Smartcard Technologies

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Part of our Blurring the boundaries (2): how technology is changing the way we learn series

Smartcard technologies have increasingly been used to replace disparate token based systems at universities and schools over the last decade.

The cards are able to carry identification and biometric information as well as being a library card, a computer login card, and containing credits for services. One example is a school in Cornwall, which introduced a smartcard system for electronic registration and cashless catering in 2002.

The UK government has not missed the potential for the use of cards in education. In 1999, the prime minister promised a smart card for students which would provide cash and discount incentives for students in higher education.

The Connexions card appeared to fulfil this purpose when it was released in 2002, but the national scheme was withdrawn in February 2007 as part of the ‘Youth Matters’ initiative which aims to devolve responsibility for youth provision to local authorities.

Smartcards - In Our View

There are numerous differing smartcard solutions already in place within education, each offering a variety of services to both the school and the learner. We are of the opinion that the technology will increasingly be used within the education system, whether at learning establishment, local authority or national level.

The use of the card as a means of identification, a key to services, and as a cashless wallet has a myriad of applications in the education and welfare sectors; the key development being the use of the technology to deliver multiple benefits simultaneously.

The key to adoption, as with the closely related RFID technology, will be in the political and civil liberty arenas; with the benefits of learner safety, establishment security and efficiency playing off against the perception of a ‘big brother’ state, and concerns about responsibility for data integrity and security.

Also in our Blurring the boundaries (2): how technology is changing the way we learn series:

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If you have any questions about the subjects covered in this white paper or you would like to find out more about how Oakleigh Consulting could help your organisation, please contact us on 0161 835 4100 or email us.

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