Uni's hi-tech checks at lectures

The device gives the lecturer instant student attendance statistics

A university, which invented its own electronic register to track students' attendances at lectures, says it has proved a success in its first year.

A spin-off business at the University of Glamorgan, Treforest, developed the device to help cut down on students dropping out.

Students pass around a baton, which logs their attendance using a key fob.

Data is downloaded and viewable online for lecturers to help assess any students who may be facing problems.

Steve Thomas, a lecturer and director of Network75, said staff were able to use the information to identify those students who do not attend and alert them to possible problems.

"There can be hundreds of students attending lectures, and 10-20% can be missing without the lecturer realising," he said.

Many thought it showed that staff really cared about them - it is largely welcomed by students now Sarah-Lou Collins, students' union

"Our system targets students that are not attending, so that those with problems are given targeted support and attention as soon as the problem arises".

According to the last published Higher Education Statistics Agency figures, for students who started courses in 2002, the University of Glamorgan had a drop-out rate of above 15%.

Figures from the University of Glamorgan show that in the last academic year, 95% of students contacted as a result of the new system because they were not attending lectures were "eased back into the system".

Students at the university have welcomed the scheme after intitial sceptisim about how it would be used.

Sarah-Lou Collins from the students' union said: "At first a lot of the students thought the regime was going to be very totalitarian.

"But towards the end of the year that had changed and students who had been called because they had missed lectures said they were pleased because rather than demanding to know why they hadn't been to lectures they were asked if they were OK and if they were coping.

"And many thought it showed that staff really cared about them.

"It is largely welcomed by students now," she added.

Napier University in Edinburgh is also trialling the system.