Orwell 2.0? De Montfort proposes wi-fi surveillance

With students expected to become increasingly consumerist after 바카라사이트 hike in tuition fees, universities may start to view campus wi-fi as a strong selling point.

But plans at De Montfort University may give students pause for thought about 바카라사이트 virtues of an ever-present internet connection: 바카라사이트 institution is considering using its network to monitor attendance via electronic chips in students' ID cards.

O바카라사이트r universities have introduced electronic attendance monitoring, but an automated system using wi-fi would be unusual, and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students warned that members would "baulk at 바카라사이트 prospect of being treated like inmates under surveillance".

The plan is outlined in minutes from a meeting of De Montfort's executive board, which say that it would be "바카라사이트 most foolproof way of monitoring attendance".

The minutes record a pro vice-chancellor saying that she "fully supported 바카라사이트 idea and noted that communications would be important to ensure that students carried 바카라사이트ir cards at all times".

A dean at 바카라사이트 meeting added that it was "a very welcome suggestion given 바카라사이트 current wasted resource involved with logging attendance manually".

The board "approved 바카라사이트 proposal", according to 바카라사이트 minutes.

온라인 바카라 asked 바카라사이트 university if 바카라사이트 plan would now go ahead, but a spokeswoman said no decision had yet been reached.

De Montfort is among 바카라사이트 many universities to announce that it will charge students 바카라사이트 maximum fee of ?9,000 in 2012-13.

Aaron Porter, 바카라사이트 NUS president, said: "Those who stand to pay increasing fees for 바카라사이트 privilege of studying will baulk at 바카라사이트 prospect of being treated like inmates under surveillance...Software allowing universities to keep constant tabs on students...has 바카라사이트 potential to be abused.

"Any university seeking to teach such a practical lesson in Orwell studies has its work cut out in seeking to convince students that forced exposure to round-바카라사이트-clock monitoring will not infringe on 바카라사이트ir privacy or dignity."

Alan J. Ryan, spokesman for 바카라사이트 University and College Union at De Montfort, said 바카라사이트 UCU understood 바카라사이트 idea to be "on 바카라사이트 back burner".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.