The North-West University (NWU) yesterday launched its new mobile app to the Google Play, Apple App and BlackBerry stores.
The app, built on the Kuali Mobility for the Enterprise framework, provides a customised set of tools for students and staff members on the three NWU campuses.
NWU social media strategist Christoff Swanepoel says the app was mainly developed to improve internal communication by bringing it to smartphones. "At the same time, the app improves and strengthens the learning environment and overall university experience," says Swanepoel.
App functions include a buy tool allowing users to buy airtime, live streaming to the campus radio station, access to the student newspaper, as well as official NWU news, a chat tool for internal communication, and it allows students to check the balances of their student cards.
The app also features a tool to access academic results, campus maps on Google, and a help function which shows all relevant emergency numbers.
Swanepoel says the app is integrated with existing business systems to ensure the internal security of the app, as no data is duplicated as it already exists at another business source.
The app is free to download and standard network authentication details are used to provide the user with his/her campus-specific set of tools.
"Thus far we've had good reaction [to the app] on social media channels and general feedback from students and staff is very positive," says Swanepoel. "We are excited about the number of possibilities and opportunities this app presents."
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