I’m very excited and honoured:

I have been selected as the 90th expert for the Leaders and Legends of Online Learning and inducted into the global Hall of Fame. What is unique about this is that the selection is only made by the other experts and colleagues worldwide. Marc Nichols started this project at the Open University of UK back in 2018 and has always recorded a podcast with all the appointed experts. In his questions, he is particularly interested in the personal long-term perspective.

In over 30 minutes, I describe my eventful career, international achievements and dedication to open and free education to strengthen societies and the common good worldwide. After starting my career with e-learning producers and HR consulting companies and as co-founder of the German E-Learning Association for Professional Providers (D-ELAN e.V.), I switched to scientific research. In my countless international activities and projects, I have been active on all five continents and worked primarily at universities in Europe and Asia. During my doctorate in economics and computer science, I remained true to my main topic, which I have continuously pursued for over 25 years: the quality and innovation of digital and open teaching and learning opportunities. Finally, I was appointed ICDE Chair and Associate Professor at the Open University of the Netherlands and I still holds professorships at the Korean National Open University in Seoul and at the East China Normal University in Shanghai.

Currently, I’m setting up a research line at the University of Bonn’s Scientific University IT and Data Centre that specializes in Open Education and Artificial Intelligence (AI). I analyse and evaluate the benefits of their application and combination in practice for the quality and innovation of school education, academic teaching and, above all, for the common good and society as a whole. Most recently, I was appointed by the Council of Europe as a member of the European AI&ED Expert Group, which is developing an EU law specifically on the use of AI in education to complement the AI Act.