Moving along with the times, students at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) are getting new smart cards that will enable them to pay for their meals at canteens, book facilities such as sports venues and study rooms, for parking on campus, or to use it for public transport.
NTU’s new president, Professor Subra Suresh launched the new smart card today at his first university town-hall meeting with staff and faculty members since he took over the reins of office from January 1. The card was launched as part of the vision to transform NTU into the largest smart campus in Singapore.
The NTU Smart Pass will double up as the identity card for the 33,000 or so students, as well as for its staff members. The card comes with an embedded contactless identity chip, and has a Nets FlashPay function as part of a tie-up with payment solutions provider Nets.
It is ready for use at 80 per cent of the university’s canteens, with the rest coming on board in the next few months. Majority of the retail and food-and-beverage outlets on campus are already equipped with the Nets contactless payment system as well.
The card will act as a personalised key for access to hall rooms, offices, laboratories and facilities, though it will take time for older halls to be equipped with the access system.
At the campus medical centre, students may also eventually use the card to register for health checks and consultations.
The card is also ready for use at 80 per cent of the NTU canteens, with the rest coming on board in the next few months. There are plans for students to use the pass to purchase other customised services in the residential hall rooms too.
NTU is working to put up vending machines with similar cash-free payment systems. Other mobile or cash-free payment solutions are being explored for the card.