sustainability in the Digital Age”, a collaboration between SAP, HPI and colleagues from the Stanford University.

The first course, Environmental Impact of AI Systems with Vanessa Parli (Professor at Stanford University), will start on March 4. It will cover the ecological footprint of AI models, methods for measuring environmental impacts and challenges of sustainability assessment. You will gain practical insights into energy accounting for AI systems as well as case studies on environmental pollution.
We continue on March 25 with the course Energy-Efficient Software Development.

Language: English

Register now and become part of the solution!

Environmental Impact of AI Systems: https://open.hpi.de/courses/envai2025

Energy-Efficient Software Development: https://open.hpi.de/courses/cleanitsap2025

We are hiring: Become a Software Development Team Leader at HPI

Do you want to develop innovative software solutions for research, teaching and openHPI with your team? As a software development team leader (m/f/d), you will plan and manage software development, ensure quality and timelines, and promote the further development of your team.

Does that sound exciting? Then apply now!
https://jobs.plattnerfoundation.org/HPI/job/Potsdam-Teamleiter-Software-Development-%28mwd%29-14482/1145510255/

Invitation to the Digital Health Innovation Forum 2025 on the HPI campus!

On March 26 and 27, 2025, HPI Professors Dr. Lothar Wieler and Dr. Ariel Dora Stern invite you to the Digital Health Innovation Forum at the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam.
The event highlights how digital technologies – from AI-supported diagnostics to telemedicine – are revolutionizing healthcare. Organized by the Digital Health Cluster, the forum offers exciting insights into the future of digital medicine.

More information and registration here: https://hpi.de/en/hpi-digital-health-innovation-forum/

Dear learning community,

The Hasso-Plattner-Institute (HPI) invites young talents to discover the world of computer science! Whether it's Girl's Day, Summer Camp or the School Student Program, there are exciting insights and the chance to develop your own IT projects. Feel free to share these offers with young people interested in IT!

Reminder: Pilot workshop on Python

Join us for a new, interactive learning format: the workshop: Python mini-games in Replit! Get to know the basics of this versatile programming language in a playful way and develop your own little game.

Course starts: February 5th

Register here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/digitalkolleg2025

Don't miss IT: Girl's Day at HPI

Empower female students to shape the future with IT! At Girl's Day at HPI, they discover what is possible with IT and a degree in computer science. From apps and games to a “gorilla tracker”. Our students answer all questions and share their experiences. Perhaps your female students will be the next IT pioneers.

Registration and information are available here: https://hpi.de/studium/hpi-schuelerakademie/girlsday/

HPI Summer Camp, August 18–22, 2025

The HPI Summer Camp offers IT enthusiasts aged 16 and up exciting insights into computer science. In five days, participants develop their first software project and explore campus life at HPI. Students accompany the participants and provide valuable tips for their studies and careers. Applications are open in February.

Sign up here: https://hpi.de/studium/hpi-schuelerakademie/sommercamp/

[The registration link will be activated on February 3rd]

HPI Schülerkolleg, September 2025 – June 2026

The Schülerkolleg is a school year program for grades 7–13 in Berlin and Brandenburg. Every two weeks, young people meet at the HPI campus to learn basic IT skills and get to know research topics. The lessons are designed by HPI students and staff and supported by teachers.
Applications are open from February to April.

Sign up here: https://hpi.de/en/studies/hpi-schuelerakademie/schuelerkolleg/

[The registration link will be activated on February 3rd]

Dear Learning Community,
A new year has begun, bringing with it opportunities for growth, exciting developments, and shared learning experiences. We wish our entire learning community a happy, healthy, and successful New Year! May 2025 be full of inspiration, discoveries, and progress.

Reminder: New Course - Understanding and Avoiding AI Biases

When AI perfects the world... but what exactly does it mean by "perfect"?
Discover how biases arise in AI systems and explore strategies to prevent them. Jennifer Fritz's course offers exciting insights and practical tips—perfect for anyone interested in fair and responsible AI.

Start Date: February 12

Duration: Two weeks

Language: German

Join the free course here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kibiases2025

Pilot Workshop on Python

We're introducing a new learning format with our Pilot Workshop on Python! Playfully explore the basics of this versatile programming language and create your own small game—without any pressure.
This workshop is perfect for beginners—join us and learn together.

Start: February 5

Register now: https://open.hpi.de/courses/digitalkolleg2025

Podcast: Ethics Driving Sustainable AI - Insights from the AI@HPI Conference 2024

In the last episode on the AI@HPI Conference 2024, experts discuss how to implement fairness, transparency, and data privacy in AI development. The focus is on best practices and self-regulatory approaches for responsible AI use.

Listen to the episode here: https://podcast.hpi.de/100-new-episode

Dear learning community,

2024 was an exciting year and we look back with pride on exciting courses, growing numbers of participants and innovative projects. Numerous highlights await you again at openHPI in the coming year - starting with our course on AI biases in February. We thank you for your loyalty and look forward to an educational year 2025 together with you.

Looking back on the openHPI year 2024

2024 was a year full of success and engagement at openHPI - thanks to you! A total 1,363,411 of you enrolled in our courses. Especially impressive: 452,276 of you received a course certificate. These numbers represent your curiosity, perseverance and drive to actively shape digital education. You are the heart of our community - thank you for being part of openHPI!

Reminder: our course on AI biases starts soon!

On February 12, 2025, our new two-week course Understanding and Avoiding AI Biases with Jennifer Fritz will start. Learn how biases arise in AI systems and how you can avoid them.

Language: German

Register now for free: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kibiases2025

We're recruiting: Become part of our content team

Are you looking for an exciting challenge where you can make full use of your creative ideas and technical expertise? As a Lecturer (m/f/d) in the Department of Computer Science for openHPI, you will help us develop innovative learning content for students and teachers and prepare topics in video and audio formats.

Apply now: https://jobs.plattnerfoundation.org/HPI/job/Potsdam-Dozent-%28mwd%29-im-Fachbereich-Informatik-f%C3%BCr-openHPI-14482/1136745755/

Podcast tip: Artificial intelligence and democracy

If you missed the AI@HPI Conference 2024 at the beginning of December, you can now listen to selected panels. One of the highlights: the discussion on AI and democracy. We will examine opportunities and risks, such as the structuring of democratic systems, election campaigns and the analysis of voting behavior. We also focus on topics such as transparency, fairness and manipulation.
The complete panel is available in the podcast.

Listen in now: AI and Democracy? The Effect of AI Systems on Elections - Neuland

Our recommendation: Newsletter of the AI Service Center

Are you interested in current developments, events and offers in the field of artificial intelligence? Then subscribe to the newsletter of the AI Service Center at HPI!

Click here to subscribe: https://hpi.de/das-hpi/registrierung/ai-service-center-newsletter/

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Enjoy the holidays, relax and start the year 2025 full of energy. We look forward to welcome you back to our courses next year. Stay curious about everything that 2025 has in store for you!

Dear learning community,

In December and in the new year, we are turning our attention to AI! Don't miss the Profitable AI course with Elizabeth Press. In the podcast, HPI alumnus Alexander Kuscher talks about his career in Silicon Valley and the role of AI. Save the date: In February 2025, the course Understanding and Avoiding AI Bias with Jennifer Fritz will show you how to recognize biases in AI and achieve fair results.

Reminder: the openHPI course Profitable AI starts in December!

In the course Profitable AI with Elizabeth Press, you will learn what is really behind the hype surrounding artificial intelligence and how companies can use AI strategically and profitably. Get ready to unleash the full potential of AI for profitable growth!

