Big data technology is helping over 300 impoverished students get customized financial support from the Nanjing University of Science and Technology Education Development Foundation, according to an article by China Daily.
Through big data, the organization was able to analyze the meal card consumption record of undergraduates from mid-September and mid-November, allowing them to deposit ample cash support to finance the meal cards of 301 students.
According to the analysis, 314 students spent less than 420 yuan for over 60 meals in the school canteen per month. A monthly benchmark of 630 yuan was set, as it only costs an average of 7 yuan per student to have a meal.
University counselors knowledgeable with the specific financial conditions of each student were on hand to help finalize the list of recipient students.
The recipient students were subsidized according to the differences between the set benchmark and their actual monthly expenses for food. This ranged between 11.63 yuan and 340.53 yuan.
The organization will continue funding their meals until they graduate, according to Wang Hu, the foundation's general-secretary.
Because of big data analysis, the organization was able to pinpoint the problem and finalize recipient students without embarrassing them, unlike the more traditional means of applying for financial support.
As to whether the foundation's chosen sampling method possibly left out any underprivileged students who don't eat in the canteen, Wang said: "An average take-out costs seven or eight yuan, which is more expensive than canteen meals, so we think most impoverished students prefer the canteen."
For incoming freshmen in the university, the foundation is mulling the possibility of updating the sampling period. The process of data sampling and analysis will still be kept under wraps, however, to reflect and correctly assess each student's financial situation.
Students and Chinese Internet users praise the sampling method for being discreet and accurate.
"I think it's the right way to give financial support because it's more targeted and also the students in need don't have to tell their heart-wrenching stories in front of their classmates to show they are more qualified for support than others, as they did before," said a freshman from Nanjing University of Science and Technology.