Our Professors – Academic Leadership at German UDS | Pioneers in Digital Education

The Academic Leadership of German UDS: Our Professors Shaping the Future of Digital Education

The German University of Digital Science (German UDS) represents the future of digital higher education in Germany. As the first fully digital university, German UDS is defined by its academic leadership, its world-class professors, and their shared mission to make digital education globally accessible.

At the core of this vision stands a distinguished group of international professors and digital transformation experts. They are pioneers in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Educational Technologies, Extended Reality (XR), and Digital Management, driving innovation through teaching, research, and real-world applications.

Together, these professors lead research centers and academic initiatives that form the backbone of the university’s global learning ecosystem. Their expertise ensures that German UDS remains a symbol of academic excellence, technological innovation, and digital transformation.

An International Faculty of Innovators and Researchers

The faculty of German UDS brings together leading academics and researchers from around the world, each recognized for their groundbreaking contributions to the digital sciences.

These professors are not only educators, they are active innovators, conducting cutting-edge research in AI-driven learning systems, cybersecurity infrastructures, and digital transformation strategies. Their work enhances the online learning experience and contributes to Germany’s growing reputation as a hub for digital education and AI research.

Every professor leads a dedicated research group, collaborating across borders to shape the future of online higher education. This model reflects the German UDS mission to create an inclusive, globally connected academic environment built on scientific excellence and digital accessibility.

Founders and Key Academic Leadership

The academic leadership of German UDS is rooted in visionary scholarship. The university was co-founded by two internationally recognized pioneers in digital innovation:

• Prof. Dr. Mike Friedrichsen – An expert in digital media, business informatics, and virtual environments, Prof. Friedrichsen serves as the President of German UDS. His leadership ensures that the university remains at the forefront of digital transformation in education and AI-driven learning design.
• Prof. Dr. Christoph Meinel – A globally renowned computer scientist and IT security specialist, Prof. Meinel is known for his contributions to cybersecurity, Internet technologies, and digital education models. His vision has helped define the technological infrastructure of German UDS.

Supporting them is Prof. Dr. Julia von Thienen, Speaker of the University Council, who ensures academic quality, integrity, and governance. Her leadership bridges the gap between research excellence and educational innovation.

Together, these leaders embody the intellectual foundation of Germany’s first fully digital university, combining research, innovation, and educational technology to shape a new model for global higher education.

Professors and Research Expertise

The German UDS faculty includes top-tier international researchers and educators whose work defines the cutting edge of digital science and AI research in Germany.

Core Professors

• Prof. Dr. Katya Artemova – Data-Centric Language Technologies
• Prof. Dr. Marco Bade – Digital Entrepreneurship and Finance
• Prof. Dr. Maren Borkert – Digital Entrepreneurship and Management
• Prof. Dr. Daniele Di Mitri – Multimodal Learning Technologies and AI in Education
• Prof. Dr. Georg Loscher – Digital Work and Organizational Transformation
• Prof. Dr. Steven Ney – Design Thinking and Social Innovation
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Staubitz – Educational Technologies and Social Learning
• Prof. Dr. Tim Stuchtey – Economics of Cybersecurity and Digital Policy
• Prof. Dr. Julia von Thienen – Design Thinking and Neurodesign
• Prof. Dr. Feiyu Xu – Industrial Artificial Intelligence
• Prof. Dr. Felix Weitkämper – Statistical and Symbolic AI

These professors drive the university’s digital education research, integrating AI, data analytics, and human-centered design to redefine how learning is delivered and experienced in the 21st century.

Senior Professors

German UDS is also proud to collaborate with Senior Professors whose decades of academic experience enrich the university’s intellectual foundation:

• Prof. Dr. Reiner Creutzburg – Applied Computer Science
• Prof. Dr. Michael Dowling – High Technology Entrepreneurship
• Prof. Dr. Raul Rojas – Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
• Prof. Dr. Güner Schmidt – Operations Research

These senior scholars strengthen academic leadership, ensuring German UDS remains a leader in AI research, cybersecurity, and digital innovation.

Collaborative Research Centers at German UDS

Innovation thrives at German UDS through its interdisciplinary Research Centers, each fostering collaboration between professors, postdoctoral researchers, and doctoral candidates.

These centers serve as incubators of new knowledge and hubs of applied research in digital science.

• Research Centers at German UDS include:
• Research Center for Educational Technologies
• Research Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence
• Research Center for Extended Reality (XR)
• Research Center for Cybersecurity
• Research Center for Digital Transformations

Each center drives forward AI research in Germany and connects academic expertise with industry applications. These centers also host doctoral programs, enabling students to work directly on real-world digital transformation challenges alongside leading professors.

Through these centers, German UDS professors collaborate internationally, promoting open science, sustainable innovation, and cross-disciplinary research.

A Global Philosophy of Digital Learning

As a fully digital, English-speaking university, German UDS champions a new paradigm of global digital education.

The professors integrate:

• AI-driven adaptive learning systems
• Virtual collaboration platforms
• Project-based, experiential learning models

This approach merges academic rigor with technological innovation, creating a truly interactive and personalized educational experience. Students benefit from flexible, high-quality online master’s programs in digital education, designed to meet the evolving demands of global industries.

By combining digital pedagogy, scientific excellence, and AI-powered learning tools, the professors of German UDS are redefining how universities deliver education in the digital transformation era.

Inspiring Future Digital Leaders

At the heart of German UDS’s mission is the belief that education should empower innovation. The faculty of German UDS doesn’t just teach, they inspire and mentor.

Through their research, mentorship, and international collaborations, they prepare students to become leaders in digital innovation, ready to solve the complex challenges of our digital future.

With their combined expertise in AI, cybersecurity, digital entrepreneurship, and educational technologies, the professors at German UDS embody the future of digital academic leadership in Germany and beyond.

Their vision ensures that German UDS remains a global hub for research, education, and transformation, shaping tomorrow’s innovators in the world of digital science.