Start: December 09

Course language: English

Register now: https://open.hpi.de/courses/profitableai2024

AI will continue to be with us at openHPI in 2025: new course “Understanding and Avoiding AI Biases”

Artificial intelligence is shaping our everyday lives, but systems like ChatGPT and DALL-E often contain human prejudices, so-called biases, that can lead to discriminatory results. In this two-week course, storyteller Jennifer Fritz shows how biases arise and how to make AI content fair and balanced – interactive, varied, and practical.

Start: February 12, 2025

Language: German

Register for free here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kibiases2025

Last Call: AI@HPI Conference

AI conference with experts from industry, politics and science in Potsdam: How can we control the effects of AI, and what happens when reality and fiction blur? Register now for the AI@HPI conference on December 3 and 4.

Further information can be found here: https://hpi.de/en/ai-hpi-conference/

Podcast tip: from HPI to Google

Alexander Kuscher, Senior Director at Google, completed his Bachelor's degree in IT Systems Engineering at the Hasso Plattner Institute 15 years ago. Today, he heads the global software product team for Chrome OS. In the podcast, he talks about his time at HPI, his experiences in Silicon Valley and the transformative power of AI.

Listen now: https://podcast.hpi.de/96-new-episode

Dear learning community,

December at HPI is all about Artificial Intelligence! We introduce you to the new course Profitable AI and invite you to the AI@HPI Conference. You can also find out how AI can be used to protect gorillas in our latest podcast.

New course on openHPI: Profitable AI

Our new course Profitable AI with Elizabeth Press starts just in time for the AI@HPI Conference. This course explores the hype and realities surrounding AI, the challenges companies face in using AI profitably, and how Germany is performing in the AI landscape. You will learn how AI can be used strategically and integrated into everyday life to ensure long-term growth.
The course is aimed at managers and data experts. In-depth prior knowledge is not required, but a basic understanding of business strategy and data analytics is helpful.

Start: 12/9/2024

Course language: English

Register for the course now: https://open.hpi.de/courses/profitableai2024

Invitation to the AI@HPI Conference 2024: register now!

On December 3 and 4, we are organizing our big conference on Artificial Intelligence at HPI. The topic: Responsible AI. We want to address the social impact of artificial intelligence on our society. It's about democracy, fairness, ethics, intellectual property and what framework we need as a society for the development of AI models. Become part of this important debate and register now for AI@HPI 2024.

Tickets are available here: https://hpi.de/en/ai-hpi-conference/

Podcast: Protecting gorillas with artificial intelligence

How can AI be used to promote the protection of gorillas? An HPI team has developed a system for this purpose: the “Gorilla Tracker”, which recognizes gorillas based on video recordings and can observe them over longer periods of time using this AI model. In the latest podcast, HPI doctoral student Maximilian Schall talks about this exciting project.

Listen now: https://podcast.hpi.de/94-new-episode

By the way: the “Gorilla Tracker” will also be presented at our AI@HPI conference on December 3 and 4, 2024.

Dear Learning Community,

Share this information about our new student course offer with your children, grandchildren, students and friends and let them benefit from our offer!

Learn Programming Quickly and Intensively with Python

We've got something for you - starting 2nd of October, you can learn basic programming skills in Berry Boessenkool's free Python course. The course is aimed specifically at young people and shows how versatile Python is - from data analysis and system administration to artificial intelligence.

This course is for free.
You don't need any experience.
Time per week: 5-10 hours

Enroll now for free: http://open.hpi.de/courses/python2024

We are looking forward to see you.
The openHPI Team

Dear Learning Community,

We warmly invite you to join our new courses, where you can quickly and intensively learn the basics of programming with Python (in German) or develop positive learning relationships. Additionally, we would like to draw your attention to the digital HPI Student Program.

Learn Programming Quickly and Intensively with Python

In the new, free Python course (in German) by Berry Boessenkool, you can acquire basic programming skills. The course is specifically designed for young people. Whether it’s data analysis and visualization, system administration, or artificial intelligence – Python is a versatile programming language. The time commitment per week is between 5 and 10 hours.

You will also have the opportunity to dive deeper into quality assurance: In a short introduction to automated software testing, you will learn how to use unit tests in Python to detect errors early and improve the reliability of your code. Optimize your development processes with smart tests and benefit from stable and efficient software in the long term.

Enroll now for free: http://open.hpi.de/courses/python2024

Self-study course - Shaping positive learning relationships

The modular self-study course - Shaping positive learning relationships (in German) or teachers and educators begins on October 7, 2024. It introduces the intus3 relationship learning approach by Dr. Helga Breuninger and Professor Dr. Wilfried Schley.

Each of the four learning sections provides content input through video scenes from the classroom. This is followed by reflection exercises and practical tasks to apply what you've learned. The course focuses on recognizing your own and others' needs, consciously using intuition and acceptance to navigate unexpected situations, and shifting your perception from a problem-based to a potential-based view. The aim of the course is to cultivate an appreciative and benevolent attitude, providing a foundation for positive learning relationships.

Register for free: https://open.hpi.de/courses/beziehungslernen2024

Free HPI Digital College for School Students

Calling all tech-savvy students from year 7 onwards! The Hasso Plattner Institute's Digitalkolleg is gearing up for another iteration from November 2024 to March 2025. The college is dedicated to exciting topics: Introduction to Python, Website Creation and Design, and Bots, Mods & more.

Work alongside experienced computer science students, explore the topics through theory and group projects and get your hands dirty with the power of technology.

Register for free hpi.de

Podcast Tip: The dynamics of artificial intelligence

The demand for advice, workshops, lectures, and courses is enormous. Many people want to learn more about the new possibilities offered by ChatGPT and similar technologies. Martin Talmeier is an AI trainer and coach at HPI, a specialist in digitalization for SMEs, and project manager at the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Berlin. Due to the growing demand, Martin’s schedule has been packed in recent months. We speak with him about the most important lessons and challenges in using artificial intelligence, as well as how to stay up to date with the rapid developments in this field.

Link to the podcast: podcast.hpi.de

We look forward to seeing you in one of our courses on openHPI and wish you an enriching experience with our podcast.

Please feel free to share this course information with your school, colleagues, friends, and acquaintances. Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.

Best regards,

The openHPI Team

Dear Learning Community,

We are excited to invite you to explore our latest offerings, where you can dive into the fascinating world of digital medicine and rapidly gain foundational skills in Python programming (in German).

Digital Medicine – What is Ethically Responsible?

Imagine receiving a cancer diagnosis from artificial intelligence rather than a doctor, or being cared for by robots in your later years. Digital technologies, such as AI, mobile health apps, and robotics, are revolutionizing healthcare. But what implications does this have for us? In our new course, we delve into these compelling questions and explore the ethical challenges that accompany technological advancements. Join us and contribute to shaping the future of digital health!

Our free introductory course Digital Medicine - What is Ethically Responsible? (in German), led by Prof. Robert Ranisch and Dr. Joschka Haltaufderheide, starting on September 4th. This course is open to everyone, regardless of prior knowledge.

Register for free: https://open.hpi.de/courses/digitalhealth2024

Learn Programming Quickly and Intensively with Python

In the new, free Python course (in German) by Berry Boessenkool, you can master the basics of programming. This course is particularly geared towards young learners. Python is a versatile language, ideal for tasks like data analysis, visualization, system administration, and AI. While prior programming experience is helpful, it’s not required.

The course covers the essentials in a compact format and at an accelerated pace, with a weekly time commitment of 5 to 10 hours.

Enroll now for free: http://open.hpi.de/courses/python2024

Podcast Tip: Digital Health - Between Progress and Regulation

The healthcare sector is undergoing a digital revolution. How can we harness these new opportunities in medicine while ensuring appropriate regulation? This is one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare today: the gap between regulatory frameworks and the rapid pace of digital health advancements. In our latest podcast episode (in German), we discuss these issues with Prof. Ariel Dora Stern, who has been teaching and researching at the Hasso Plattner Institute since April under a Humboldt Professorship and leads the 'Digital Health, Economics, and Policy' chair.

