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