Learning of Tomorrow [Event Report] “The Accelerating Shift to Online Education at Universities: The Next-Generation Digital Identity Infrastructure” Learning of Tomorrow Online Symposium: We spoke with Professor Osamu Nakamura of Keio University about the “Next-Generation Digital Identity Infrastructure.”
"Digital Identity" refers to a "digital student ID." This is an initiative by Keio University aimed at streamlining the digital verification of student identities and degree conferral while also establishing global standards.
In addition to logging into campus systems and issuing enrollment and graduation certificates, it is said that the expansion of ID integration between universities is also being considered. Standardizing certificates is essential for promoting service collaboration between universities, including transfer admissions and credit transfers. Beyond that, it is said that collaboration with companies during the job-hunting process and integration with payment systems in everyday life are also being envisioned.
That is precisely why compliance with standards that ensure global and long-term usability is so important, and to that end, Professor Nakamura expressed his desire to collaborate with various international organizations and contribute to the development of international standards.“There is some debate about what can actually be done with digital certificates, but that’s the same ‘chicken-or-egg’ debate we saw when the Internet first emerged. By establishing concrete, usable infrastructure, a vision for the future will naturally take shape.”
Personally, I’d like to see Keio University—which offers programs from elementary school through high school, college, and graduate school—develop a learning history platform that students can use throughout their lives.
Professor, Keio University; Ph.D. (Policy and Media)
Director, B Lab
Chairperson, Learning of Tomorrow (General Incorporated Association)
Chairperson, CANVAS
After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, he served as a visiting researcher at the MIT Media Lab before founding the NPO CANVAS and the Learning of Tomorrow Association, a General Incorporated Association, and assuming the role of representative. He serves as an outside director for Matsuya Co., Ltd., Fuji Media Holdings, Inc., and Digital Garage, Inc.
He has served on various government committees, including the Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as the NHK Central Broadcasting Program Council. He also serves as a director of the Digital Signage Consortium, among other roles. He holds a Ph.D. in Policy and Media.
His publications include *Turning On Children’s Creativity!*, *What Are Smart Kids Doing on Their Smartphones?*, *The Forefront of Online Education in Japan: Considering Learning in the Post-COVID Era*,“What Is Programming Education? 45 Questions Parents Want to Know,” and “Declaration on Digital Education.” He has also provided supervision for numerous works, including “Ah, I See! Programming Education for Parents and Children Through Manga.”
