Universities worldwide are investing in digital transformation to strengthen institutional capacity. While practical experiences with Artificial Intelligence are already widespread in the fields of teaching and learning, its integration into higher education management is still emerging. The integration of AI tools that can make decisions and carry out tasks independently adds a new dimension to this ongoing transition. For higher education managers, this creates both opportunities and uncertainties: What strategies are effective for meaningful AI adoption in university management? How can ethical standards be upheld? How do we build digital literacy, minimize dependence, and anticipate regulatory and environmental impacts?
In this web seminar, we will address current institutional challenges related to AI by sharing practical examples from different fields of higher education management. The session aims to foster an open discussion about the value AI can bring to administrative processes and strategic leadership.
Please join the DIES Web Seminar by clicking on the button,
starting on 5 May 2026,
02:00–04:00 pm (CET),
01:00–03:00 pm (UTC)
Universities throughout the world are operating in an increasingly dynamic environment characterised by global challenges. They face intense competition for students, highly qualified researchers and third-party funding. This holds true for developing countries too, where the demand for tertiary education has been skyrocketing over the last decades.
In light of these developments, higher education management in all its particulars is becoming more and more important in the field of international development cooperation. The programme “Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies” (DIES) has been jointly developed and coordinated by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) since 2001. DIES is strengthening capacities in higher education management, both on individual and institutional level. It offers a wide range of tailored activities training courses, dialogue events and university partnerships. – These activities not only foster the competences of academic staff, but also contribute to the enhancement of institutional management at universities in developing countries. DIES focuses on three key partner regions: Africa, Spanish-speaking Latin America and Southeast Asia. Funding is provided by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The DAAD is a joint organisation of German institutions of higher education and their student bodies, devoted to internationalising the academic and scientific research system. With its broad range of scholarship programmes, the DAAD enables students, researchers and university lecturers to take advantage of the best study and research opportunities. Since it was founded in 1925, more than 2.5 million scholars in Germany and abroad have received DAAD funding. Apart from the scholar ship programmes the DAAD supports the internationalisation of German universities, promotes German studies and the German language abroad, advises decision makers on matters of cultural, education and development policy and assists developing countries in establishing effective universities by means of special programmes.
The German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) is the association of state and state-recognised universities in Germany. The HRK currently has 269 member institutions, in which over 90 per cent of all students in Germany are enrolled. The HRK functions as the voice of the universities in dialogue with politicians and the public and as the central forum for opinion-forming in the higher education sector. The HRK cooperates with universities and corresponding organisations all over the world. Its aim is to represent the interest of German universities at an international level and to support German universities in their internationalisation process.
