Buddies Program
The Buddies Program is an initiative developed by the International Relations Office and carried out by volunteer students at ITBA. Buddies give support and assist exchange students, from the moment they are accepted at ITBA until their very last day in Buenos Aires. Buddies also engage with exchange students in cultural and social activities. They share relevant information about life in Buenos Aires and Argentina in general: how to move around in the city, which are the best neighborhoods to live in, suggestions about cultural and social activities, among others, to help the students with their adaptation. The program manages to form groups that go beyond the courses taught at the university.
“Buddies Program is a space where exchange students and argentine students at ITBA, can share experiences about how and where to live in Buenos Aires. In my mind, it is an enriching experience and lots of fun. Given that it is very hard to adapt to a new country, I truly feel that it is of great help to foreign students.”
On the other hand, the Buddies program generates a reciprocal source where students who come from abroad provide information about their Universities, the cities they come from, the customs of their societies and the forms of organization in their countries. This generates greater interest in our students, making exchanges to other Universities more practical when choosing a destination to carry out part of their studies.
“To me, the most valuable part of the Buddies Program is having the opportunity of meeting new people. Exchange students experience life in a very different way than what I know. It helps me keep my mind open to new opportunities and being tolerant, appreciating every new person I meet. It is amazing to think that now I have friends living in Germany, Italy, Perú or India.”
As tools, the Buddies carry out integration activities that allow these objectives to be met. At the end of the semesters we always find that both the buddies and the foreign students are not two watertight groups but are part of the same unit as ITBA students.