HESCA’s aim is to provide Higher Education establishments with a platform for debate on smart card technology issues relevant to their business objectives.

HESCA endeavours to provide an opportunity to explore the technology in detail; the standards, software, hardware, applications and integration, aiming to develop a mechanism by which a series of cost-effective solutions is available to its members.

This Forum meets quarterly, including an annual two-day Conference & Exhibition.  The main focus is the on-campus functions supported by smart campus cards and, in the near future, by smartphones.  There are some 20 candidate functions, including access control, attendance monitoring, cashless catering & vending, library activities, campus payments, society memberships, examinee validation and identity assurance.  Meetings are chaired by an HEI representative, and are attended by smart campus service providers, HEIs, FEIs and specialist consultants.