Link to the podcast: podcast.hpi.de

We look forward to seeing you in one of our courses on openHPI and wish you an enriching experience with our podcast.

Please share this course information within your school, with colleagues, friends, and acquaintances. Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.

Best regards,

The openHPI Team

Quantum computing is a hot topic this year, and we're excited to meet the growing demand with new courses! We have new courses designed for students just starting their quantum journey and also for experienced learners who want to deepen their knowledge.

Quantencomputing Ferienkurs – Einführung für SchülerInnen (in German)

The course "Quantencomputing Ferienkurs – Einführung für SchülerInnen" (in German) starts on 29th July. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical foundations and practical programming of quantum computers. You'll learn about superposition states, the concept of qubits, quantum entanglement, and other such quantum phenomenon. No prior programming knowledge is required, and all necessary tools are provided.

This course is especially designed for students from grade 9 onwards and can be easily integrated into physics or computer science classes. However, the course is open to everyone interested.

Enroll now for free: https://open.hpi.de/courses/qc-schule2024

Quantencomputing Summer School

This summer we present you the most successful quantum computing courses on openHPI. You will get the perfect opportunity to deepen your understanding of quantum computing, regardless of your previous knowledge and experience level.

You have the chance to complete each of the five popular quantum computing courses in self-study mode and receive a record of achievement. Register now for free and start your exciting journey into the world of quantum computing!

• Einführung in das Quantencomputing - Teil 1 (in German)
• Einführung in das Quantencomputing - Teil 2 (in German)
• Einführung in das Quantencomputing - Teil 3 (in German)
• Introduction to Quantum Computing with Qiskit (with IBM Quantum) (in English)
• Quantum Machine Learning (with IBM Quantum) (in English)

By successfully completing any of these courses, you will not only receive a record of achievement but also an Open Badge for the Quantencomputing Summer School, which you can proudly share on social media.

Are you interested? Register here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/summerschool2024

Podcast Tip: "GAME OVER, Democracy?"

This episode of our Neuland podcast explores how Big Tech's influence might impact democracy. Digital media scientist Prof Martin Andree researches and teaches on the power of big tech corporations. He held a discussion with the students at HPI about his book ‘Big Tech muss weg!’. His thesis: If things continue like this, the media system and thus the basis of our democracy will finally fall into the laps of the big tech corporations, simply due to the dynamics of digital transformation.

Link to the podcast: podcast.hpi.de

We look forward to welcoming you to a course on openHPI and wish you enjoyable listening and learning.

Please share this course information within your school, with colleagues, friends, and acquaintances. Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.

Best regards,

The openHPI Team

We are excited to invite you to our new courses in the second half of the year. Join us in exploring ethical questions in Digital Medicine and learning to program in Python.

Digital Medicine – What is Ethically Responsible?

New technologies such as artificial intelligence, mobile health apps, and the use of robots are rapidly transforming healthcare and hold enormous potential. However, they also come with significant ethical risks. Join us in exploring the ethical implications of digital technologies on the health of tomorrow. Take a critical look at important ethical issues such as responsibility and control, well-being and autonomy, and fairness and justice in a technologically advanced healthcare system.

The free beginner course Digital Medicine – What is Ethically Responsible? (in German) by Prof. Robert Ranisch and Dr. Joschka Haltaufderheide starts on September 4, 2024. This course offers the opportunity to engage with these crucial topics and various technologies, regardless of your prior knowledge, and deepen your understanding of the opportunities and limitations of responsible use in healthcare.

Register for free: https://open.hpi.de/courses/digitalhealth2024

Learn Programming Quickly and Intensively with Python

In October, Berry Boessenkool offers a free Python course (in German) for beginners. Python is a versatile language, ideal for data analysis, data visualization, system administration, and AI. This course is particularly suitable for young people. While knowledge of other programming languages is helpful, it is not necessary. The basics of programming are taught at a fast pace, so a quick grasp is important as a substantial amount of content is covered in a short time. The weekly time commitment is between 5 and 10 hours.

Enroll now for free: http://open.hpi.de/courses/python2024

Podcast Tip: AI, Disinformation, and Cybersecurity

We are in a global super-election year, with nearly half of the world's population called to vote. In this context, aspects of cybersecurity are more important than ever. Foreign states use cyberattacks and are behind disinformation campaigns. In this podcast episode (in German), we discuss artificial intelligence, disinformation, and the risks to critical infrastructure. Prof. Christian Dörr, Head of Cybersecurity - Enterprise Security at HPI, shares his assessment of the situation. His conclusion: “Regarding hybrid threats, we are unfortunately not well prepared at all.”

Link to the podcast: podcast.hpi.de

We look forward to welcoming you to a course on openHPI and wish you enjoyable listening and learning.

Please share this course information within your school, with colleagues, friends, and acquaintances. Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.

Best regards,

The openHPI Team

We're happy to tell you about two highly successful programming courses for schools currently available on openHPI. Over 7,000 participants have already signed up and are enjoying learning Python and Java. With so many people excited about programming, we are offering a new Python programming course (in German) this autumn, designed for beginners to learn rapidly and intensively.

Learn Programming Quickly and Intensively with Python

Starting October 2, beginners can join the Python programming course Python - Learn Programming Quickly and Intensively (in German) by Berry Boessenkool. Python is a practical, simple, and versatile programming language widely used in business and science. It is particularly suitable for data analysis and visualization, data processing, system administration, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. This course is aimed at individuals who have never worked with Python before and is particularly suitable for young people. The basics of programming are taught at a fast pace, so quick comprehension is important due to the substantial amount of content covered in a short time. The estimated time commitment is 5 to 10 hours per week, depending on prior knowledge. Experience with other programming languages is not necessary but can be helpful.

Subscribe now for free: http://open.hpi.de/courses/python2024

Podcast tip: 25 years of HPI - Interview with Ralf Herbrich and Christoph Meinel

Catch up on the latest episode of the Neuland podcast (in German). HPI Managing Director Prof. Ralf Herbrich and openHPI founder Prof. Christoph Meinel, who has shaped HPI as Director for almost two decades, discuss the future of research and teaching. Official teaching at the Hasso Plattner Institute began 25 years ago. In conversation with moderator Leon Stebe, they review the developments of the past 25 years and look ahead to how HPI is preparing for the future.

Tune in to the podcast: podcast.hpi.de

Potsdam Conference for National CyberSecurity

The year 2024 is a global super election year, with almost half of the world's population called to vote. Recognizing and combating disinformation and protecting against cyberattacks are more crucial than ever. The Potsdam Conference on National Cyber Security, to be held on June 19 and 20 at the Hasso Plattner Institute, will focus on how these goals can be achieved and discuss the influence of artificial intelligence on general cybersecurity. Join us and secure one of the coveted spots.

Register now (fee-based) : https://hpi.de/en/the-hpi/application/2024/potsdam-cybersecurity-conference/

We look forward to having you with us!

Please spread the word about these opportunities within your school, to colleagues, friends, and acquaintances. Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.

Warmest regards,

The openHPI Team

Dear Learning Community,

We are thrilled with the current level of interest in openHPI. We recently celebrated over 6,500 registrations for the openHPI Winter School and over 3,300 registrations for the Digital Privacy course. This spring, we will continue to offer high-quality, free courses.

Potsdam Cyber Games

Show off your cybersecurity skills at the Potsdam Cyber Games (in German) and prove yourself during your "hackation" in our virtual luxury hotel. The Potsdam Cyber Games is a capture-the-flag competition where you solve cybersecurity challenges. No previous experience is required, openHPI provides instructional videos that give you a good thematic introduction. Participation is worthwhile: the best participating students can win a trip to Potsdam and attend the Potsdam Conference for National CyberSecurity for free.

