Where should a university start when it wants to integrate artificial intelligence systematically — not just in one course or department, but across research, teaching, and administration? That question has been hard to answer. Since spring 2026, there is a dedicated national resource: KI-LOTSE.
What is KI-LOTSE?
KI-LOTSE is a project of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), funded by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). The name is intentional: a “Lotse” is a pilot or navigator — and that is exactly what the initiative offers. As the project puts it: “Guidance center for orientation, technology, service and expertise on artificial intelligence in higher education.”
The primary audience is university leadership and strategic decision-makers: people who are less interested in the next AI tool review and more concerned with questions like: What infrastructure does our institution need? What does the EU AI Act require — or prohibit? How do we govern AI use in examinations?
What KI-LOTSE Offers
The platform covers four thematic areas — legal questions, infrastructure, personality development, and AI & didactics — alongside two direct service tracks:
Strategic advisory: University leadership teams can now apply for free, on-site consultation sessions lasting one or two days. The offer is designed for rectorates and presidiums looking to embed AI into institutional governance — not as a side project, but as part of a coherent strategic framework.
Legal support: A dedicated entry point for legal questions surrounding AI in higher education — from data protection to examination law and the EU AI Act. Not a law firm, but reliable orientation and practical guidance — free of charge.
On top of this, KI-LOTSE runs think tank activities: thematic working groups (including one focused on “AI and Examinations”) and a Good Practice database to ground strategic decisions in concrete examples from the field.
Why This Matters
There is no shortage of AI-related content for higher education — toolkits, webinars, prompt guides. What is often missing is the governance layer: how does an institution decide what to do with AI — and what not to do? How does it create clarity and trust for faculty, students, and administration?
KI-LOTSE addresses exactly that. And it does so with the backing of the HRK, an organization with the institutional mandate to think at a system level. That combination — credibility, expertise, and strategic scope — is rare and welcome.
Institutions already working on AI readiness and strategy may also find value in the freely available workshop materials on the AI Maturity Matrix that we published here. The two resources complement each other well: the Maturity Matrix helps institutions assess where they currently stand, while KI-LOTSE provides the guidance and framework to decide where to go next.
Looking Ahead
KI-LOTSE launched in April 2026 — it is a young project, but the concept is sound. A bundled, HRK-operated service hub that does not add to the noise, but helps universities navigate it. We wish the team every success and are glad this resource now exists.