STUDENTS at University College Worcester will be tapping into the latest employment information next week with a first for higher education.

Jobpoint, run by JobCentre Plus, will link students from the St John's campus with local job centres through a special computer terminal and telephone link

The scheme, the first of its kind in the UK, will give them access to 400,000 vacancies across Britain and Europe as well as giving them the benefit of an advice line.

"The launch of the Jobpoint is a significant development and will provide students with up-to-date information on vacancies anywhere in the UK or Europe," said students' union president Lindsay Secomb.

"This means they can apply for a job while they are studying and will hopefully have secured employment by the time they graduate."

The facility, which was launched yesterday, will also be open to local residents from Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and on Saturdays from noon-5pm.

Jobpoints are networked computers with hi-tech touch screens. They are also available at JobCentre Plus sites throughout the country.