Register now for free: https://open.hpi.de/courses/potsdam-cyber-games-2024

School Courses on openHPI

Two programming courses specifically designed for schools (in German) "Learning programming with Python - school version" and "Object-oriented programming in Java - school version" have just been launched on openHPI. These courses offer a fantastic opportunity for students to learn the basics and master the fundamentals of the widely-used programming languages Python and Java. While tailored for school students, anyone interested in learning programming is welcome to join.

Learning to Program with Python - School Version (Grade 7 and Up)

The ten-week course "Learning to program with Python" (in German) targets students from Grade 7 onwards who are eager to understand what keeps our modern world running. Python is a powerful yet easy-to-understand programming language ideal for beginners. Over ten weeks, we playfully guide participants through the basics of logic, text processing, and other exciting programming concepts. In the end, we will use what we have learned to program our own game together using Python. No previous knowledge is required for the course.

Enroll for free: http://open.hpi.de/courses/pythonjunior-schule2024

Object-Oriented Programming in Java - School Version (Grade 10 and Up)

The ten-week course "Object-oriented programming in Java" (in German) is designed for high school students. This course delves into the basics of the Java programming language and object-oriented programming, and together, we solve a mysterious kidnapping case with Detective Duke. Through regular programming tasks, participants will apply what they have learned and acquire practical Java programming language knowledge. Previous programming experience is helpful but not necessary.

Free registration: https://open.hpi.de/courses/javaeinstieg-schule2024

Podcast Recommendation: Physical building in the digital future

With KYUB, teachers can bridge digital and analogue learning and integrate it with subject matter in areas such as technology, design, music, or robotics. The software system enables students to go from idea to tangible prototype in a single lesson. Could this perhaps even address the skilled labor shortage problem? KYUB was developed at the Human Computer Interaction department of Professor Patrick Baudisch at HPI. Leon Stebe talks to him in this episode of our podcast (in German).

Tune in: podcast.hpi.de

We look forward to having you with us!

Please spread the word about these opportunities within your school, to colleagues, friends, and acquaintances. Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.

Warmest regards,

The openHPI Team

Dear Learning Community,

We're excited about the strong interest in our openHPI courses and would like to share our current, free offerings for this spring.

School Courses on openHPI

Starting after the Easter break, we are offering two programming courses specifically designed for schools (in German): "Learning programming with Python - school version" and "Object-oriented programming in Java - school version" on openHPI. Beginning April 8, these courses provide a fantastic opportunity for students to master the fundamentals of the widely-used programming languages Python and Java. Although tailored for school students, anyone interested in learning programming is welcome to join.

Learning to Program with Python - School Version (Grade 7 and Up)

The ten-week course "Learning to program with Python" (in German) targets students in 7th grade and higher. Python is one of the most popular programming languages globally, utilized in various web applications, including the famous Snake game. Known for its readability and extensive library support, this course offers a comprehensive introduction to Python. Participants will develop their own small programs, gaining insight into the inner workings of software. No prior programming knowledge is required.

Enroll for free: http://open.hpi.de/courses/pythonjunior-schule2024

Object-Oriented Programming in Java - School Version (Grade 10 and Up)

The ten-week course "Object-oriented programming in Java" (in German) is designed for high school students. This course introduces participants to the Java programming language and the concept of object-oriented programming. Together, they will solve a thrilling kidnapping case alongside Detective Duke. Through regular coding exercises, participants will acquire practical Java skills. Previous programming experience is beneficial but not necessary.

Free registration: https://open.hpi.de/courses/javaeinstieg-schule2024

Digital Privacy: Safeguarding Your Online Data

Our two-week course, "Digital Privacy: How do I protect my personal data online?" (in German), has attracted over 2,700 participants. Guided by HPI Master's student Johannes Klemm, you'll learn effective strategies to protect your personal data online and develop an understanding of data security. Your participation also supports Johannes Klemm's research. The course is ongoing until mid-next week, and you haven't missed any deadlines yet.

Register now at no cost: https://open.hpi.de/courses/privatsphaere2024

Podcast Recommendation: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health

Technological innovations are advancing rapidly, especially in medicine. Laurin Siefermann and Jonas Witt, Master's students in "Digital Health" at HPI and co-founders of medical start-ups, leverage artificial intelligence in their work. Their podcast discusses how these technologies benefit patients and the implications of the fast pace of technological progress.

Tune in: podcast.hpi.de

Save the Date: Potsdam Cyber Games

Mark your calendar for April 9, 2024, for the Potsdam Cyber Games, a "capture the flag" competition focusing on cyber security challenges. This event is specifically aimed at Bachelor's students in technical fields, such as computer science. Pre-registration is available on openHPI.

Register now for free: https://open.hpi.de/courses/potsdam-cyber-games-2024

We look forward to having you with us!

Please spread the word about these opportunities within your school, to colleagues, friends, and acquaintances. Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.

Warmest regards,

The openHPI Team

Dear Learning Community,

We're excited to announce our latest course offerings on openHPI! Whether you're keen to delve into digital privacy or embark on programming with Python or Java, openHPI is your go-to platform.

Digital Privacy: Safeguarding Your Online Data

Embark on a two-week journey starting March 6 with the course "Digital Privacy: How to Protect Your Personal Data Online" (offered in German). Created by HPI Master's student Johannes Klemm, this course equips you with essential skills to secure your personal data on the web and fosters a keen sense of data security. Engage in interactive practical exercises to apply what you've learned immediately. No prior experience is needed. Support Johannes Klemm's research for his Master's thesis by participating.

Register now at no cost: https://open.hpi.de/courses/privatsphaere2024

School Courses on openHPI

Starting April 8, 2024, after the Easter holidays, we're launching school-specific courses in "Learning Programming with Python - School Version" and "Object-Oriented Programming in Java - School Version" (both in German). These courses are tailored for school students but are open to all enthusiasts. Whether you're new to programming or looking to further your skills, you're warmly invited.

Learning to programme with Python - school version (Grade 7 and up)

The ten-week course "Programming with Python" (in German) is among openHPI's most popular offerings. Designed for students aged 12 to 18, it requires no previous knowledge. Participants will develop their own programs and gain insights into software operation.

Enroll for free: http://open.hpi.de/courses/pythonjunior-schule2024

Object-orientated programming in Java - school version (Grade 10 and up)

In this ten-week course Object-Oriented Programming in Java (in German), high school students (grades 10-13) will master the fundamentals of Java and object-oriented programming. Join Detective Duke in solving a captivating kidnapping case, applying your learning to regular programming tasks.

Free registration: https://open.hpi.de/courses/javaeinstieg-schule2024

Podcast Recommendation: AI and Design Thinking

Discover the synergy between artificial intelligence and design thinking in our everyday lives, from professional to creative endeavors. Listen to Dr. Claudia Nicolai, academic director at the HPI d-school, and Samuel Tschepe, design thinking expert, as they explore the future collaboration between humans and machines in our "Neuland" podcast (in German).

Tune in: podcast.hpi.de

Update on the openHPI Winter School

Don't miss out on the openHPI Winter School! Available until March 31, this is your chance to explore our most popular AI courses (in German). The "ChatGPT: What Does Generative AI Mean for Our Society?" course (in German) has recently hit 20,000 enrollees. Watch Christian Warmuth's update video for the latest on generative AI.

We're thrilled to have you join us!

Please share this information with your school, colleagues, friends, and acquaintances. Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.

Warmest regards,

The openHPI Team

Dear openHPI learning community,

After reaching the age limit and retiring from HPI in spring, the two courses „Blick hinter den Hype: Aktuelle Entwicklungen rund um KI, Blockchain und IoT“ and “Web-Technologies – Backbone of the Emerging Digital World“ were my last on the openHPI platform. I would like to thank not only the participants of these two courses but also the many others for their interest. Although I am saying goodbye now, there is a good way to stay in touch. More about this at the end of this text.

