Government as a platform for efficient and safe administrative processes in university management – a case study on administrative innovation at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences

Abstract

This study investigates the relevance of platform-based models for universities as a distinct case within public administration. It highlights how specific organizational characteristics—such as institutional autonomy, complexity, and multi-stakeholder governance—present unique challenges for university management. The research explores to what exent platform models can help address these challenges while ensuring legal compliance and secure system architecture. The platform economy is described in the literature as a modular ecosystem that includes a platform core (e.g., digital infrastructure, authentication) and a periphery (e.g., external developers, enterprises). In the context of administration, the "Government as a Platform" model is often used as a reference, which emphasizes the opening of state IT systems and the provision of standardized interfaces to external actors. For the analysis of the security law aspects of the platform economy in the administration of university management tasks, an interdisciplinary approach is chosen that integrates both legal and information technology perspectives. The methodology combines literature review, case study analysis (university management HSRM) and the comparison of theoretical models from platform research.
The application of the platform economy approach to administrative processes offers considerable potential for increasing efficiency and promoting innovation. At the same time, security requirements must be systematically integrated into the platform architecture. The findings provide higher education leaders and public sector IT strategists with a framework for adopting platform models to meet governance, innovation, and security demands in university administration. The analysis shows that successful implementation requires a combination of technical standardization, clear governance structures, and continuous risk monitoring