Buddy Program, a mentoring program for new students

The University Orientation Service (SOU for its Spanish initials) of Universidad CEU San Pablo has hosted an encounter to present the Buddy Program on the occasion of the beginning of the academic year 2023-2024; a mentoring program which purpose is to ease the incorporation of new students to classes (Buddy Juniors).

During this first welcoming session held at the same time at Moncloa and Montepríncipe Campus over 300 students from all years have worked in a dynamic of teams in the form of a gymkhana which has enabled them to interact and know each other better. First-year students have been able to share opinions and solve their doubts with Buddy Seniors (higher courses students) who will help them in the adaptation and serve as mentors in their university adventure from September to December.

Thanks to this mentoring program promoted by the Vice-Chancellor of Students and University Life, new students are provided with orientation and mentoring to ease their academic and social integration; it establishes bounds between students of the same degree; encourages the participation in activities organized at campus; strengthens the culture of Zero Tolerance in case of potential cases of bullying between peers and creates a feeling of fraternity and group.

Student Mentoring programme at UCH

With the same objective, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, UCH, in Valencia makes available for new students (both Spanish and international) the Mentoring Programme.

This program offers them the opportunity to contact 2^nd to 4^th year students at their arrival to University. With this initiative the University pretends to offer help and a first friendship at campus which may be valuable for new students.

The objectives of this program are therefore:

• To help new students build a new university life.
• To create links between students of the same degree.
• To improve integration of students at campus.
• To make sure that new students are accompanied in their first university steps.
• To promote participation of students in the activities organized at campus.
• To implement the zero tolerance culture in potential cases of harassment.

A CEU mentor student may be assigned one or several students. This depends on requests from mentors received and the number of new students of the year they start.

In turn, Universidad Abat Oliba CEU, in Barcelona also makes available for students its wonderful orientation service , with different programs and activities.