Buddy System
What is the buddy system?
The Buddy System is one of the biggest networks of volunteers at the University of Primorska and it aims to assist the incoming exchange students during their arrival and their stay. It was formed in the 2021/2022 academic year, together with the formation of PSEN. Currently, the system involves around 30 student buddies from all the faculties of UP.
WHO ARE OUR BUDDIES?
Our buddies are local and foreign full-time students who have made the coast their home for a while. They're the ones that are always up for a good time and willing to provide a hand. Whether native Slovene speakers or not, they offer their assistance to the exchange students as they learn the ropes and settle in. Our buddies are awesome people who come to most of our events. They join us for everything, from sports days, to parties, to pub quizzes in which they form competitive teams with the exchange students! 😊
WHO CAN GET A BUDDY?
Any arriving exchange student at the Universities of Primorska, University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport, or Emuni University may be paired with a local volunteer who will act as a guide and a friend during their stay in Slovenia. Apply for a buddy and meet them online before you even set foot on the coast if you'll be attending one of the before mentioned universities and you're worried about getting around on your own or simply want to make friends as soon as possible. A buddy is a good option for you even if you are having trouble arranging transportation or accommodation since it gives you the opportunity to communicate with each other before you arrive.
HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK?
Each exchange student needs to apply for a student buddy through the Papaya application before their arrival (approx. one month before their arrival). When the application is received, the student is matched to a buddy according to the interests they have in common (faculty, language, hobbies…). Once the match is made, the buddy will be notified of the match via email from Papaya, from that point on, they can finally reach out to the exchange student, introduce themselves and offer their help!
When setting up their profile in the Papaya application, both incoming students and buddies are encouraged to answer optional questions about their hobbies and interests. We recommend you enter some information about your likes and dislikes. The main goal of the system is to connect people that will become friends, so your answers might lead to connecting you with someone that shares the same interests! The buddy system is all about growing our networks and making long-lasting friendships around the globe!
WHAT IS PAPAYA?
The Papaya application is an ESN Matching System founded by our fellow colleagues from ESN Modena. It allows for a simple and efficient way of matching local buddies and exchange students in need of a helping hand. When creating a Papaya account, users are asked for some basic information such as their field of study, interests, hobbies etc. This information is needed in order for the application to calculate the percentage of affinity between users based on the provided data, which would help the local admin in making the final match between buddies and exchange students, hopefully resulting in new friendships! 😊
INTERESTED? APPLY NOW!
Whether you are an exchange student that is arriving to the coast soon or a student that is living on the coast and wants to join our network, make sure to apply via the Papaya application!