At this year’s first-year computer science competition organised by the Faculty of Communication and Environment at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kamp-Lintfort, the students demonstrated just how skilfully they can tackle complex computer science problems.
The challenge: a detailed but undated witness statement needed to be linked to a specific point in time. Several thousand lines of pedestrian sensor and weather data from the city of Moers, published via the open data portal, were available for this purpose. The task required precise work, a keen eye for detail and the targeted use of methodological tools. “This was a classic ‘needle-in-a-haystack’ problem,” explains the competition’s organiser, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Greveler, Professor of Applied Computer Science specialising in IT security at the university. “AI can help – but only if it is used wisely, as AI often overlooks details. The crucial work lay with the human element: systematically filtering and analysing tables, linking weather data with pedestrian data and narrowing down the relevant time slots,” Greveler continues.
The new students demonstrated remarkable analytical skills, as three correct solutions were found after just 37 minutes. All three winners identified the correct time window for the accident, despite the enormous volume of data and the tricky nature of the task. The fastest was Mark Annin-Steinke, a dual-study student of administrative IT at Herne City Council. He demonstrated not only speed but also impressive methodological clarity. His extensive experience in the school subject of computer science, which he gained at lower and upper secondary school before taking his A-levels in 2025 at the Bertha-von-Suttner-Gymnasium in Oberhausen, paid off. “That was excellent preparation for my degree,” Annin-Steinke explained in an interview.
Second place went to Björn Bach, a dual-study student at the State Office for Central Police Services (LZPD NRW), whilst third place was taken by Moritz-Elias Schneider, also a dual-study student at the LZPD NRW. “This shows just how carefully these young professionals are selected and how enthusiastically they tackle technical challenges,” said Prof. Dr Ulrich Greveler, for whom it was no coincidence that two of the three winners came from the LZPD NRW. It demonstrated the high calibre and exceptional motivation of the students embarking on their careers there.
In his tribute, Greveler emphasised that this year’s competition had demonstrated in a particularly striking way how modern public administration and security agencies benefit from young professionals who are data-literate: “Our students combine fundamental knowledge, critical thinking and the targeted use of AI tools. It is precisely this combination that will form a central component of digital infrastructures in the future: in government departments, in local government and, above all, in an increasingly data-driven police force.” Students on the dual-track degree programmes in Administrative Informatics/E-Government and Media Informatics are thus part of North Rhine-Westphalia’s ‘digital spearhead’. They receive practical training, possess strong analytical skills and are highly motivated.
A degree with a future
A degree in Computer Science at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences combines technical knowledge, social relevance and practical application. The dual study programmes, in particular, offer future professionals the opportunity to apply their skills directly within public authorities, companies or local government bodies – a win-win situation for both sides.
