Duke University in the US will give an Apple iPod to each incoming student as part of an initiative to encourage use of technology on campus.

The devices - more regularly used as music players - will come preloaded with university-related content, while a special website modelled on Apple's own iTunes site will allow students to download faculty-provided course content, including language lessons, music, recorded lectures and audio books.

The move is a pilot programme between Apple and Duke University that will be evaluated after a year, with Duke covering the $500,000 project out of funds set aside for technology innovation.

The university hopes to motivate students to think creatively about using digital audio content and mobile computing environments to advance educational goals, with a growing number of faculty members showing an interest in adding audio and video components to their courses.