Stow College in Glasgow is taking innovative steps to allow students access to the latest college news and information by developing its first smartphone application. The app will provide them with up-to-date timetables and events at the touch of a button.

In a bid to make it as user-friendly as possible, Stow has asked students to suggest features they would like to see added, and will work with them, as well as SmartPhone Media, to develop them. Already the college has approached current students to ask for their input, and plans are underway to launch a user group which will discuss the app’s functionality.

“We like to keep abreast of the latest technology,” said Hilary Ramsay, the college’s marketing manager. “Our College App will put useful information more easily into the hands of students, visitors and prospective students. Students are comfortable with this technology, and since they’re already on their phones all the time, it’s a pretty easy way to get them the information they need.”

The college hopes the end product will benefit prospective and existing students alike, with information on courses, useful contact details, campus maps and Stow College news.

The move comes a year after Stow’s website won the gold award in the Student Choice Website Category at Scotland’s Colleges Marketing Awards. The website was also established in co-operation with students and experts in an attempt to revolutionise how the college communicates with the student body.

Students were involved from the commissioning stage through to the final design process. The website was set up by Stow college web experts, in the same way the college is planning to involve them now in the process for the new SmartPhone app. The site has proved popular with members of the public and current and prospective students.