In total, I was able to offer you 34 free courses on openHPI - 16 6-week courses, one 4-week course, and 17 2-week courses. In total, almost 325,000 learners have enrolled in "my" courses, almost 50,000 have graduated with a "Record of Achievement" and over 80,000 have received a "Confirmation of Participation".

The idea of setting up a platform for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) at HPI came to us when Prof. Sebastian Thrun transferred his AI lecture at Stanford University to the Internet in 2011, thus initiating the triumphant advance of MOOCs. These interactive online courses, in which anyone can take part without any prerequisites, exchange ideas with other learners on the connected discussion platform and thus learn in a virtual community, are now very popular. The openHPI platform developed at my chair by highly committed doctoral students and staff was the first European MOOC platform at the time. We opened it in 2012 with an English-language course "In-Memory Technology" by Prof. Hasso Plattner and a German-language course "Internetworking" by me. Since then, we have recorded almost 1.3 million registrations from more than 350,000 learners worldwide in the courses offered by HPI professors and students.

Building on the experiences and learnings with openHPI, I will found a digital university after leaving HPI, the German University of Digital Science, which will also launch its own MOOC platform German-UDS.academy.

This is my farewell to the openHPI platform. Once again, I would like to thank you for the good cooperation in the courses here. I would be delighted to see you again in one or another online course.

Yours, Christoph Meinel

Dear Learning Community,

We hope you have had a good start to the new year! The year 2024 has begun just as the old year ended: with many headlines about new applications of artificial intelligence. In the new year, it will be important to understand this future technology even better. That's why we'd like to draw your attention to this current course on openHPI:

Course start: "Understanding Embeddings for NLP"

In this course, learn how embeddings work in language processing. This offer from the AI Service Center Berlin-Brandenburg (KISZ-BB) explains how words can be converted into machine-readable formats and what role they play in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. It also sheds light on how this technology forms the basis for semantic search applications by making it possible to capture the meaning of words and provide more relevant search results. Ideal for anyone looking to expand their knowledge of Natural Language Processing.

Enroll now: https://open.hpi.de/courses/embeddingsfornlp-kisz2023

In addition to this, the AI Service Centre Berlin Brandenburg regularly offers face-to-face workshops that apply all the findings from this course in a practical way. The next workshop will take place on 23.01.2024. Places are limited. If you are interested, you can register here:

Link to registration: https://hpi.de/en/the-hpi/registration/2024/embeddings-workshop/

openHPI Winter School

Our Winter School with courses on artificial intelligence is proving to be very popular. We are very pleased that the four courses have already reached over 52,000 enrollments.

You can take these courses from now until 31 March 2024 and complete them with an exam and a Certificate of Achievement:

• Künstliche Intelligenz und maschinelles Lernen für Einsteiger (in German)
• Künstliche Intelligenz und Maschinelles Lernen in der Praxis (in German)
• ChatGPT: Was bedeutet generative KI für unsere Gesellschaft? (in German)
• KI und Datenqualität - Perspektiven aus Data Science, Ethik, Normung und Recht (in German)

Please note that you can only enroll to the course "openHPI Winter School" after you have completed one of the four courses with a Certificate of Achievement. Thus, in addition to the Record of Achievement in the individual courses, you can receive a Record of Achievement and an Open Badge of the openHPI Winter School, which you are welcome to share on social networks.

Are you interested? Then register here:
https://open.hpi.de/courses/winterschool2024

Event tip: HPI conference empowerHER+

The topic of artificial intelligence will also be explored at the HPI conference empowerHER+ on the 25th and 26th of January, 2024. The digital future needs IT expertise that is diverse and has a broad perspective on the challenges of our time. The conference brings women+ onto the stage to shape innovation and drive research forward. Students, young professionals, employees, and employers are invited - in short, everyone who sees technology and diversity as key to our future. If you would like to take part, you can register here:

Link to registration: https://hpi.de/das-hpi/veranstaltungen/konferenzen/empowerher-konferenz/konferenz.html

Podcast tip: Neuland (in German)

The new year also starts with a new episode of our podcast. Our guest this time is Stefan Neuber. He has just started his studies at HPI and has already achieved a lot. Stefan has developed the maths learning app MatheX. He has already received several awards for this idea - and was able to present his app at a conference right before Michelle Obama's appearance. In the latest Neuland episode, he explains how he wants to further develop his learning app with the help of artificial intelligence.

Link to the podcast: podcast.hpi.de

Note on the openHPI mobile apps

As of 31 January 2024, the openHPI apps for Android and iOS will be discontinued and removed from the app stores. Please use the openHPI mobile website as an alternative.

We hope you enjoy listening and learning!

Please feel free to forward the course information to colleagues, friends and acquaintances.

Best regards,

the openHPI team

The rapid development of generative AI systems was on everyone's lips this year. The need for knowledge in this area was immense. We were very pleased about the great interest in our 2023 course program. Many thanks to everyone who enrolled!

openHPI Winter School (in German)

Because the topic of "Artificial Intelligence" will continue to occupy us all, we are opening a small AI Winter School on openHPI - and are reactivating some popular courses for you. You can take these courses from now until 31 March 2024 and complete them with an exam and certificate of achievement:

• Künstliche Intelligenz und maschinelles Lernen für Einsteiger (in German)
• Künstliche Intelligenz und Maschinelles Lernen in der Praxis (in German)
• ChatGPT: Was bedeutet generative KI für unsere Gesellschaft? (in German)
• KI und Datenqualität - Perspektiven aus Data Science, Ethik, Normung und Recht (in German)

Upon successful completion of a course, you will also receive a certificate of achievement and an open badge for the AI Winter School (in German).

Are you interested? Then register here:
https://open.hpi.de/courses/winterschool2024

Review 2023

openHPI currently has around 1.3 million registrations and over 350,000 users, of which 35,081 users and 132,411 registrations have been added this year. The number of certificates of achievement rose by around 15,000 to around 150,000. We concluded the year with the course "Web Technologies - Backbone of the Emerging Digital World" by Prof Dr Christoph Meinel. He launched the openHPI platform and made a significant contribution to its success with his commitment. Many thanks from the entire team for this commitment!

Outlook 2024

Over the next few months, we will be reorganising the openHPI offering. This process will take some time - and we ask for your understanding. In future, we want to reach even more of the people who will shape the digital world of tomorrow. If you would like to actively support us in this endeavour, you can apply now for the openHPI Education Content Team Leader (m/f/d): job advertisement in the applicant portal

Podcast tip

In the meantime, you can be inspired by our podcast "Neuland" (in German). We recommend this episode, among others:

How does a young female entrepreneur view the development of generative AI? Mona Ghazi studied at HPI and has already founded her own company. In the SPIEGEL cover story, the 21-year-old was asked what makes "Generation Z" tick - and what they think about the world of work. You can listen to the interview with Mona Ghazi here: Neuland - der HPI-Wissenspodcast

Note on openHPI apps

As of 31 January 2024, the Android and iOS app will be discontinued and removed from the app stores. Please use the openHPI mobile website as an alternative.

We wish you happy holidays - and all the best for the new year. We'll see you again in 2024!

Dear Learning Community,

We would like to invite you to our new Web Technologies course on openHPI as well as share the latest "Neuland" podcast episodes with you.

Web Technologies – Backbone of the Emerging Digital World (start date 25.10.)

The six-week course Web Technologies – Backbone of the Emerging Digital World led by Prof. Christoph Meinel starts today.

Although the World Wide Web is only 30 years old, we can no longer imagine life without it. The Web is ubiquitous and has changed all of our personal, professional, and social lives.

