Editing Peer-mentors for incoming students

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<b>Category of recipe: </b>Internationalisation through national and international students. <br/>
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<b>Objective: </b>Encouraging local students to actively participate in internationalisation; engaging in international experiences beyond physical mobility; fostering peer mentorship to enhance the experience of incoming international students; creating a supportive environment where local students share knowledge and cultural insights; developing global competence and employability skills. <br/>
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<b>Short description: </b>
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[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] This initiative boosts the involvement of local students in internationalisation by encouraging them to become peer‑mentors for incoming international students. <br/>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] As “buddy friends,” local students support international peers during their mobility by assisting with daily life tasks (e.g., shopping, translation, healthcare, scheduling). <br/>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] The mentoring experience fosters intercultural exchange through storytelling, testimonials, and multimedia sharing (e.g., videos, photos). <br/>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Additionally, returning mobility students can act as mentors, sharing insights about their experiences abroad—including accommodation tips, academic expectations, and cultural adaptation. <br/>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] This peer‑driven support system enhances the mobility experience, promotes inclusion, and encourages future participation in international programmes.
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<b>Academic recognition: </b>
Official recognition of the peer‑mentor role in the Diploma Supplement. Optional certification of participation may be included in students’ academic or professional portfolios. <br/>
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<b>Level of difficulty:</b> Easy <br/>
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<b>Calendar and time needed:</b> 
<ul>
  <li>The programme should be implemented every academic year.</li>
  <li>Peer‑mentoring can take place before, during, and after the mobility period to provide continuous support.</li>
  <li>Institutions may set fixed time frames for matching mentors with incoming students, typically at the start of each semester.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Cost summary:</b> Not applicable. <br/>
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<b>Language and level required:</b> B1–B2 level in the university’s main language or English is recommended. <br/>
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<b>Roles and Responsibilities:</b> <br/>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] International Relations Officers (or UNITA Office):
<ul>
  <li>Oversee and promote the peer‑mentoring initiative.</li>
  <li>Manage student matching and maintain a record of mentor activities.</li>
  <li>Provide training and guidance for peer‑mentors.</li>
</ul>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Professors (if involved in coordinating the initiative):
<ul>
  <li>Encourage participation and integrate peer‑mentoring into broader internationalisation efforts.</li>
</ul>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Student associations:
<ul>
  <li>Help recruit and engage students in the programme.</li>
  <li>Organise social and cultural activities for mentees and mentors.</li>
</ul>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Advisor in Internationalisation (if available):
<ul>
  <li>Ensure that peer‑mentoring aligns with the university’s overall internationalisation strategy.</li>
  <li>Provide insights on institutional best practices for peer support and cultural adaptation.</li>
</ul>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Pedagogical Engineers (if available):
<ul>
  <li>Assist in designing digital resources and mentoring frameworks to enhance the programme.</li>
  <li>Support innovation in mentoring methodologies and ensure alignment with pedagogical goals.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Ingredients:</b> <br/>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Proactive students willing to engage in internationalisation. <br/>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Student associations to facilitate integration activities. <br/>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Language courses to support communication between mentors and mentees. <br/>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Mobility students as both mentors and mentees. <br/>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Cultural activities to strengthen interaction and community‑building. <br/>
[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Institutional recognition framework for peer‑mentoring activities. <br/>
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<b>Recipe steps:</b> <br/>
<ul>
  <li>[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Step 1: Develop a framework for the mentoring programme, outlining its goals and expected outcomes.</li>
  <li>[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Step 2: Establish selection criteria for peer‑mentors.</li>
  <li>[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Step 3: Recruit mentors through institutional communication channels and student associations.</li>
  <li>[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Step 4: Match international students with peer‑mentors based on shared interests or study fields.</li>
  <li>[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Step 5: Provide an orientation session or handbook for peer‑mentors.</li>
  <li>[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Step 6: During the programme, support peer‑mentors and mentees through regular check‑ins.</li>
  <li>[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Step 7: Encourage participation in intercultural events and group activities.</li>
  <li>[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Step 8: Monitor the impact of the programme through student feedback.</li>
  <li>[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Step 9: Encourage students to reflect on their experience to foster further engagement with internationalisation initiatives.</li>
  <li>[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Step 10: After completion, issue a certificate of participation to active peer‑mentors.</li>
  <li>[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Step 11: Gather testimonials and best practices for future improvements.</li>
  <li>[[File:Square_blue.png|10px|link=|baseline]] Step 12: Promote success stories to encourage future participation.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Budget description:</b> <br/>
<ul>
  <li>- Cost for the Organising Institution: No direct costs required, but universities should approve a list of mentoring activities that align with institutional resources and support structures.</li>
  <li>- Business model of the activity: Peer‑mentoring is a voluntary activity but can be incentivised through academic recognition or social engagement opportunities.</li>
  <li>- Budget Type / Sources of Revenue:
    <ul>
      <li>Institutional support (if any).</li>
      <li>Erasmus+ programme funding (for related internationalisation activities).</li>
      <li>Student associations’ funding (if they organise social events for peer‑mentors and mentees).</li>
    </ul>
  </li>
</ul>
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<b>Non-mandatory items:</b> <br/>
Successful examples of this recipe (already implemented and proven to be easily replicable):<br/>
Buddy activity at IPG: [https://politecnicoguarda.pt/ensino/mobilidade/]<br/>
Buddy programme at UPNA: [https://www.unavarra.es/mentoria/buddy-programme?languageId=1]<br/>
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