Be Buddy
FH Aachen | Jessica van de Pol
Every semester, around 30 international students from all over the world come to the Faculty of Business Studies to study as guests at FH Aachen. To help them find their way in their new environment, students from higher semesters act as buddies. The aim is an intensive exchange of culture, language and experience abroad between the international and the local students.
What does a buddy do?
As a buddy, you will look after several international students and support them in administrative, bureaucratic or social matters. As you are probably the first (private) contact for your incoming students in Aachen, you will certainly be pestered with many questions. Of course, the International Faculty Office is there to help you if you don't know what to do with all your questions.
Your tasks at a glance:
- First contact by email
- Greeting on arrival
- Help with important formalities, e.g. registration, handing over your flat, opening a bank account, health insurance, mobile phone contract, etc.
- Support in everyday life, as well as in everyday university life
- Organisation of joint activities in your free time
Application for the winter semester
Was bringt mir die Teilnahme am Buddy-Programm?
Als Buddy am Fachbereich Wirtschaftswissenschaften der FH Aachen knüpfen Sie Kontakte zu internationalen Studierenden und bekommen auf diese Weise Einblicke in andere Kulturen. Gleichzeitig erleichtern Sie den internationalen Studierenden die Eingewöhnung in Aachen. Am Ende Ihrer einmonatigen Buddy-Tätigkeit erhalten Sie von uns eine Teilnahmebescheinigung über Ihr soziales Engagement und eine Aufwandsentschädigung in Höhe von ca. 300€ für Ihre Unterstützung. Neben der Entwicklung von interkultureller Kompetenz, können Sie zudem Ihre Fremdsprachenkenntnisse verbessen.
What requirements should a buddy fulfil?
No special previous knowledge is required. You should be open-minded, open and curious about people from other cultures. Knowledge of foreign languages, especially English, is a prerequisite, as many of the incoming students do not (yet) speak any or only very little German. It would be desirable if you have already spent a semester abroad or are planning to study abroad in the future. We also assume that you are reliable and have the time to look after your incoming students.
If you decide to take part in the Buddy Programme, you agree to attend an introductory event before the start of the semester (February/August) and a feedback session during the semester. Participation is compulsory.
Application for the winter semester
- Application deadline: 2 June 2024
- CV and letter of motivation required
- By e-mail to incoming.wirtschaft@fh-aachen.de
- Your support is particularly needed at the beginning of the semester, i.e. in September and sometimes in October
- Job advertisement as PDF with further information and details