Buddy Programme: Information for EHU students
If you have any questions or queries, please contact: gasteiz.welcomecentre@ehu.eus
What is the BUDDY programme?
The BUDDY programme, organised by the EHU's Pro Vice-Chancellor's Office for Transfer and Internationalisation, aims to help visiting undergraduate students adapt to the campus and the city. To this end, it facilitates contact between visiting students and current EHU undergraduate students who volunteer to help them.
It's a great way to make new friends, hone your language skills and earn up to 3 credits!
Who can participate in the BUDDY programme?
The programme is open to all undergraduate students at the EHU.
Bear in mind that the International Welcome Centre runs only one of the programmes that exist at the university. If you are a student at one of the faculties or schools listed below (which run their own BUDDY programmes), you should contact them directly using the email address provided:
- Bilbao Engineering School: ingenieria.internacional@ehu.eus
- Gipuzkoa Engineering School. Donostia-San Sebastián: politecnica.internacional@ehu.eus
- Gipuzkoa Engineering School. Eibar: euiti-ei.internacional@ehu.eus
- Faculty of Business and Economics. Sarriko, Bilbao: economicas.internacional@ehu.eus
- Faculty of Business and Economics. Elcano, Bilbao: empresa-bi.internacional@ehu.eus
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication. Leioa, Bizkaia: socialescomunic.internacional@ehu.eus
- Faculty of Fine Arts. Leioa, Bizkaia: bellasartes.internacional@ehu.eus
- Faculty of Science and Technology. Leioa, Bizkaia: ciencia.internacional@ehu.eus
- Bilbao Faculty of Education. Leioa, Bizkaia: magisterio-bi.internacional@ehu.eus
- Faculty of Medicine and Nursing. Nursing Donostia-San Sebastián: enfermeria-ss.internacional@ehu.eus
- Vitoria-Gasteiz University School of Nursing: enfermeria-vi.internacional@ehu.eus
If your center or faculty is not on the list, you can register for the BUDDY program using this form.
What do participants in the BUDDY programme have to do?
- Contact the visiting student before their trip to let them know that they will be their BUDDY at the EHU.
- Arrange to meet them in person as soon as they arrive, so they can get to know them and clear up any doubts they may have.
- Accompany them to the International Welcome Centre on their campus. The Welcome Centre helps visiting students with administrative procedures related to their stay in the city and at the University: accommodation, academic procedures, visas, language courses, cultural and sporting activities, etc. We can also go with them to their faculty to notify the mobility coordinator of their arrival.
- Offer to take them on a tour of the campus and show them the places and services that may be of interest to them: secretariat, library, photocopy service, EHU Kultura, EHU Kirolak, etc.
- Offer to take them on a tour of the city and introduce them to various cultural or tourist attractions that may be of interest to them, as well as explaining the public transport system and different leisure options, etc.
- Make themselves available for 2-3 weeks after their arrival (depending on availability) in case they have any questions or problems.
All of the above are tasks you can perform to help your BUDDY, but remember, in order to obtain your credits, you need to at least contact your BUDDY before their arrival and meet with them in person.
How can I obtain credits for my work as a BUDDY?
The regulations governing the awarding of credits authorise participants in the BUDDY programme to obtain a maximum of 3 optional undergraduate degree credits.
Credit equivalence: 30h = 1 credit.
- Your assigned student will need to complete this assessment form describing the help you have provided. This form will be used to calculate the credits you have earned.
- After tallying the hours, the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Transfer and Internationalisation will electronically sign the corresponding certificate. This certificate will outline the number of credits awarded.
- In order for the credits to be reflected in your academic transcript, you will need to hand the certificate in to the secretariat of your faculty or department.
- If you wish, you can also request a diploma accrediting your participation in the BUDDY programme.
The following table shows the corresponding time investment required for some of the most common tasks:
| TAREA | EQUIVALENCIA |
|---|---|
| Contactar con tu estudiante asignada/o antes de su llegada | 15 |
| Quedar en persona con tu estudiante cuando haya llegado | 15 |
| Ofrecerle un tour para orientarse en el campus | 10 |
| Ofrecerle un tour para orientarse en la ciudad | 10 |
| Ayudarle con el uso de las herramientas digitales de la EHU como Gaur, E-gela, etc. | 10 |
| Acompañar a tu estudiante al International Welcome Centre del campus | 15 |
| Acompañar al tu estudiante a la dirección de movilidad de la facultad | 15 |
| Total | 90 - 3 créditos |
In addition to the tasks described above, your assigned student may need help with other things too, such as those listed below. Please try to offer as much help as you are able, as it will be greatly appreciated.
- Finding accommodation
- Visa procedures
- Healthcare procedures
- Banking
- Insurance
- Information for visiting students