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Pakistan University Adds RFID Cards and Video for Security

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 06/11/10

A Pakistan university is implementing a new set of security measures for its students. The Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad has signed up with a vendor to supply ID cards embedded with radio frequency, on-campus surveillance, and an SMS alert service.

The RFID project is being done as a build-operate-transfer agreement, in which the vendor--Analytical Solutions (Pvt) Ltd.--will work with the university over five years in return for a portion of the fees generated by the initiative. The work involves integration between student ID cards and the student information system, as well as Web-based reporting systems.

The university is also working with Analytical Solutions to install closed circuit televisions throughout the campus and to implement a service that uses SMS alerts and interactive voice response to notify subscribers about emergencies and administrative and academic information, such as admissions, examination results, and final grades.

"As far as the security of students is concerned, we are taking every possible step to ensure that students spend their time in safe and secure educational environment," said Vice Chancellor Masoom Yasinzai. "We are now turning towards all possible options and introduction of RFID cards is [a] major part of our plan regarding credible security inside the university," he said.

The vendor said it has implemented similar security technologies in other locations, including Bannu and Nowshera in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, home to the Khyber Pass, a main thoroughfare linking Pakistan to Afghanistan.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

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