Launch of Digital Student ID Service Starting in April
NetLearning Holdings will fully launch its digital student ID service, 'Smart Student ID', which uses international standard technology, in April 2026. It will be adopted by multiple universities, including Cyber University.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56 (2h 56m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 15:13 (544h 16m after Collected)
NetLearning Holdings, Inc. (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President: Toru Kishida, hereafter NLHD) will fully launch the provision of the digital student ID service 'Smart Student ID' using international standard technology starting in April 2026.
This service has been confirmed for adoption by multiple universities and high schools, including Cyber University (full university implementation from the 2026 academic year). With proof-of-concept trials beginning at large-scale universities, it is generating significant response and rapidly expanding as a foundation to accelerate Digital Transformation (DX) in educational institutions.
## Service Overview and Features
'Smart Student ID' is utilized by displaying it on a smartphone app, touching, or scanning a QR code. Students can enjoy advanced campus life features such as entry/exit and attendance management, as well as services using location information. Furthermore, by utilizing the Open Badges system, students can manage their enrollment records, learning histories, and academic transcripts in the same digital wallet, and the app can be expanded for course management.
It is completely different from mere PDF digitization.
It adopts the technology of 'Open Badges 3.0', a global technical standard, and complies with the VC (Verifiable Credentials) model recommended by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium). This makes it extremely difficult to tamper with and realizes high reliability where third parties can easily verify its authenticity.
Another reason for the strong response and growing adoption is that it significantly reduces costs for universities and high schools compared to traditional plastic student IDs.
[Main Features]
■ Centralized Management of Learning History and Student ID (One Wallet)
'Open Badges (digital learning certificates)' and 'Digital Student IDs' provided by NLHD can be held and managed on the same wallet app. This allows students to present and prove their 'affiliation' and 'abilities (learning history)' with just a smartphone.
■ Functional Extensibility
In addition to the identification function as a student ID, various functions necessary for student life, such as the issuance of academic transcripts, will be added sequentially. NLHD positions this service as the 'starting point for various student services' and will continue functional development to improve convenience.
■ Benefits for Educational Institutions
It significantly reduces printing and mailing costs, as well as administrative labor associated with issuing conventional plastic cards, allowing for low-budget implementation. At the same time, it contributes to the promotion of DX in educational institutions by reducing the risk of loss and improving security.
## Background and Track Record of Implementation
The NetLearning Group, including NLHD, has been providing digital certificate services utilizing Open Badges technology (service name: Open Badge) since 2020. Currently, it has been introduced to more than 158 universities in Japan, including over half of the national universities, with a cumulative total of more than 2.5 million badges issued. It has also acquired all technical certifications for Open Badges 3.0 as a domestic operator, receiving high praise for its ability to respond to international standards. Building on this rich track record and technical knowledge, we have now fully entered the domain of 'student IDs', which requires strict operation as an identification card.
## Comments from Adopting Institutions
We received the following comment from President Hiroshi Kawahara of Cyber University, which has decided to introduce it to all students from April 2026.
'The utilization of learning histories (micro-credentials) has become a global trend in visualizing individual skills and supporting career development. The integration of student IDs and learning histories in the same wallet using the international standard technology of 'Open Badges 3.0' is highly significant for Japan's educational DX...'
This service has been confirmed for adoption by multiple universities and high schools, including Cyber University (full university implementation from the 2026 academic year). With proof-of-concept trials beginning at large-scale universities, it is generating significant response and rapidly expanding as a foundation to accelerate Digital Transformation (DX) in educational institutions.
## Service Overview and Features
'Smart Student ID' is utilized by displaying it on a smartphone app, touching, or scanning a QR code. Students can enjoy advanced campus life features such as entry/exit and attendance management, as well as services using location information. Furthermore, by utilizing the Open Badges system, students can manage their enrollment records, learning histories, and academic transcripts in the same digital wallet, and the app can be expanded for course management.
It is completely different from mere PDF digitization.
It adopts the technology of 'Open Badges 3.0', a global technical standard, and complies with the VC (Verifiable Credentials) model recommended by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium). This makes it extremely difficult to tamper with and realizes high reliability where third parties can easily verify its authenticity.
Another reason for the strong response and growing adoption is that it significantly reduces costs for universities and high schools compared to traditional plastic student IDs.
[Main Features]
■ Centralized Management of Learning History and Student ID (One Wallet)
'Open Badges (digital learning certificates)' and 'Digital Student IDs' provided by NLHD can be held and managed on the same wallet app. This allows students to present and prove their 'affiliation' and 'abilities (learning history)' with just a smartphone.
■ Functional Extensibility
In addition to the identification function as a student ID, various functions necessary for student life, such as the issuance of academic transcripts, will be added sequentially. NLHD positions this service as the 'starting point for various student services' and will continue functional development to improve convenience.
■ Benefits for Educational Institutions
It significantly reduces printing and mailing costs, as well as administrative labor associated with issuing conventional plastic cards, allowing for low-budget implementation. At the same time, it contributes to the promotion of DX in educational institutions by reducing the risk of loss and improving security.
## Background and Track Record of Implementation
The NetLearning Group, including NLHD, has been providing digital certificate services utilizing Open Badges technology (service name: Open Badge) since 2020. Currently, it has been introduced to more than 158 universities in Japan, including over half of the national universities, with a cumulative total of more than 2.5 million badges issued. It has also acquired all technical certifications for Open Badges 3.0 as a domestic operator, receiving high praise for its ability to respond to international standards. Building on this rich track record and technical knowledge, we have now fully entered the domain of 'student IDs', which requires strict operation as an identification card.
## Comments from Adopting Institutions
We received the following comment from President Hiroshi Kawahara of Cyber University, which has decided to introduce it to all students from April 2026.
'The utilization of learning histories (micro-credentials) has become a global trend in visualizing individual skills and supporting career development. The integration of student IDs and learning histories in the same wallet using the international standard technology of 'Open Badges 3.0' is highly significant for Japan's educational DX...'