1. Authentication and Authorization in the Swiss Virtual Campus
2/24/2019
Authentication and Authorization in the Swiss Virtual Campus
Jacques Monnard
Swiss Virtual Campus Technical Support Group Centre NTE University of Fribourg
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
In our discussion today, we will try to find an answer.
Member of the technical support group for the Swiss Virtual Campus.
First I will tell you a few words about the Swiss context, and the issues we are facing
Now, first, let’s talk about the context

2. The Swiss Virtual Campus
2/24/2019
The Swiss Virtual Campus
Goal: enhanced access to higher education
Projects to develop high-quality internet-based courses
Co-operation between universities, ETH, UAS: at least 3 partners in each project
Credit system and accreditation process
Budget for : 30 Mio. Frs. (plus matching funds from participating universities)
Information:
Let me start with a bit of history: in 1997, the Conference of Swiss Universities, asked a group of experts to analyse the impact of NICT on teaching at the University level, and to suggest measures that would allow universities to facilitate students’ access to higher education (especially make it independent of time and place)
In its final report, the expert group concluded that it would be inappropriate, for various reasons, to finance a new Swiss institution dedicated solely to open and distance learning. Instead, it recommended the creation of a Swiss Virtual Campus. According to this concept, Swiss universities should be encouraged to rethink some of their courses and make them available electronically. (The idea is that of a mixed model combining on-site and distance learning.)
The issue of collaboration is also very important: since the higher system in Switzerland is organised in a decentralised manner, this project will also require a lot of cooperation between the universities, the Swiss confederation, which will provide part of the funding, and the cantons (federal states) which finance the universities.
One condition for the virtual campus to work is a uniform credit system across all universities, which we don’t have yet in Switzerland, or only in a very partial way. This would allow one student to get a degree by taking courses at different universities, either in presential mode, or as distance learning.
Another condition is the existence of an accreditation process to guarantee the quality of the courses.
The project will start formally in 2000, with a budget of around 30 mio$. This will be used to support projects/courses, research on psychological and pedagogical issues.
Now of course, for the Swiss Virtual Campus to succeed, some important issues related to the topic of this session have to be solved:

3. SVC Program Schedule April 2000: Selection of projects (1st series)
2/24/2019
SVC Program Schedule
April 2000: Selection of projects (1st series)
July 2000: Start of 1st series of projects
February 2001: Selection of projects (2nd series)
May 2001: Start of 2nd series of projects
Fall 2001: First field tests
(?): Students take first SVC courses

4. Authentication Requirements for the SVC
2/24/2019
Authentication Requirements for the SVC
Instructors and students must have controlled access to SVC courses and related resources (libraries, etc.)
Link to existing authentication scheme within universities
Interoperability with similar systems in other countries
Connection between course platforms and authentication system