The BUDDY PROGRAMME is intended for first-year students. The project was originally launched during the first lockdown (spring 2020). During that period, newly-enrolled students did not have a chance to make new friends and share experiences as it normally happens when you start a university path. For this reason, Politecnico designed this experimental project in which last-year students become "buddies" who help new students to integrate into the university.
Who is a buddy?
He/she is a kind of mentor, an older student who has already experienced the difficulties of the first university months, who can help first-year students to deal with the complicated moment they are going through offering support and extra resources.
What does a buddy do?
A buddy is supposed to help first-year students with:
- organizing their life as university students (time tables, methods, organization);
- finding their way around the campus by providing information on how to use administrative and/or IT services;
- making new friends inside and outside the university by organizing meetings and events (normally online);
- sharing experience and information about life in the city (real and virtual life);
- sharing and promoting Italian culture by helping International students get acquainted with social habits in Italy.
How can first-year students interact with a buddy?
First-year students can contact their buddies by e-mail, Whatsapp, social networks, etc. Normally, the buddies get in touch with first-year students for a first meeting. They provide their availability for some time slots and they also organize events and meetings.
For more information or to contact your buddy, write to: buddy@polito.it