Enroll to this course and learn how the web works. The free course covers the following topics:

• Introduction, URI, and HTTP
• HTML, CSS, and XML
• Client-side Web Programming
• Server-side Web Programming
• Search and shopping on the web
• Online Learning & Cloud Computing

The course is open to all participants with no requirement of prior knowledge on the subject and it ends with a theoretical and practical peer-assessment final exam.

Enroll now:
https://open.hpi.de/courses/webtech2023

Podcast episodes on sustainable AI and secrets in closed software

Do you already know our monthly HPI podcast "Neuland"? We would like to recommend the latest episodes on sustainable AI and reverse engineering.

Prof. Dr. Ralf Herbrich, HPI Managing Director and chair of the Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability research group discusses with host Leon Stebe how AI models can support the fight against climate change and what needs to be done to reduce the carbon footprint of Artificial Intelligence.

Listen to the episode here: podcast.hpi.de

Mobile devices such as smartphones or fitness trackers are everywhere. The devices' vulnerabilities are increasingly being exploited to steal personal data. Many devices do not use open source software, so the risk of cyberattacks can hardly be estimated. Dr. Jiska Classen, head of the junior research group "Cybersecurity - Mobile & Wireless", reconstructs these systems and reveals security vulnerabilities with the help of "reverse engineering".

Listen to the interview with host Leon Stebe (in German) here: podcast.hpi.de

Feel free to share these recommendations with your circle of friends and acquaintances or follow us on LinkedIn.

Best regards,

the openHPI team

openHPI offers you two new courses this fall. We look forward to having you with us!

Knowledge Graphs - Foundations and Applications (start date 11.10.)

Today, the six-week English-language course Knowledge Graphs - Foundations and Applications by Prof. Dr. Harald Sack and his team starts. This course provides a comprehensive overview of knowledge graphs, their underlying technologies, and their significance in today's digital world.

The course is aimed at students, practitioners of computer science, digital humanities, and information sciences, and enthusiasts with an AI related background and an interest in symbolic knowledge representation.

Enroll now:
https://open.hpi.de/courses/knowledgegraphs2023

Web Technologies – Backbone of the Emerging Digital World (start date 25.10.)

The six-week course Web Technologies – Backbone of the Emerging Digital World led by Prof. Christoph Meinel starts in 2 weeks. It tells us everything we need to know about the World Wide Web. Everybody with an interest in the topic is welcome to join.

Interested? Then register here:
https://open.hpi.de/courses/webtech2023

Save the Date: Clean-IT Conference 25/26 October 2023

The Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) is bringing together high-ranking, international representatives from science, economics, and politics in Potsdam as part of the second clean-IT conference on October 25th and 26th, 2023. They will show and discuss how digital technologies can support the fight against climate change and what needs to be done to further reduce the carbon footprint of digitalization.

We are pleased to announce the following eminent speakers:

• Daniela Kluckert, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport
• Dr. Ceren Susut-Bennett, Associate Director of Advanced Scientific Computing Research at the U.S. Department of Energy
• John Platt, Distinguished Scientist at Google
• Prof. Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
• Prof. Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency
• Dr. Philipp Herzig, Head of Cross Product Engineering & Experience at SAP

Register now:
https://hpi.de/veranstaltungen/hpi-veranstaltungen/2023/clean-it-conference.html

Feel free to share these recommendations with your circle of friends and acquaintances or follow us on LinkedIn.

openHPI offers you a diverse program of courses on future technologies this fall. Whether you are planning a new career start or are pursuing the topic out of private interest, you will learn a lot of new things and gain interesting insights into digital technologies in these online courses. We look forward to meeting you!

Quantum Computing for Natural Sciences (started on 06.09.)

On Wednesday, the two-week English-language course Quantum Computing for Natural Sciences started. In this for the time being last course in the series of Quantum MOOCs on openHPI, the IBM Research Team shows you how to use quantum computers to calculate the properties of molecules and simulate their dynamics. You will learn algorithms for calculating ground and excited state energies and simulating molecular dynamics. After the course, you will be able to understand the latest research in quantum computing for the natural sciences.

Enroll now:
https://open.hpi.de/courses/qc-nature2023

An Introduction to Probabilistic Machine Learning (starts Sept. 20).

Probabilistic machine learning has gained much practical relevance in the last 15 years because it is highly data efficient and highly scalable. Moreover, it is closely related to causal inference, which is one of the most important methods for measuring cause-effect relationships in machine learning models and explainable artificial intelligence. In the 4-week English-language course Probabilistic Machine Learning, you will learn about all the latest developments in probabilistic modeling and inference. Course instructor Prof. Ralf Herbrich will cover the theoretical as well as the practical and computational aspects of probabilistic machine learning.

For successful course participation, you should have basic knowledge in analysis and in the programming languages C/C++ and Python.

Interested? Then register here:
https://open.hpi.de/courses/probabilisticai2023

A look behind the hype (started on 30.08.)

The course Look behind the Hype: Current Developments around AI, Blockchain and IoT led by Prof. Christoph Meinel is already in its second week. However, it is still possible to join. The course provides basic knowledge and shows concrete use cases of Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT). In addition, we discuss the question at which point these technologies have arrived and whether it is really a matter of hype or innovation. You can also look forward to exciting interview partners who will report from the field in the course.

Feel free to share these course recommendations with your circle of friends and acquaintances or follow us on LinkedIn.

openHPI is back from its summer break. On August 30, it's time to log back in to openHPI and take a look at new learning content. Look forward to a highly topical subject: In the six-week course "Looking behind the hype: Current developments around AI, blockchain and IoT", you will gain in-depth insights into three groundbreaking technologies that - used in tandem - have the potential for massive social transformation.

Looking behind the hype - Three reasons to participate

Prof. Christoph Meinel and his team will take you into the world of Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). We give you three reasons why you should not miss this course:

Understanding AI better: At an unprecedented rate, one technological innovation is chasing the next. The variety of AI applications is growing and growing. For some a curse, for others a blessing, generative AI systems such as ChatGPT are having a tremendous impact on our everyday lives and our working world. In this course, you will learn on the one hand about the technical foundations and prerequisites that are driving the development of AI. On the other hand, we want to show you which fields of application artificial intelligences can be used in and which successful applications already exist. Finally, we will talk about social and ethical aspects that play a role in the development of AI.

Security for the Internet of Things: Smart IoT devices are increasingly present in everyday life. Smartphones, entertainment systems or controllable thermostat systems are just a small selection of possible things that can be controlled via the Internet. To avoid cyber attacks on these devices, security aspects should be considered from the outset (security by design). We will show you where attacks are possible and what measures you can take to protect yourself.

Lastly, we will turn our attention to the topic of blockchain and take a closer look at the cryptocurrency Bitcoin in particular. After the course, you will know the building blocks of Bitcoin technology and also be able to understand the concrete implementation. In this context, Dr. Martin Heinig tells us in an interview what Germany's largest software group is developing in the context of blockchain.

Insight into practice: For this course, we have invited some experts for an interview. They add their practical perspective to the topic and provide valuable insights into ongoing projects. We talk to Michael Kollig, EMEA North CE Director at Google, Martin Heinig, Head of New Ventures and Technologies at SAP and Nadine Schön, Member of the Bundestag and Deputy Chairwoman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group.

Have we aroused your interest?

Then register here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/zukunftstechnologien2023

Offers for pupils on openHPI

With "Learn programming with Python" (start September 6, 2023) and "Pre-course math - basics for studying computer science" (start September 13), we offer interested young people two exciting topics at once, which not only prepare them for class or for their soon to be studies, but are also fun.

Learn to program with Python.

