In the library, using public transport, for attendance tracking or discounts: a university ID card – whether for students or staff – is an integral part of daily university life. This makes it all the more frustrating when these small, credit-card-sized cards are forgotten or even lost. It is not just for practical reasons that many universities have decided to take a different approach in recent years. The ongoing digitalisation of numerous administrative processes and the search for more sustainable solutions culminated in a desire to move away from plastic cards and towards digital ID cards.
In 2021, Studo launched Austria’s first digital student ID
In the summer of 2021, University of Applied Sciences CAMPUS 02, in collaboration with Studo, became the first Austrian university to make the switch from analogue ID cards to a smartphone-based alternative. The Digital Campus Card was primarily used for identification purposes and served as a digital version of the analogue ID card, featuring the university’s design.
Since its initial launch, the Digital Campus Card has evolved significantly. In addition to the university logo, the digital ID card displays the student’s or staff member’s personal details – namely their name, date of birth, student number or staff number, and a photograph. The card’s validity is also displayed based on the holder’s enrolment status. The sensitive information on the Digital Campus Card is secured by a hologram, a screenshot block and a QR code for cryptographic verification.
The Digital Campus Card by Studo was Austria's first digital student ID.Additional features of the Digital Campus Card
It is not just students – staff at many universities now also use digital ID cards. This is driven by additional features that can be added as required and depending on the university’s software environment. With a single swipe on the screen, users can switch between multiple ID cards:
In addition to the digital library card for use in the library, some universities allow books to be borrowed via the Digital Campus Card using self-check-in. This reduces the workload for library staff and allows students to borrow the books they need at times that suit them.
For German universities, integrating the students’ public transport ticket is an absolute must. After all, students receive a free public transport ticket as part of their tuition fees – usually a printed sheet of paper that tends to get lost or damaged over time. With the Digital Campus Card, a single swipe gives you a public transport ticket valid on buses and trains.
Discounts in the cafeteria or at the university’s partner businesses are also popular benefits of the Digital Campus Card. Payments on campus, printing services, access to buildings – the potential uses of a digital ID card are wide-ranging.
Launch your digital ID in just a few weeks
If you’re looking for a digital alternative to the traditional check card, this can be achieved in just a few steps: Taking your existing software infrastructure – primarily the campus management system – into account, the Studo team will assess how the Digital Campus Card can be integrated. Together, it is then determined what data the ID card should display and how it should look in line with your university’s corporate design. After all, the ID card should be tailored specifically to your university.
Depending on whether the card is intended for students or staff, the information displayed and the card’s design will be tailored to the respective group. Additional functions such as a library card, public transport ticket, canteen discounts, and more can be integrated into the Digital Campus Card on request.
Interesting facts about the Digital Campus Card:
As a registered provider of the European Student Card, Studo can also integrate this EU-wide ID card.
Thanks to a hologram as a verification feature – the shimmer is actually caused by the gyroscope sensor – and the screenshot block, the Digital Campus Card is forgery-proof.
Upon termination of enrolment, the digital ID card is automatically deactivated.
The Digital Campus Card is also available offline.
