A college in eastern China that uses big data to identify students in financial difficulty says it has paid out millions of yuan in "stealth subsidies" over the past 13 years.
我国东部一所高校利用大数据甄别经济困难的学生，称其在过去13年里已发放了数百万元的“隐形补助”。
The University of Science and Technology of China introduced a computer system in 2004 that records and analyzes spending in its campus canteens, and began using it to identify struggling students.
中国科技大学于2004年引进一个电脑系统，记录和分析校园食堂里的消费情况，开始用其甄别生活困难的学生。
Those who make the list for a subsidy receive an email and have 160 yuan credited to their canteen card. The list is updated on a monthly basis.
进入补助名单的学生会收到一封邮件，其餐卡获得160元充值。该名单每月都会更新。

According to figures from the student affairs office, the university has paid a subsidy 40,000 times since 2004, providing a total of 6 million yuan to needy students.
根据该校学工处的数据，自2004年至今，该校已向贫困学生发放补贴4万次，共发放补助600万元。
"Interestingly, we have found that the canteen expenditures of the credited students does not rise considerably, while their expenditures in campus fruit stores and bookstores will rise after they get the money," said Li Feng, deputy director of the student affairs office.
学工处副处长李峰称：“有趣的是，我们发现，在得到这笔钱后，那些受补助的学生的食堂花费并没有显著增加，而他们在校园水果店和书店的花费则有所上涨。”
"The stealth subsidies are aimed at helping students while protecting their privacy and dignity," he said.
他说道：“隐形补助旨在在帮助学生的同时也保护他们的隐私和尊严。”