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study carried out by the Migration Advisory Committee regarding the impact of international students in the UK mentions that the impact of international students is more positive than negative: “International students provide a wide range of benefits to the UK students who study alongside them. They contribute to the diversity of university campuses, help prepare students for the global working environment, and support the development of more and improved facilities.”
Domestic and international students interact inside their classes (e.g. they have common tasks) and outside their classes (e.g. through sharing accommodation or social events). However, the reality varies from country to country. Therefore, in many cases refugees and domestic students are stating that it is almost impossible for them to meet each other on campus. If that is the case, one of the most common ways that refugees and domestic students can meet each other on campus is the so-called ‘buddy’ and ‘tandem’ programmes.
The way buddy programmes function is very simple: each refugee participating in the programme is paired with a student-buddy. Buddies are students who volunteer to help integrate refugees into study programmes and university life. They also organize recreational activities in their free time (e.g. international dinners, trips, hiking). As a buddy, you can help your peers, which is really important not only for the person who receives your help but for you too. Some of the skills you will develop as a “buddy” are teamwork, emphatic skills, networking, and intercultural and communication skills.
Domestic students who have participated in buddy programmes regard the experience as a very positive one. As a member of a buddy programme, you will fill your spare time by communicating with peers and at the same time you will be fulfilling an important mission. The buddies team is a multicultural group that deals with multicultural issues. A few examples of buddy programmes in Europe are the following:
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Buddy Program to Support International Students, University of Aveiro
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Buddy Students, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
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DAAD Welcome Project at KIT: Buddyand PELICAN tandem programs, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
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The Buddy programme for student refugees, University of Rostock
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Buddy Program to Support International Students, University of Aveiro
