Study buddies wanted!

The goal of the Study Buddy Program is to help international students integrate and to promote intercultural exchange at the University of Zittau/Görlitz. The program aims to assign a personal mentor (buddy) to every international student who has found their way to our university through the Studienkolleg, direct admission, or the Erasmus program and is now trying to adjust to their new environment. The buddy supports the international student—especially during the initial period—with any difficulties they may encounter at the university and in daily 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 strong 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 learning about new cultures will find the Study-Buddy Program to be the perfect fit. Recognition for your participation in the buddy program can be granted 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.