Project partners from CrossComITS visit the H-BRS

Projektgruppe CrossComITS zu Gast in der H-BRS

The Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS) welcomed its project partners to the joint CrossComITS project to enable an intensive exchange. The aim of the project is to promote IT security by means of innovative training concepts and social platforms.

The goal: A mix of analogue and digital teaching and support services

CrossComITS works intensively to strengthen IT security among vulnerable target groups and has developed a pioneering training concept in the course of which trainers are trained and technically supported. For example, small video instructional films are being developed specifically for the project's target groups, for young people, for non-mother-tongue speakers and for people of older age. In this way, a platform and a network are to be created that combine elements for on-site training with a digital offer - hence the name of the project: CrossComITS.

In April, the digital café for senior citizens was extended. Here you can get help with tablets, PCs and the internet. Professor Dr Luigi Lo Iacono took the opportunity, together with his research team and students from the Department of Computer Science, to conduct a survey on the topic: "How do you use your PC, smartphone and tablet? How safe do you feel? Where do you see dangers?". The questions in the voluntary questionnaire interviews were recorded and evaluated anonymously for the research project "CrossComITS". The survey was part of the preparatory phase of a project that aims to contribute to strengthening safety in dealing with the Internet & Co among the population. Special attention is paid to people who have little previous experience with digital applications or who are unsure about using them because they have difficulties in understanding the language for various reasons.

H-BRS develops digital teaching aids

While the University of Siegen will train the trainers, the H-BRS is primarily involved in the conception and implementation of digital teaching materials and the design of user interfaces that are oriented towards the needs of future users. Here, too, the exchange with the visitors of the Digital Café will possibly be a good opportunity.

The CrossComITS project is supervised on the part of the H-BRS by Prof. Dr. Hektor Haarkötter (Professor of Communication Studies with a focus on political communication), Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Heiden (Professor of Computer Science, especially hypermedia and multimedia systems) and Prof. Dr. Luigi Lo Iacono (Professor of Information Security), together with their research team. Students from the Department of Computer Science support the Digital Café with their knowledge.

CrossComITS: Project is a collaborative effort of several partners

The Department of Economics at the University of Siegen, the Department of Computer Science at the H-BRS, the Catholic University of Applied Sciences NRW and, as a company, the software developers NanoGiants Düsseldorf are working together in the project. The Protestant Adult Education An Sieg und Rhein is one of the six associated cooperation partners of this ambitious project.

The project, which is funded by the federal government, started in 2022 and will continue until mid-2025.