Peer-mentors for incoming students

Category of recipe: Internationalisation through national and international students.

Objective: 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.

Short description:
This initiative boosts the involvement of local students in internationalisation by encouraging them to become peer‑mentors for incoming international students.
As “buddy friends,” local students support international peers during their mobility by assisting with daily life tasks (e.g., shopping, translation, healthcare, scheduling).
The mentoring experience fosters intercultural exchange through storytelling, testimonials, and multimedia sharing (e.g., videos, photos).
Additionally, returning mobility students can act as mentors, sharing insights about their experiences abroad—including accommodation tips, academic expectations, and cultural adaptation.
This peer‑driven support system enhances the mobility experience, promotes inclusion, and encourages future participation in international programmes.

Academic recognition: Official recognition of the peer‑mentor role in the Diploma Supplement. Optional certification of participation may be included in students’ academic or professional portfolios.

Level of difficulty: Easy

Calendar and time needed:

• The programme should be implemented every academic year.
• Peer‑mentoring can take place before, during, and after the mobility period to provide continuous support.
• Institutions may set fixed time frames for matching mentors with incoming students, typically at the start of each semester.

Cost summary: Not applicable.

Language and level required: B1–B2 level in the university’s main language or English is recommended.

Roles and Responsibilities:
International Relations Officers (or UNITA Office):

• Oversee and promote the peer‑mentoring initiative.
• Manage student matching and maintain a record of mentor activities.
• Provide training and guidance for peer‑mentors.

Professors (if involved in coordinating the initiative):

• Encourage participation and integrate peer‑mentoring into broader internationalisation efforts.

Student associations:

• Help recruit and engage students in the programme.
• Organise social and cultural activities for mentees and mentors.

Advisor in Internationalisation (if there is such a person in the university):

• Ensure that peer‑mentoring aligns with the university’s overall internationalisation strategy.
• Provide insights on institutional best practices for peer support and cultural adaptation.

Pedagogical Engineers (if there is such a person in the university):

• Assist in designing digital resources and mentoring frameworks to enhance the programme.
• Support innovation in mentoring methodologies and ensure alignment with pedagogical goals.

Ingredients:
Proactive students willing to engage in internationalisation.
Student associations to facilitate integration activities.
Language courses to support communication between mentors and mentees.
Mobility students as both mentors and mentees.
Cultural activities to strengthen interaction and community‑building.
Institutional recognition framework for peer‑mentoring activities.

Recipe steps:
Before implementation:
Step 1: Develop a framework for the mentoring programme, outlining its goals and expected outcomes.
Step 2: Establish selection criteria for peer‑mentors.
Step 3: Recruit mentors through institutional communication channels and student associations.
Step 4: Match international students with peer‑mentors based on shared interests or study fields.
Step 5: Provide an orientation session or handbook for peer‑mentors.

During the programme:
Step 1: During the programme, support peer‑mentors and mentees through regular check‑ins.
Step 2: Encourage participation in intercultural events and group activities.
Step 3: Monitor the impact of the programme through student feedback.
Step 4: Encourage students to reflect on their experience to foster further engagement with internationalisation initiatives.

After completion:
Step 1: After completion, issue a certificate of participation to active peer‑mentors.
Step 2: Gather testimonials and best practices for future improvements.
Step 3 Promote success stories to encourage future participation.

Budget description:

• 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.
• Business model of the activity: Peer‑mentoring is a voluntary activity but can be incentivised through academic recognition or social engagement opportunities.
• Budget Type / Sources of Revenue:
  • Institutional support (if any).
  • Erasmus+ programme funding (for related internationalisation activities).
  • Student associations’ funding (if they organise social events for peer‑mentors and mentees).

Non-mandatory items

• Successful examples of this recipe (already implemented and proven to be easily replicable)
• Buddy activity at IPG: https://politecnicoguarda.pt/ensino/mobilidade/
• Buddy programme at UPNA: https://www.unavarra.es/mentoria/buddy-programme?languageId=1