On September 7 we held the first meeting of Uni Buddies at our University's Welcome Point service center, joined by the Vice-Rector for Education and International Relations, Prof. Sławomir Smyczek, Ph.D. This new academic year 2023/2024, more than 50 Polish and foreign students have signed up for the program.
During the event, the main principles of this unique volunteer program at our Alma Mater were discussed - Uni Buddies, our University students, help foreign colleagues familiarize themselves with their new surroundings and accompany them in their first steps at the university, city and country. The meeting was organized by the Internationalization Office in a hybrid form.
When we started this mentoring program a few years ago, only Polish students participated, so we are very happy that this year we have so many foreign volunteers who want to support us and make the lives of the newly admitted students much easier. Welcome Point is a place of positive energy, the place to integrate international and Polish students. This year's Uni Buddies are a perfect example of this. We are now truly one multicultural academic community - said Prof. Sławomir Smyczek.
On behalf of the Welcome Point team, all volunteers were also welcomed by Edyta Lachowicz-Santos, Director of Internationalization:
Your support is invaluable and I am very much looking forward to working with such a diverse and enthusiastic group. At the same time, I want to assure you that the friendships made here, the memories of moments spent together, and the skills developed during the implementation of joint projects such as working in cross-cultural groups, communication, creativity, etc., will remain with you forever.
The event was a perfect opportunity for last year's and new Uni Buddies to get to know one another and share experiences over a very sweet and fruity surprise..
The first major project for our Uni Buddies is the Integration Week for short- and long-term international students, which begins on September 25.
Join us