What or who is zoom?

• Zoom is an American company, which offers services for video conferencing.

• In April 2020 Kiel University concluded a contract with the supplier for using these services.

• Since 2023, follow-on contracts with Deutsche Telekom for the use of a variant of the service called Zoom-X have been in effect. The contract uses an agreement between the DFN and Telekom Deutschland. The official name of the service is 'Zoom-X for DFN'.

For which purpose can zoom be used at Kiel University?

• The University Board of CAU and the data protection officer released the use for teaching purposes to ensure education.
• The system can not be used for meetings in which highly  personal data is exchanged e.g. exams, applications, appointments.
• The same applies to meetings with other confidential data e.g. in the context of research collaborations, considering secret data, latest research findings, external funds, patent discussion, etc.
• These restrictions apply not only to the actual video conferencing and webinar service, but also to embedded components such as whiteboards.

What exactly do you do with zoom?

Zoom is a provider for video conferencing within which lectures can be transmitted via video stream. It is possible to have single windows (e.g. with a presentation or an application program). In addition you can write or draw on a so called whiteboard. Participants are able to interact via chat or video.

It is also possible to join a meeting via phone.

How many participants can join a meeting?

The number of participants is limited by default to 300.

If you need to hold a bigger event the corresponding identifier can be unlocked for the use of a 'Large Meeting Add On'. Please contact  videoconf@rz.uni-kiel.de via e-mail and provide following information:

• name of the person who is holding the big event
• e-mail adress
• identifier (if known)
• name of the event
• expected number of participants

This is followed by the activation for usage of the "add on licence".

Is zoom accessible?

For further information please visit  https://zoom.us/de-de/accessibility.html

How can student and research assistants use zoom?

Student assistants are often involved in education, e.g. as supervisors for practice groups or internships.

Therefore this group of people can get a full-fledged zoom account.

How can students use zoom?

Students  get a full-fledged zoom account after logging in with their IDP account into zoom.