Aplusid

Generation Z students expect their college or university to innovate and
adapt. The method of identification is one area in which institutions
need to evolve, taking into account 2 major challenges facing the
higher education sector: inclusion and security. Can digital technology
really meet these two challenges? Does the physical card still have a role
to play? Can digital and physical solutions coexist?

Generation Z (Gen Z) students have weathered the recent pandemic while still vigourously
pursuing their higher education goals. They have completed much of their studies under
exceptional conditions (university closures, distance learning, new evaluation methods,
etc.). This period testifies to their ability to adapt and to draw on the necessary energy
to overcome difficulties and ultimately achieve their learning objectives, despite a difficult
context. This breed of determination is also one of the factors that explains why this generation
has the highest number of individuals enrolled in school, with a much lower dropout rate than
previous generations.
Already very familiar with digital technology, they have taken even more advantage of the
advanced tools at their disposal to pursue their studies remotely. However, this approach
has limits that this generation does not take lightly, especially with the absence of valuable
in-person dialog and contact, which are often proven to be essential in the learning process.
At the same time, this new way of working has also empowered them to work in a very flexible
and mobile way: from anywhere and anytime.

The question of using digital tools, such as smartphones, to identify students inevitably arises for
university officials. Smartphones have their advantages, but do they actually address the issues
of inclusion and security?

INCLUSION

• A smartphone represents a significant
  cost that not all students can afford
• Smartphones become unusable if
  the battery fails or there is a technical
  malfunction
• Smartphones do not all have the same
  performance levels or access to the same
  features
• Some people are not familiar enough with
  new technologies, which may be a divide
  between students

CYBERSECURITY

• Use of third-party software or applications
  often requires the sharing of students’
  personal data, which increases the risk of
  hacking
• Smartphones contain more personal
  information than is required to take
  advantage of the student card’s services
  and thus risk exposing the student’s
  privacy unnecessarily
• It should be up to the student to decide
  whether or not they want to share their
  data with the outside world. If the student
  does not wish to do so, the university
  should offer an alternative solution

The smartphone does have its limitations in achieving inclusion and security goals, but it remains
a tool widely embraced by Generation Z. The card, on the other hand, perfectly meets the major
challenges of universities and has many advantages for both the institutions and students. We
can therefore conclude that these two means of identification can successfully coexist for the
foreseeable future, to offer an immersive experience, which is able to guarantee the inclusion of
each student in optimal security conditions.

So, no, the smartphone is not ready to kill the student ID card!