University students to face fingerprint scanners to prove they are attending  lectures - and they're not illegal immigrants

• Biometric scanners to be introduced in line  with the UK Border Agency measures
• Scanners would recognise students'  fingerprints and collect data on which sessions they have attended
• Border Agency measures to ensure  international students don't use student visas as a way to sneak into the  country
• Union referendum shows 1,200 students voted  against the scheme

  By James Black

PUBLISHED:18:23 GMT, 14  December 2012| UPDATED:19:07 GMT, 14 December 2012

University students may have to scan their  fingerprints in future to prove they are going to their lectures.

Newcastle University plans to introduce  biometric scanners to bring the institution in line with the UK Border Agency  (UKBA) and clamp down on illegal immigrants.

Students and staff at the North-East  university will be monitored through the Student Attendance system from the  start of next academic year.

Exactly how it will work is still in question  but one option being discussed is to introduce finger scanners at lectures and  classes.

These readers would recognise students'  fingerprints and collect data on which sessions they have attended.

Newcastle University claims the move is a  necessary step to meet their obligation to UKBA and ensure international  students don't use student visas as a way to sneak into the country and work  illegally.

But the university also believes the new  system will keep on top of attendance and help identify home students who are in  need of support. But some students and staff claim the move is 'unnecessary and  intrusive'.

A student group at Newcastle University  claims biometric scanning is over the top and infringes their  privacy.

Newcastle Free Education Network has  organised protests against the plans, claiming the scanners would 'turn  universities into border checkpoints' and 'reduce university to the attendance  of lectures alone'.

In a referendum at the Students' Union, 1,200  students voted against the scheme, with just 320 voting in favour.

FULL STORY: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2248264/University-students...