Why Join?Towards the Smart Campus Since 2002, HESCA has brought together HEIs and suppliers to that sector, to seek ways of making simpler and more cost-effective the deployment of multi-application smart cards on campuses. Most colleges and universities currently issue their staff and students with several single-function tokens such as for access control, Student Union membership, library access, general ID, parking and meals. These fragmented systems and insecure cards carry a high cost of continuing deployment and maintenance, and do not allow HEIs to develop cohesive identity management programmes. Smart cards have long been viewed as an important component in the provision of integrated and effective applications on campus, but development cost and complexity have combined to frustrate their widespread implementation in the UK. HESCA has been tackling these issues and opportunities by considering, as a group, where benefits may be achieved by co-working, cost-sharing and standardisation. Members and delegates have also received educative guidance as new smart card technologies and associated software and networking systems have become commercially available. The future for campus systems will be about security and the proper exercise of entitlements. The introduction of multi-application smart cards will itself enable new and useful applications to be implemented, such as lecture attendance recording and examination entrant validation. The incorporation of biometrics will allow a far greater level of effective access control, both to buildings and to computer systems. Smart technology may move from cards to mobile telephones. Banks are now embracing contactless card technology, and will offer such products to HEIs. HESCA will continue to address such topical issues and to guide its membership accordingly. WHAT A MEMBER SAYS ABOUT HESCA
“HESCA meetings have offered an invaluable opportunity to obtain insight into the world of smart card technology and the variety of potential applications. As the group is attended by colleagues from other HEIs, there is also an opportunity for networking and to share issues and solutions.”
David Manfield, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff AIMS
To bring together HEIs and technologists with an interest in the use of smart technology on campuses, and to share a common understanding of the technology, applications and marketplace as they evolve. Themed full-day quarterly Forum meetings have several specialist-led sessions, with ample breaks for networking. In the background, voluntary working groups are being established to consider topical issues, and to submit written recommendations to the members of HESCA.
WEB SITE
The HESCA web site provides a range of useful information, including a private Members-only area containing meeting presentation material and other member services. HOW TO JOIN
Membership is open to all, and is by annual fee in advance. Application forms are available in the Smartex Forum Information Pack and on the web sites. CONTACTS
For further information or assistance, please call Richard Poynder, Chairman, The Smartex Group, on 01440 712610 or email him at richard@smartex.com.
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