Prof. Dr. Niels Pinkwart
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Address
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Unter den Linden 6
10099 Berlin
Office
Room 2038
Contact
Phone: +49 30 2093-20100
Fax: +49 30 2093-1320100
Email: vpl@uv.hu-berlin.de
Curriculum Vitae
Since October 2021, Prof. Dr. Niels Pinkwart is Vice President for Academic Affairs at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. He studied Computer Science and Mathematics in a teacher education program at the University of Duisburg. Here, he also completed his PhD studies in 2005 with a dissertation on collaborative modeling systems in education. After a post-doctoral researcher position at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute of Carnegie Mellon University, he accepted offers for Assistant Professor and Associate Professor positions at Clausthal University of Technology. In 2013, he moved to Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin where he heads the research group "Computer Science Education / Computer Science and Society". His research interests are at the intersection of digitalization, education and societal/organizational change.
In addition to his activities at HU Berlin, Prof. Pinkwart acts as Scientific Director of the Educational Technology Lab at DFKI Berlin.
Prof. Pinkwart has authored more than 250 peer reviewed publications and has conducted several research projects with funding from DFG, Federal Government and foundations. He is a regular member of a variety of program committees of scientific conferences and currently acts as associate editor of the International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education and as member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Educational Data Mining.
News for Students
Here you will find up-to-date information on upcoming events, interesting calls and helpful scholarships.
Project "Leitbild Lehre" (teaching mission statement) of the Humboldt University of Berlin
The "Leitbild Lehre" (mission statement for teachin) at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin was adopted in December 2023. It represents a common self-image of the students, teaching staff, academic administration and university management of the HU.
The "Leitbild Lehre" is based on existing realities and aims to provide university-wide, forward-looking orientation. It is intended as a cross-faculty strategic discourse and framework for action with regard to overarching didactic principles, fundamental qualification goals, and competencies to be taught. The "Leitbild" articulates the principles of study as well as requirements for students, teaching staff, and supporting structures.
In order to fill the "Leitbild Lehre" with life and to shape good teaching at HU together, we are in continuous dialogue with each other and work together on its further development. We have identified the first important points for implementation in the "Zukunftswerkstatt".
All members of the University are invited to actively participate in the implementation of our "Leitbild Lehre"!
Further information can be found here: https://bolognalab.hu-berlin.de/de/leitbild-lehre
Digital Teaching and Learning
The websites for Digital Teaching and Learning (DL) support members of HU in carrying out their tasks in research, teaching, and studies. Here you will find all information about the tools of the Digital Teaching and Learning Landscape (HDL3), practical recommendations, information about advisory services, and various resources regarding aspects of digital teaching.
https://www.digitale-lehre.hu-berlin.de/de
Theme week "Sustainable Teaching"
With the theme week ‘Sustainable Teaching’, the HU draws attention to teaching and learning projects that touch on the topic of sustainability in terms of content or didactics and thus effectively point out the interaction of nature, society and culture as a challenge of our time.
The theme week started with the HUMBOLDT Day of Teaching on 3 June 2025 with the presentation of the Award for Excellent Teaching. A further highlight was the Circle U. Climate Day on 5 June 2025, which all nine partner universities held concurrently.
Various events, courses and initiatives educated, rose awareness and promoted dialogue about sustainable teaching and encouraged discussions about sustainability at the university and during studies. Teachers, researchers, students and members of administrative staff took part in a conversation promoting (environmental) education and positive change.
You can find more information about the programme here: https://bolognalab.hu-berlin.de/de/gl/themenwoche
HUMBOLDT Day of Teaching
Every year at the beginning of the summer semester, the Vice President for Academic Affairs invites everyone to the HUMBOLDT Day of Teaching. The HUMBOLDT Day of Teaching explicitly focusses on teaching and teaching staff at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. It offers an opportunity for exchange, discussion and networking on issues of excellency in teaching and successful learning. As part of the HUMBOLDT Day of Teaching, the Humboldt University's Award for Excellent Teaching will be conferred.
This year, the HUMBOLDT Day of Teaching took place on 3 June 2025 and centred on "Sustainable Teaching and Learning". The programme was opened by Niels Pinkwart (Vice President for Academic Affairs), Christoph Wulf (German Commission for UNESCO's Vice President), and Sara Schurmann (Co-founder of the Climate Journalism Network), followed by a panel discussion on how sustainable teaching at HU is. Afterwards some of the finalists for the Humboldt University Award for Excellent Teaching presented their sustainable teaching formats.
Award for Excellent Teaching at Humboldt University
Every year, the Vice President for Academic Affairs presents the Humboldt University's Award for Excellent Teaching and also sponsors teaching awards from the faculties.
In 2024, the Humboldt University's Award for Excellent Teaching was conferred on the "Studium Oecologicum". More information about the award winner can be found here:
https://www.hu-berlin.de/de/ueberblick/menschen/ehrungen/preis-lehre
In the academic year 2023-2024, teachers and teaching-learning projects that have succeeded in introducing sustainabilty into teaching in an outstanding way were sought for the 2024 Award for Excellent Teaching.
