Member Article

Durham University leads the way with online enrolment

More than 15,000 Durham University students have been able to enrol before their university courses started, thanks to a new online student enrolment system.

Managed by business and IT consultants Waterstons, the new system has helped to streamline the enrolment process, making it easier for students to sign up with the university.

The management of the project involved liaising with over 270 staff, the university’s IT Services department, ITS, and Banner software developers, Unisys.

As well as automatically capturing vital information on students such as emergency contact information, their term time address and who is going to be paying their fees, the system allows students to upload a photograph so that university staff can prepare their campus card for collection when they arrive at their college; saving time which would have otherwise been spent queuing when they arrived at university.

Furthermore, access to the university’s IT systems and library is now granted in advance of the students’ arrival - a process that previously took several days to complete.

Waterstons’ Lesley Renteurs said: “Durham University is demonstrating that they understand the mindset of their students. Today’s intake have been brought up with technology and a large proportion use tools such as Facebook, MySpace and MSN Messenger to keep in touch.

“Giving students the ability to start their student life online is a natural progression which saves valuable time for staff and students alike.”

Durham University’s Acting Registrar, Carolyn Fowler, said: “The online enrolment project is part of a wider university initiative to enhance the already first-class experience we offer our students.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .