Student welfare tracked by health app

Liverpool's students are to be equipped with wearable technology in a bid to better understand how they perform on their course.

The university is trialling the idea with first-year sports science students and dual-career athletes at LJMU's School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, in order to enhance their academic experience and potential.

LJMU is working with health-tech startup Prorizon which has created a mobile app, integrated with wearable technology, to gain insights about students wellbeing and the impact it has on attendance and performance.

The partners hope the learnings will provide insights into how better support the student population.

A 2021 survey by the Office for National Statistics revealed that 37% of first-year students in England reported experiencing depression and anxiety, which impact their performance and wellbeing.

This data-driven approach aims to ensure that all participating students have the tools to perform optimally at University, while maintaining their health and well-being.

Joly Zou, Co-Founder and CEO at Prorizon Tech, said: "We are thrilled to partner Liverpool John Moores University to bring our health management tools into a university setting. At Prorizon, we are dedicated to a science first, data-driven approach to harnessing biopsychosocial data and AI technology in order to enhance individual well-being and performance.

“This collaboration is not only a testament to our innovative approach but also aligns with our mission to transform how mental and physical health support is provided to young athletes and students, setting them up for success in all areas of life."

Dr Rebecca Murphy, Head of Department for Sport and Exercise Sciences at LJMU added: "Partnering with Prorizon allows us to enhance our support systems using cutting-edge technology to cater to the diverse needs of our students, enabling improved, student-focussed interventions that are current and relevant. It reflects our commitment to fostering an environment that supports the wellbeing of our students, ultimately enhancing their personal, academic and athletic ambitions and enabling them to thrive."

The project is supported by two LJMU research assistants, James Woodward and Elliot May and Professor Claire Stewart.

James said: "This initiative provides a unique opportunity to determine the influencers on student health and performance in order to support student outcomes directly. We anticipate that the findings will significantly influence how we can use technology to support our students, not just at LJMU but potentially across all educational institutions."