18.02.2025 The EUPeace Buddy System takes center stage at the EUPeace Workshop at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen

Sharing best practices in creating a student organisation Buddy System was one of the key topics of the second workshop of the EUPeace European University Alliance, held from 22 to 24January at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen.

The Buddy System organisation within the EUPeace Alliance aims to assist students and staff before their arrival and during their stay at one of the partner universities, helping them better acclimatise upon arrival at any of the universities involved in the alliance. The workshop was attended by representatives from the International Office of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen along with 18 colleagues from seven universities, including Marburg University, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Comillas Pontifical University, Çukurova University, University of Limoges, University of Sarajevo, and the University of Mostar. Colleagues from the University of Calabria joined the programme online.

The participants were welcomed by Magdalena Rousová, a member of the EUPeace Alliance Steering Committee and Head of the International Office at UWB, who introduced the workshop of the “Facilitating Mobility” work package with the words: “The leadership of the EUPeace alliance highly values your active and very effective work within the WP4 Facilitating Mobility work package. I believe that through this workshop, we will contribute together to fulfilling the steps outlined in the grant agreement for 2025.”

ESN UWB Pilsen (Erasmus Student Network) shared their positive and negative experiences in ongoing care for exchange students at UWB and proposed solutions to common issues, such as evening noise in dormitories, mess in shared kitchens, or specific language requirements when pairing Czech and international students. Students from ESN Sarajevo joined online and introduced their activities for international students, such as trips, sports events, and cultural evenings. Additionally, the activities of ESN at Çukurova University in Turkey were presented.

The discussion on creating the EUPeace Buddy System was supplemented by planning specific steps for this year, such as motivating students to contribute to the Buddy System at the member universities and creating a website to be published on the EUPeace alliance website for pairing local and international students. Participants not only gained new ideas but also a clear vision of how they can contribute to increasing the quantity, quality, and effectiveness of international mobility. Representatives of the EDUC and Aurora alliances joined online, sharing their experiences with implementing and supporting mobility in university alliances.

The workshop was organised by the International Office of UWB as part of the WP4 “Facilitating Mobility” work package, whose primary goal is to support and develop international student and staff mobility.

More information about mobility and the emerging EUPeace Buddy System can be found on the EUPeace Mobility Portal.