Study buddies wanted!

The goal of the Study Buddy Program is to help international students integrate and to promote intercultural exchange at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. The program aims to assign a personal mentor (buddy) to every international student who has found their way to our University through the 'Studienkolleg' (preparatory college), the direct admission program, or the Erasmus program and now needs to find their bearings in their new environment. The buddy supports the international student—especially during the initial period—with any difficulties they may face at the university and in everyday life. Thus, both sides benefit from a buddy partnership:

The buddy mentor can strengthen their foreign language skills and intercultural soft skills. The new international student can rely on the help of their experienced buddy mentor and also improve their German language skills and intercultural competencies.

Anyone who is already enrolled at the University, has a solid command of the German language, and—ideally—has personal experience studying abroad and can therefore empathize with the challenges faced by international students can become a buddy mentor. The two buddy partners decide on the “program schedule” themselves; in principle, there are no limits to how the program is structured. Ideally, the partnership should go beyond purely administrative and formal support and also take place on a personal, friendly level (in keeping with the English meaning of the word “buddy” = friend).

Anyone who wants to expand their global social network and is interested in getting to know new cultures will find the Study-Buddy Program to be the perfect fit. Recognition of your participation in the Buddy Program is possible as part of the “Studium Fundamentale” program.

The International Office looks forward to welcoming many reliable participants and wishes all domestic and international students a successful start to the summer semester with many sunny experiences during their buddy partnership.