The current state and impact of Covid‐19 on digital higher education in Germany

This case study looks at the effects of the Covid‐19 pandemic on teaching and learning at universities in Germany. It examines the question of whether the current practice of Emergency Remote Teaching in the online term 2020 will lead to an acceleration of the digitalization of teaching and learning, and on what we can build upon in this development. In the light of the state of digital higher education in Germany and international experience in the field of distance education, as well as organizational support structures, the results of a longitudinal study on the media use behavior of students will be presented. While the acceptance of e‐learning tools was slightly declining before the Covid‐19 outbreak, it is to be assumed that the demand for digital offers will rather increase. Despite some reluctant reactions, it can be assumed that the current situation will have a positive effect on digital innovations in university teaching in Germany due to the pressure of the crisis, the great commitment of many teachers, and raised expectations.