Our most traditional research publication about the outcomes of the welcome days‘ survey is now published, titled „Digital Equipment Evolution and IT Activity of TU Graz study beginners (2011-2025): Challenges of Tablet and AI Dominance for University Digital-Sovereignty Initiatives„
Abstract:
Over the last thirteen years, more than 14 000 freshmen at the Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) have taken part in the annual „Welcome Days“ surveys. This study analyses the responses collected between 2011 and 2025 to chart the shifting digital profile of incoming students. The results highlight evolving patterns in hardware ownership, social-media activity, communication preferences, digital recreation, and the utilization of online information sources. Notably, the data reveal a steady increase in the adoption of artificial-intelligence applications and tablet devices, alongside a decline in the use of Wikipedia and open-source software. These trends pose significant challenges for TU Graz, prompting the need for initiatives that strengthen digital sovereignty and promote on-premise hosting of open-source solutions.
[publication @ conference’s homepage]
[preview @ ResearchGate]
Reference: Nagler, W., Mayr, B., Ebner, M., Schön, S. & Bruenner, B. (2026). Digital Equipment Evolution and IT Activity of TU Graz study beginners (2011-2025): Challenges of Tablet and AI Dominance for University Digital-Sovereignty Initiatives. In Proceedings of EdMedia 2026 Edinburgh (pp. 119-129). Waynesville, NC: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved June 15, 2026 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/2129631/.