Durham students launch UniReach app
By Kaelan Clack
Like clockwork, Durham University is interminably abuzz with a myriad of events.
From debates, concerts and sports fixtures there are multiple opportunities to hear leading experts speak on their field, support your college’s latest endeavours on the pitch or network with high-profile employers.
However, due to the varying nature of events at Durham and the decentralised, collegiate organisation of the University, keeping track of upcoming events can often be extremely taxing, with information and notifications often scattered across posters, DUO and Durham email.
As a result of this, a group of Durham students have launched an app to bring this information to the fingertips of students. They told Palatinate: “We are proud of Durham University and want it to be in line with other universities and take the student experience into the 21st century.”
Evidently, this may take the form of more efficient inter-university networking.
The layout is particularly simple, with the information broken up into two distinct tabs – “Offers” and “Events” – the former listing all available offers currently running in Durham’s restaurants, bars and shops; the latter containing all of the University’s talks, presentations and sports fixtures.
The app, known as ‘UniReach’, has been available on the Apple App Store since the 27th of November. However, to the dismay of some students hoping to benefit from the app’s lauded properties, it is only available on Apple devices. Yet when queried on this issue by Palatinate, the creators stressed that they plan to release ‘UniReach’ to Android platforms within the coming months.
‘UniReach’ is available exclusively to Durham Students, with the creators stating that the app “was designed by Durham students, for Durham students and therefore users require an @durham.ac.uk email address to log in.”
Arguably, the first striking feature of the app is that it boasts a concise compilation of information. This may seem novel to users of ‘UniReach’ who, like the creators, viewed the previous system as “information instead scattered around in often obscure and inaccessible DUO emails, Facebook groups and posters.”
However to many, the ‘Events’ function of the app may seem incredibly reminiscent of the ‘What’s On’ service provided on the Durham University website. The ‘What’s On’ service provides a chronological list of University events currently taking place and those scheduled to take place. This, like ‘UniReach’, encompasses lectures, theatre, sports fixtures and exhibitions.
Yet ‘What’s On’ differs from ‘UniReach’ on the poignant note of its target audience.
Unlike, ‘UniReach’, the ‘What’s On’ function does not focus exclusively on the student body of Durham and also provides information targeted at the local populace with separate tabs for ‘Family and Community’ events. Despite the degree to which this could arguably benefit Durham’s often strained ‘Town and Gown’ relationship, many Durham Students may appreciate the solely student-centric approach of ‘UniReach’.
When questioned about any similarities ‘UniReach’ may bear to ‘What’s On’, the creators stressed that the lack of student-orientation and the fact that ‘What’s On’ does not exist in app form were some of the primary motivations for creating ‘UniReach’.
It could be said that the most endearing feature of ‘UniReach’ is its portability and quick method of access through the app function which, unlike ‘What’s On’, can be checked rapidly and on-the-go. This allows students to cash-in on events last-minute or take advantage of fixtures which have otherwise been advertised impractically late.
The creators, who stated that they want Durham students “to have this information at their fingertips”, appear to have taken this into consideration and ‘UniReach’ upon usage is remarkably clutter-free with a commendably clear interface.
This contrasts to ‘What’s On’ which must be accessed through the Durham University webpage and requires some degree of navigation around the website.
Overall, the app itself does contain features which have not existed elsewhere, primarily the ‘Offers’ tab.
With its student-focused discounts, it should prove popular as it focuses exclusively on Durham businesses. In the past, this has proved hard to deduce and ‘UniReach’ promises to simplify the process, appealing to thrifty students across Durham.
Having only just reached our smartphones here in Durham, the creators stressed to Palatinate that ‘UniReach’ is the student’s app and it will be whatever we, as the student body, want it to be. “Tell us what you want and we’ll endeavour to make it happen!”
‘UniReach’ is in its embryonic stages, with relatively little exposure to the student body as of yet. Yet, over the coming months Durham will undoubtedly decide whether this app becomes a staple of student life at our University or, like so many techno-ventures before it, is consigned to the digital history books.
You can download the App from the App Store by searching ‘UniReach’. If you want to feature anything you feel Durham students would be interested in, send an email to events@unireach.co.uk or via Facebook/ Twitter.
Screenshots: Matt Miller
