Last may Cambridge became the first university to set out measures for the full 2020-21 academic year, announcing that it will move all “face-to-face lectures” online for the duration since it was “likely” social distancing would continue to be required. Many other prestigious universities, colleges and schools followed this position worldwide and gradually announced that they were suspending face-to-face classes until further notice and moving their courses on-line.
The digitization of the education sector has become indispensable. The reality is that COVID-19 pandemic is causing more than 1,6 billion children and youth to be out of School in 161 countries, up to 80% of the world enrolled students. Nevertheless, this rapid move to online teaching and learning as a means to curtail the spread of COVID-19 has exposed the weaknesses of the educational model in the face of the pandemic.
The rush to move to online platforms had created some “vulnerabilities” to many universities using learning management systems. The fact is that shifting to full online learning means more human resources, not always with enough training. Besides more sensitive data is now available on line with many more access attempts from various devices. This scenario leaves the learning management systems susceptible to denial-of-service attacks. Besides if any of those universities is working in coronavirus fighting research it makes them even a bigger target.
Now the pandemic had forced educational institutions to adopt unfamiliar technology and realign processes “on the fly” with limited time to assess risks. A new educational model is necessary… But the transversal digitization of the education system will be essential.
Digitization to support the education industry and guarantee educational activity through the following technologies:
- Digital Identity, breaking face-to-face limitations
The set of information found online about a person or organization is what we know as Digital identity. These are increasingly replacing our physical identity, and covid19 has only accelerated the adoption of this technology, in order to promote social distancing and remote procedures. In some cases, people are looking to get certified in certain technology areas, to help their qualifications and hopefully provide a stronger background after they emerge from this. Looking into “exam dumps” can be beneficial and help prepare those who are taking exams.
An ID solution that is capable of creating reliable digital identities for students, teachers, staff and devices, with total confidence and ensuring an optimal level of security, is currently a very valuable resource for any educational institution. For what reason? Because it enables every natural person to identify and authenticate their person to be able to carry out any action that, for security or simply to generate efficiency, does not have to physically move to a specific place.
Imagine the possibilities, students could access educational networks and platforms, take exams, carry out academic processes, all of this providing the institution with security that they really are. In addition, these benefits can be extrapolated to workers and their remote work.
- Onboarding, secure access to online educational and business platforms through strong authentication
In relation to the previous technology, the new educational model must offer practical web-based services, such as online platforms and courses, with secure access for all parts of our educational institution: staff, teachers, students… For this, it is necessary to identify the person and ensure the validity of it, through their digital identity through the onboarding. The most innovative onboarding solutions are a quick identity creation and real-time remote identity verification solution which facilitates the remote enrolment of students regardless of their geographic location, gain student satisfaction, facilitates the work of administrative staff, avoids presence,…
The practical applications are many, checking attendance at remote classes, prior identification access to restricted platforms, secure the identity of students in exams with video identification, biometric facial recognition for identity verification, etc. The versatility in identification and subsequent authentication is notable for users and mobile devices with one-time password (OTP) and a network card, PIN or text message, or software tokens for mobile devices, biometric recognition, identification documents and even through videos (video identification is already a reality)
- Digital Certificate, guaranteeing the security of all your procedures and processes
A digital certificate provides for example students with permanent digital records for lifelong learning that can be easily verifiable authenticity with 100% accuracy and security, anywhere in the world. In addition to the already known certificates that are necessary to carry out any business procedure either with the public administration, the bank or other organizations.
Currently the certificates are synonymous with legality and if we live in a digital world these should be too.
A digital certificate solution, enables educational institutions to create and manage qualified digital certificates without having to manually install them on each device. Both students and teachers need to sign several documents throughout the year, like, enrolments, certifications, grant papers and diplomas. Originally, this meant doing a lot of paperwork, and the obligation of being physically present to do so. Now, however, they can do it digitally, from anywhere, with legal recognition of validity. But not all certificates are equally valid, your educational institution must ensure that they are managed and issued by a trusted Certification Authority, that complies with all regulations like eIDAS (EU) and ESIGN ACT and UETA (US).
- Digital Signature, streamlining administrative processes
Continuing with the issue of certificates, we have to talk about digital signatures, which help increase productivity and save time spent on tedious administrative procedures. However, its benefits do not end here: also, they grant security to the information contained in the documents, guaranteeing their confidentiality, Avoid fraud and identity theft in relation to diplomas and certificates, and damages to the reputation of the institution that could result from these threats.
Using a good digital signature solution means that students can complete paperwork quickly, signing documents from their computers or mobile devices, to accelerate the registration process or the application for scholarships, this means that a Digital Signature solution can facilitate the enrolment of potential students, regardless of their geographical dispersion and reduce the waiting time and improve the satisfaction of students and teachers, reduces paper costs, improves document organization and protects the environment.
- Digital Archiving, protecting knowledge in the cloud
Digitization and Archiving, as an information security discipline helps Educational institutions to better manage personal information and records in the digital repositories effectively and securely. Can be help preserve the digital legacy of the educational institution, with archives, businesses can create complete and fully navigational records of their registers, can help inspire and educate future generations. But it is not a question of the future in the 2020-21 academic year, this technology gains special importance, students and workers of educational institutions must be able to access in a safe, easy and remote way to the necessary information to be able to continue carrying out their activity. If there were to be confinement again, this must be an essential requirement so as not to paralyze the education sector.
But the true potential of all these digital innovations has been integrated into a single ecosystem of all solutions, thus creating an end-to-end solution capable of generating powerful in all processes by both students and workers of the educational institution. Integration, scalability and adaptability are crucial elements for the digitization of the education sector
If you want to learn more about the advantages of digitization in the education industry, request a demonstration of any of the technologies featured in this blog post to see for yourself or contact us. We will be happy to help you with all your queries.
