Federal cooperation: Reliable bwCard

In this topic, the focus is on the operational implementation of the Federation in varying depth. The first task here is to analyse which reliability requirements exist between the facilities and how the necessary measures for compliance with the respective degree of reliability can be implemented organisationally and technically (WP 1.1). WP 1.2 must implement both the framework conditions and the technical requirements of the production community, which represent the necessary degree of autonomy in the Community.

 

WP 1.1: Structure of the bwCard Federation

Outside the issuing institution, the student identity cards have so far been used exclusively as visual identity cards. However, only the membership of the identity card in the institution and, in the case where a picture of the owner was apllied on the identity card, also the identity of the identifying person could apparently be identified. However, the current status that the person has at the issuing institution can only be derived from this to a limited extent from any semester indicators. In particular, in the event of a premature status change, use of the card was still possible if the holder did not adhere to the terms of use. In addition, electronic use of the card in a third-party facility was almost impossible.

With the increasing mobility of students and teachers, the use of the electronic card for identification at a partner institution becomes increasingly interesting. The aim of the "reliable bwCard" is to establish the validity of the card, which can be verified at any time, and also to create a basis for possible areas of application for different card user groups and different services through reliability. A system is to be set up to make it possible to inform all participating institutions of the status both on request and by means of a notification procedure. Naturally, all data protection and personal rights are observed, so that only those participants who have previously received a approval from the cardholder are notified of the status. In order to increase transparency, a portal will be created in which each cardholder can view and check the data stored in the Federation. This portal - bwCardInfo - will be successively expanded in the project and beyond.

This work package deals with the preparation of the card federation bwCard. The following tasks are to be processed in the work package:

  1. Determination of the status of the project participants
  2. Definition and implementation of data exchange
  3. Preparation of a financing concept
  4. Preparation of contractual documents for participation in the Card Federation
  5. Conception of continuous operation of the Federation

 

WP 1.2: Implementation of the production joint venture

In addition, within the framework of this cooperation, a production community already started in the bwCMS project will be further expanded. A central card management system is used to jointly implement the business processes for issuing and managing the respective card. This is implemented under consideration of the local requirements for processes and card design. Synergy effects are expected in the areas of process mapping, operation, licensing and maintenance as well as in the procurement of materials. The universities of Konstanz and Freiburg, the PH Karlsruhe, the DHBW Karlsruhe and the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences are already participating in the joint production project as proof-of-concept partners. In the next stage, the University of Stuttgart intends to participate in the production joint venture.

Basis of this production community is the infrastructure procured in the context of bwCMS. The common technical solutions are always accompanied by organisational agreements, such as the handling of locked or deleted cards. In addition, the bwCardInfo portal will be expanded in such a way that cardholders will be able to set additional functions, such as central blocking information.

The implementation of the production community pursues two objectives that complement each other. On the one hand, the partners are to be supported in the implementation and, on the other hand, the steps and procedures required for this are to be described in an appropriate form. This is intended to provide future participants in the production community with a technical construction kit and suggestions on how an additional local project could be adequately set up. In doing so, the institutions that will join later are to benefit comprehensively from the experience already gained.