China's most prestigious education institution, Beijing University, is to set up a 120-member student patrol team to improve campus security and provide poor students with part-time work.

The campus-based security force will comprise sophomores and higher grades, and postgraduates, said an official from the university's security department.

From next month, the team is expected to patrol the campus, safeguarding bikes, helping increase awareness of security among students, and reporting suspicious activities to the authorities.

Team members, mostly men, will be paid 10 to 15 yuan (one U.S. dollar equals 7.8 yuan) per hour. Some may get a performance-related bonus.

In the early 1980s, the university had a "Student Security Association", but it was later disbanded, said the official.

Editor: Wing