Design and Implementation of Digital Student ID System Based on Verifiable Credentials

With the rise of smart phone usage, digital credentials are gaining feasibility, and several are already in use. For instance, digital vaccination certificates have been issued by government health authorities in various countries, including Japan, where the Digital Agency and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare provide them. The mobile driver's license, with ISO specifications set in 2021, is anticipated to be particularly transformative. Our study investigates the development of digital student and staff IDs on smartphones. Using the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Verifiable Credentials (VC) specification, digital student IDs can be securely issued with built-in electronic identity verification. This enables functionality like building access, library borrowing, and lecture attendance verification. This paper details the design and verification processes, along with a prototype system for digital student IDs.