The four-week online course "Learning to program with Python" has become one of our openHPI classics. It is aimed at students between the ages of 12 and 18. Three students and a research assistant will introduce the simple but very powerful programming language Python, which is also often used in industry and research.
Python is by far one of the most popular programming languages worldwide. It is used in a wide variety of web applications, and even the popular computer game Snake is programmed in Python. The programming language, whose emblem is the snake of the same name, is characterized above all by good readability and many available libraries. The course participants do not need to have any previous knowledge. You will write your own small programs in the course and learn to better understand the principles according to which software works internally.

Sign up here: https://open.hpi.de/courses/pythonjunior2023-1

Pre-course Math - Basics for Computer Science Studies

The pre-course math is primarily aimed at high school graduates or high school students who can imagine studying a MINT subject. In this 3-week course, instructor Timo Kötzing will review with you the math basics that are required for such studies, e.g. differential and integral calculus, calculating with unknowns or logarithms and exponentiation. Here, the HPI scientist emphasizes, "Mathematics is not about someone having certain knowledge. It's about enjoying fiddling around, solving problems and even getting stuck into a task once in a while if you can't come up with a solution right away." With this in mind, we hope you enjoy this course!

Registration under: https://open.hpi.de/courses/mathe2023

We look forward to seeing you in the course!

The most successful online course on openHPI has just ended. ChatGPT - What does generative AI mean for our society has inspired more than 16,000 learners.

Final report: That was the ChatGPT course

Course instructors Johannes Hötter and Christian Warmuth, both Master's graduates at HPI, are pleased with the success of their course: "Since the 'aha' experience with ChatGPT, the broad mass of society has been experiencing a leap in technology that was previously thought impossible. We were obviously able to take the pulse of the times with our course and have dealt in depth with precisely those topics that are currently frequently discussed at the kitchen table, in offices, and in schools and universities."

The final survey, in which 1,800 people took part, shows that the largest number of learners is the group of over 50s with no technical background knowledge. A positive aspect was the lively discussion in the forum: There were around 3,000 contributions there within four weeks.

Sometimes the course instructors had to point out to the well-informed participants that statements made in the course were already outdated - 2 weeks after the content was recorded. "This shows the speed of development in this area. It will continue to increase," says Johannes, looking to the future with excitement. Along with Christian, he expects a wide range of other major language models, both proprietary and freely available (open source), to be released soon. "These will become more accessible and the maturity of applications will grow rapidly," is the trend assessment of the two course leaders.

The course on the disruptive impact of language models such as ChatGPT and image generation programs such as DALL-E or Midjourney will continue to be available to the public for free in archive mode, as usual.

Looking forward to upcoming courses

After a short summer break, we will be back for you on August 30, 2023 - with a course that also focuses on groundbreaking future technologies. In Looking behind the hype: current developments around AI, blockchain and IoT, Prof. Christoph Meinel and his team present the basics and concepts of the aforementioned technologies and show the current state of development and typical use cases.

• What is behind the current AI applications such as ChatGPT?
  
• In which areas does artificial intelligence currently and in the future play a role and what does this mean for the respective industry?
  
• What is behind blockchain technology and how is it used in the case of cryptocurrencies?
  
• What possibilities does the Internet of Things (IoT) open up for making our environment "smart" and what are the limitations?
  

If you are also asking yourself such or similar questions, you should enroll in this 6-week course.

https://open.hpi.de/courses/zukunftstechnologien2023

We would like to make special mention of the interview partners, who enrich this course with their assessment of the topic:

• Mike Schubert, Lord Mayor of the state capital Potsdam
  
• Nadine Schön MdB, Deputy Chairwoman of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group
  
• Dr. Martin Heinig, Head of New Ventures and Technologies at SAP
  
• Michael Kollig, Director Customer Engineering EMEA North Google Cloud
  

We are very much looking forward to this valuable input!

One week later, on September 6, 2023, the last course in the Quantum Technologies series for now will begin. In Quantum Computing for Natural Sciences, the IBM Research course team bridges the gap between chemistry and quantum technologies. Quantum computers are particularly powerful at simulating other quantum systems. This is important for many problems in the natural sciences, such as materials and drug development. Since even the largest supercomputers struggle to perform the required simulations, quantum computation could revolutionize these industries. Participants will learn how quantum algorithms can be used to study the properties of molecules. The 3-week English-language course is primarily intended for students in STEM fields and professionals with a technical background.

View the trailer and feel free to enroll here:

https://open.hpi.de/courses/qc-nature2023

Also feel free to forward the course information to colleagues, friends, and acquaintances.

We wish you a nice summertime!

On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, the new course "ChatGPT: What does generative AI mean for our society?" (in German) will start with over 10,000 participants on openHPI. Register now for free for the beginner course and learn about AI technologies like ChatGPT, DALL-E and Midjourney. No prior technical knowledge or programming experience is necessary.

The four-week course is led by HPI alumni and AI experts Johannes Hötter and Christian Warmuth. The course will be offered in cooperation with the KI-Servicezentrum Berlin-Brandenburg (KISZ-BB), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

The course leaders will share views on generative AI's foreseeable and disruptive impact on our society.

There are interviews with these high-profile guests in the course with different perspectives on AI:

• Dr. Jens Brandenburg MP, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Education and Research
• Dr. Anna Christmann MP, Commissioner of Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection for the Digital Economy and Startups
• Dr. Sebastian Wieczorek, Vice President Artificial Intelligence Technology and Global Lead of AI Ethics at SAP
• Sibylle Anderl, Head of the Science Department at F.A.Z. and F.A.S.
• Sebastian Heinz, founder and CEO of statworx and the AI Hub Frankfurt
• Julia Gundlach, co-leader of the "reframe[Tech] – Algorithms for the Common Good" project at the Bertelsmann Foundation
• Andre Zayarni, founder and CEO of Qdrant

Join us to discover generative AI and register now for free: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kizukunft2023

Please also share this information with colleagues, friends and acquaintances interested in ChatGPT: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kizukunft2023

EMOOCs Conference at Hasso Plattner Institute

Also starting Wednesday, the most important conference in the field of Massive Open Online Courses, the "European MOOC Stakeholder Summit" (EMOOCs 2023) will take place at the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam. We will welcome high-level keynote speakers and guests from around the world. For those who cannot be on-site, there is the possibility of online participation.

Register now: https://emoocs.hpi.de/index.php/registration/

Best regards,

the openHPI team

We invite you to openHPI on an exciting journey into the world of generative artificial intelligence. Our brand new, free openHPI course "ChatGPT: What does generative AI mean for our society?" (in German) starts on June 14, 2023.

Join us at the forefront of technological progress and discover the revolutionary developments of AI systems such as ChatGPT, DALLE, and Midjourney during the four-week course.

The openHPI course is led by HPI alumni Johannes Hötter and Christian Warmuth in cooperation with the KI-Servicezentrum Berlin-Brandenburg (KISZ-BB), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The course instructors have already offered two successful Marianne-Englert-Award winning AI courses for beginners with over 25,000 participants on openHPI.

In this course, we will:

• Discover how generative AI and breakthrough technologies like ChatGPT work.
• Explore potential use cases and the associated opportunities and limitations.
• Engage with burning questions such as, "will our jobs be replaced?" or "will we see the emergence of a whole new field of employment?"
• Discuss strategies with course instructors to minimize potential risks, such as the spread of misinformation.

Who is invited?

Everyone!!

This free course is for everyone - young or old, tech novice or avid learner. No prior technical knowledge or programming experience is required. Knowledge of the topics covered in the course "Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Beginners" (in German) is recommended. If you have not taken the course before, you can complete it through self-study.

Discover generative AI with us and sign up now for free: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kizukunft2023

Finally, we can't wait to welcome you into this course, share discussions together, and begin an exciting journey into the world of generative AI! Tag along!

