International Student Buddy System

1
International Student Buddy System

• By
• Stephanie Martin
• Salma Abdullah

2
Purpose

• To personalize orientation and preparation for
  students who plan to study abroad in a new culture

3
Why?

• Connect International Students with American
  Students
• Hands on Information
• Accomplish Imperative 6 of Vision 2020 to
  increase diversity and globalization at Texas AM
  University
• Allow students to immerge themselves in the new
  culture they will experience

4
Vision

• Buddy Partnering System
• Cultural Inventory

5
Strategy Outline Buddy System

• Meet and pitch ideas to study abroad advisors
• Contact student organizations to recruit
  international students who are willing to become
  buddies
• Meet with the advisors in order to discuss how to
  apply the project to their particular program
• Create a spreadsheet of students personal
  contact information
• Relay information to the advisors and pair up
  students with their buddies

6
Strategy Outline Cultural Inventory

• Create a survey of cultural information
• Meet and pitch ideas to study abroad advisors
• Contact student organizations that have
  international students from different countries
  and ask them to fill out the survey
• Compile a database of the cultural information
  for each of the countries
• Create packets out the information
• Offer these packets as a part of pre-trip
  programs, such as Travel Wise

7
Strategy Outline Other Information

• Plan to have the Buddy System up and running by
  Fall 2009
• Plan to have the Cultural Inventory ready to give
  in presentations by Spring 2010

8
International Component

• Involving international students
• Allowing students who are studying abroad to
  become more culturally sensitive

9
Sustainability

• International students contact information
• Update list as needed
• Database of different countries with cultural
  information
• Update list as needed

10
Struggles and Successes

• Positive interest for the project from advisors
  and programs
• Contacting student organizations response time