AI in university education
In a nationwide funding competition, the Humboldt University of Berlin prevailed with innovative concepts for the use of artificial intelligence in academic studies and teaching. The federal-state initiative promotes measures that contribute to the qualification of future academic specialists in the field of artificial intelligence. It also supports the quality improvement of higher education through AI. In this way, for example, new AI modules in teaching, entire AI degree programmes or AI-supported learning and examination environments can be developed.
Joint project "IMPACT"
Within the framework of the IMPACT project, which operates on a supra-regional basis with external funding, the improvement of higher education is to be promoted through the scalable use of artificial intelligence procedures for the (partially) automated analysis of texts. In the collaborative project, the Humboldt University of Berlin is participating in particular in the areas of data protection & ethics, data management as well as textual analyses for use in feedback and evaluation processes. The joint project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Duration: 12/2021–11/2025
Contact person at the HU: Claudia Ruhland (claudia.ruhland@hu-berlin.de)
Further information on the joint project can be found here: https://www.projekte.hu-berlin.de/de/impact
AI-SKILLS
The project AI-SKILLS focuses on the development and implementation of a curricular integrated certificate programme "Artificial Intelligence" at the Humboldt-University of Berlin, which should allow students of all academic disciplines to deal with AI-methods and AI-technologies in a subject-specific way. The aim of the project is to develop a coordinated framework concept for the application-related use of AI technologies and AI methods in education. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Duration: 12/2021–11/2025
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. Robert Jäschke (robert.jaeschke@hu-berlin.de)
Further information on the project can be found here: https://www.projekte.hu-berlin.de/de/ai-skills/ai-skills
Project KI-Campus HU Berlin
The KI-Campus is the learning platform for artificial intelligence with free online courses, videos, podcasts and tools to strengthen AI skills. The Stifterverband is responsible for the AI Campus office and coordinates several projects together with numerous partners, including Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
As part of the BMBF-funded joint project KI-Campus 2.0 from 2023 to 2024, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin has been involved in the sustainable and quality-supported integration of selected KI-Campus learning formats into its curriculum, the development of an AI micro-degree for teachers and networking with regard to recognisable AI offerings in teaching. In addition, the conceptualisation and testing of the use of AI campus learning formats in teaching was analysed and evaluated through process-accompanying quality management, and insights were gained into the conditions and paths for the sustainable implementation of effective (OER) AI formats in the specific university context of HU Berlin.
In 2025, the integration of AI campus learning opportunities into the Career Centre's interdisciplinary elective area and the AI micro-degree for lecturers as part of the HU's AI teaching certificate will be continued. In addition, formats with AI Campus learning programmes are being developed both in continuing academic education and in the interdisciplinary elective area for the teaching profession.
Project management: Prof. Dr. Niels Pinkwart (Vice President for Academic Affairs)
You can find more information on the joint project here: https://www.hu-berlin.de/de/hu/verwaltung/ccww/projekt-ki-campus-2.0
Rosmarie Schwartz-Jaroß (rosmarie.schwartz-jaross@uv.hu-berlin.de)
Berlin University Alliance (BUA)
The Berlin University Alliance aims to strengthen the connection between top-level research and academic teaching and to promote the exchange of excellent scientists and students.
For the first time, education will be promoted within the framework of an Excellence Programme. By including teaching and learning as a cross-cutting theme, the Berlin University Alliance is sending a clear signal in this area.
Further information on the BUA's "Teaching and Learning" can be found here: https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/commitments/teaching-learning/index.html
Special Programmes
- Qualitäts- und Innovationsoffensive (QIO)
- Erhöhung der Anzahl der Absolventen und Absolventinnen der Lehramtsstudiengänge sowie zur Verbesserung des Lehramtsstudiums – „10-Millionen-Programm”
- Beste (Lehrkräfte-)Bildung
Office hours for students
The Vice President is available to discuss student concerns.
Please register at vpl(at)hu-berlin.de.
Staff
Mandy Heitland
Office Manager, Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs
Phone: +49 30 2093-20100
E-mail: vpl.office(at)hu-berlin.de
Room 2036
Dr. Xenia Zeiter
Personal Advisor to the Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Comittees
- Sustainability / climate protection
- Quality management and accreditation
Phone: +49 30 2093-20104
E-mail: vpl.persref(at)uv.hu-berlin.de
Room 2033
Stefan Rutkowski
Advisor for Change Management and Innovation
- Digitalisation of studies and teaching
- Restructuring processes
- Internationalisation of studies and teaching
- Teaching mission statement (temporary)
Phone: +49 30 2093-20105
E-mail: vpl.refchange(at)uv.hu-berlin.de
Room 2026
Johanna Goral
Coordinator for Teacher Training Programs
- teacher training
Tel.: +49 30 2093-20108
E-mail: vpl.refla(at)hu-berlin.de
Room 2026
Andrea-Cornelia Riedel
General Coordination for Projects in Teaching and the QIO
Phone: +49 30 2093-20107
E-mail: Sonderprogramme.vpl(at)hu-berlin.de
Room 2026
Karl Frenzel
Assistant for Student Communication
Phone: +49 30 2093-20103
E-mail: vpl.studkomm(at)hu-berlin.de
Room 2026