Please also share this information with your colleagues, friends, and acquaintances who are interested in ChatGPT: https://open.hpi.de/courses/kizukunft2023

Best regards

the openHPI team

Leading experts in online learning will gather at Europe's most important summit in the field of Massive Open Online Courses, the "European MOOC Stakeholder Summit" (EMOOCs 2023). The conference for digital education will take place in Potsdam from 14 to 16 June. For all those who cannot be on-site, there is also the possibility of online participation.

You can look forward to exciting sessions on current research around MOOCs, micro-credentials, and innovative learning technologies. You will also gain insights into European projects and frameworks on digital education. And of course, there will be enough time during the poster session or at the cozy dinner for exchange and networking.

Register now: https://emoocs.hpi.de/index.php/registration/

The main focus will be on analyzing whether the boom in online learning, accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, is lasting or slowing down. There will also be discussions on how artificial intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT can promote digital education and whether, beyond modular partial degrees - so-called micro degrees - the future could also belong to complete online degree programs.

"We are eagerly awaiting, for example, the presentation by our colleague Anant Agarwal, who founded edX in 2012," says Prof. Christoph Meinel, head of openHPI. Together with Coursera, edX is one of the platforms with the most enrolments in open online courses worldwide.

You can look forward to these renowned speakers:

• Prof. Anant Agarwal, founder of edX, United States
  
• Dr. Jens Brandenburg, Parliamentary State Secretary, Germany
  
• Prof. Carlos Delgado Kloos, Vice President for Strategy and Digital Education, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain
  
• Dr. M.S. Vijay Kumar, Senior Advisor to VP Open Learning, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, United States
  
• Prof. Catherine Mongenet, CEO France Université Numérique (FUN), France
  
• Prof. Antonella Poce, Professor in Experimental Pedagogy, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
  
• Kathy Pugh, Senior Vice President Partnerships at edX, United States
  
• George Ubachs, Managing Director at EADTU, The Netherlands
  

We are looking forward to meeting you in June!

Best regards

the openHPI Team/EMOOCs Organization Committee

We are pleased to present "Wie denkt ein Computer? Vom Sandkorn bis zur Software", a new course in our Junior Series specifically designed for high school students:

Wie denkt ein Computer? Vom Sandkorn bis zur Software

What does sand have to do with computers? And how does a computer "think"? If you often wonder how these computers actually work, what they are capable of, and how they manage to represent everything with 0 and 1, then sign up now for the new free course for students "Wie denkt ein Computer? Vom Sandkorn bis zur Software", which starts on April 26. You don't need any previous knowledge. The course is primarily aimed at students from grade 10 upwards, and you can look forward to practical tasks with various simulation tools with which you can try out circuits and machine commands yourself.

Get to know the teaching team in the trailer and sign up right away:
https://open.hpi.de/courses/sandkorn-bis-software2023

Legal aspects are the topic of another openHPI course starting on May 3:

Compliance Management - Die Umsetzung der Whistleblower Richtlinie

Dr. Ina Haarhoff, legal advisor of the Hasso Plattner Institute, will discuss the implementation of the EU Whistleblower Directive into German law. The purpose of this directive is to protect people who point out wrongdoing in a company. However, how this can look in detail, e.g. the establishment of anonymous reporting channels, was and is controversial. Here, the EU had left legislators some room for maneuver. The course is aimed at the one hand at employees in companies with more than 50 employees, and on the other hand at decision-makers in smaller companies who may also be affected by the whistleblower directive.

Click here to register:
https://open.hpi.de/courses/compliance2023

Quanteninformation und Kryptgraphie - Part 3

Last, but not least, we would like to invite you to the third and last part of the course series "Quanteninformation und Kryptographie" by Prof. Dr. Jörg Hettel. This course deepens the knowledge from the courses Quantum Information and Cryptography - Part 1 and Part 2. Participants in this course will learn how the exchange of quantum information through quantum networks can work. The central concepts of a quantum network are entanglement and teleportation. In order to use teleportation on a large scale, so-called repeaters are needed. Closely related to this is quantum error correction as a necessary prerequisite for transmitting qubits as error-free as possible. Look forward to novel applications that go beyond quantum key distribution.

Interested? Click here to register: https://open.hpi.de/courses/qc-kryptographie-3-2023

We look forward to lively discussions in our courses!

Best regards

the openHPI team

Slowly but surely, spring is coming! It's wonderful that you can learn from anywhere with openHPI - whether with a delicious cappuccino on the balcony or in the S-Bahn on the way to work. We are happy to present you with a variety of courses for the upcoming weeks.

Energy Efficient Programming (English) - starting on 12th April 2023

This 2-week English-language course deals with the energy efficiency of software and digital technologies. Professor Vesselin Iossifov from the Berlin University of Applied Sciences will teach specific programming principles and techniques that increase the energy efficiency of an algorithm - using examples of C and Assembly language. With examples from linear algebra, it will introduce energy-efficient coding techniques for x86/x64-based computers and present measurement methods for the energy consumption of programs.

The course is intended primarily for undergraduate and graduate students in computer science, communications engineering, electrical engineering, or closely related fields.

Register here:
https://open.hpi.de/courses/cleanIT-x862022

Introduction to Quantum Computing (German) - Part 3 - Starting on 12th April 2023

Another long-awaited continuation of the Quantum Computing series will start on the 12th of April: Introduction to Quantum Computing Part 3, led by Prof. Bettina Just.

You will be introduced to the mechanism of phase kickback, which is the basis of many quantum algorithms. Here you will also encounter some already-known examples of quantum algorithms. Afterwards, it will be about quantum error recovery. The course will also explain why quantum bits have complex ( and not simply real) amplitudes. The course concludes with a dive into Adiabatic Quantum Computing, which works quite differently than quantum computing with the circuit model and offers a promising approach to solving optimization problems.

The course presumes some basic proficiency in quantum computing. You are expected to be familiar with the basic concepts and to understand the basic operation of quantum gates, registers, bits, and circuits. If you are not yet completely comfortable with these topics, we recommend attending Part 1 and Part 2 of the course series.

Register here for part 3:
https://open.hpi.de/courses/qc-intro-3-2023

AI and Data Quality (German) - Starting on 19th April 2023

This 2-week German-language course focuses on ensuring that the use of artificial intelligence not only provides the right data quality but also meets ethical and legal requirements. The course will be taught by HPI professor Felix Naumann, media ethicist Dr. Jessica Heesen from the University of Tübingen, criminal law professor Frauke Rostalski from the University of Köln, and standards expert Dr. Sebastian Hallensleben from the German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE e. V.).

The course participants will learn that if AI is to be used in a socially acceptable way, it will require massive volumes of suitable and high-quality training data. Computer science, law, ethics, and standardization will each have a special perspective on this Big Data issue surrounding machine learning.

Beginners in the topic can learn more about data collection and data processing to use good, fair and balanced training data to create fair AI systems.

Register here:
https://open.hpi.de/courses/kidaten2023

Outlook: Data Science Bootcamp (English) - launching 7th June 2023

Join us for our Data Science Bootcamp (in English) and gain indispensable skills in data analytics and machine learning! Our comprehensive program will emphasize real-world datasets and empower you with the tools required to succeed in the fast-growing field of data science. Whether you want to improve your career prospects or interpret data for your field, our boot camp perfectly suits you if you enjoy learning and have basic Python skills.

Sign up now and start your journey into the world of Data Science: https://open.hpi.de/courses/datascience2023

We are looking forward to interacting with you in one of our next courses!

Farewell of Prof. Meinel from the HPI Executive Board

openHPI would not exist in its current form without one person: Prof. Dr. Christoph Meinel led countless courses on Cybersecurity, Web and Internet technologies, and influenced the learning platform like no other. On 31st March 2023, he ended his work as managing director of the Hasso Plattner Institute after 18 years. However, he remains committed to his passion project openHPI and we look forward to many more years together! In the FAZ podcast (German) he discusses his plans further.

Warm Greetings,

the openHPI team