HESCA14 event: Brighton, 4th-5th March 2014

Feb. 14, 2014 - PRLog -- Higher Education Smart Card Association

hosts 5th conference and exhibition: Brighton

Presentations confirmed from University of Brighton, Birmingham City University, National University of Ireland and many more for event in Brighton: 4^th & 5^th March 2014

Tuesday, 11^th February 2014: The opportunities, challenges and legal requirements associated with the adoption of smart technology in higher education will form the main theme for this year's highly anticipated event which will bring together education professionals and suppliers from across the country.

Supported by the University of Brighton, the two-day event will take place in The Old Ship Hotel in Brighton, and will combine the conference with a small exhibition. Confirmed exhibitors already include Burall InfoSmart, SALTO, EMOS Information Systems, Fidelity Systems, MagnaCarta Chipcard Solutions, Lenel, WPM Education, IdXtra, TDS, VMC & MCR Systems, Frontline Security Solutions, Nedap, Dot Origin, Essentra Security and Uniware.

Graham Davis, Unicard Services Manager for the University of Brighton commented: “We are committed to providing academic excellence to our students of the highest quality and as such we embrace innovative technologies to contribute in enhancing our student’s experience. We provide a wide range of smart card services to all staff and students including seamless cashless catering, secure building access and library services to name a few. The conference and exhibition will provide the necessary platform for Higher Education and industry to discuss smart card technologies which can ensure the UK is at the forefront of providing efficient and effective products and applications to meet the demanding requirements of UK Universities. We are proud to be supporting HESCA14”.

Daryn Flynn, Country Manager for Nedap Security Management added “there are significant business benefits to be gained from optimised systems integration, but this requires co-ordination from multiple departments and vendors - the university smart-card is a crucial component in this mix. HESCA is supported by Nedap because it provides an open forum where the stakeholders in successful, innovative smart-card projects can trade ideas, experiences, challenges and solutions. The 2014 conference is an important calendar event for anyone involved with smart-card projects ”.

Frank Hart, MD of TDS stated: “TDS are looking forward to taking part at this year’s Higher Education Smart Card exhibition, it is an invaluable opportunity to promote and demonstrate our innovative software solution TDS Student (Student Attendance Monitoring System) for universities, colleges and schools.”

Among other topical issues, speakers will be addressing modern solutions for access control, approaches for reducing cash on campus, and the latest legal requirements for attendance recording and monitoring.

Over 80 delegates are expected to be in attendance over the course of the two-day event, the latest in a successful series of annual events run by the Higher Education Smart Card Association (HESCA).

Richard Poynder, Chairman, commented: “Bringing together HEIs with years of experience in smart campus card schemes, with institutions having relatively little exposure to this technology, is a winning formula.  Adding relevant suppliers of new products and services to the mix adds hugely to the value of attendance for all stakeholders.  Smartex has developed an extremely effective formula for doing this at low or no cost to participants, in its unique informal, interactive, educative and enjoyable way.”

The next quarterly HESCA meeting will take place on 3^rd June at the Park Tower Knightsbridge Hotel, London.  Full information including an agenda can be found at http://www.smartex.com

**ENDS**

Notes to Editor

Photos are available upon request

About HESCA

A growing number of leading universities are members of HESCA.  Its main objectives are to bring these together with leading suppliers and consultants for quarterly full-day meetings in London, in order to learn of new products, services and methodologies - supported by frequent case studies - covering the many functions on and off campus that can usefully be supported by single, multi-functional smart cards.

Recent HESCA meetings have attracted record attendances, and have learned of the latest developments and use-cases for attendance recording and monitoring, cashless campuses (using both closed-loop e-payment products and contactless-enabled EMV cards) and physical/system access control.

Further information can be found at http://www.smartex.com

About Smartex

For over 21 years, Smartex has been successfully building the world's largest network of professional associations for smart card technology and all of its associated and successor forms, including RFID tags, biometrics and mobile NFC.

Members in three continents meet regularly to learn of new technologies, products and schemes, and to network in a non-sales environment.

Members are given instant access to information, expertise and business opportunities in this fast-moving and rapidly expanding space.

Further information can be found at http://www.smartex.com