Virtual Buddy System – Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven

The Virtual Buddy System is a pilot organised by the Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven (KHLeuven). The main aims for setting up the system were to gather information on the students' needs related to physical exchanges (what information do they need, when should it be provided and by whom) and trying to involve students of the host institution more actively in the process of getting information about the cultural, educational and practical aspects of the exchange.

More concretely, KHLeuven developed a ‘matchmaking service' to link incoming students already before their arrival with local students from KHLeuven. The international coordinator makes the matches and informs both parties who their buddy is and how they can reach him/her.

The pilot was done a first time from October 2006 until February 2007. The technology applied in this first run was e-mail. A year later a second pilot run took place. The system basically remained the same, but some new virtual components were added and the students were encouraged to not only use e-mail as a virtual means of communication, but also Skype and MSN.

The ‘virtual buddies' made the integration of the incoming students easier and swifter by providing them with all necessary practical information. Especially in the period before their arrival and during the first couple of weeks of their stay the incoming students reported they felt less insecure and better taken care of.

But also the buddies themselves have enjoyed a lot of the benefits of an exchange programme (practising foreign languages, building international friendships, etc.), even without having to move physically. Last but not least, the teachers, the International Office and the KHLeuven as such benefited from the buddy system as the buddies helped them to take care of the incoming students.

> back to overview