At the University of Granada, we feel that diversity provides a great opportunity for creating rich learning environments and promoting integration. The UGR Mentor Programme (in Spanish: Programa Mentor), which was officially launched in 2012, is a student-oriented initiative designed to help our international community with their cultural, academic and social integration.
Moving to a new study destination can sometimes be a daunting prospect. Our Mentor Programme aims to make the transition as stress-free as possible, enhancing the academic and personal experience of our incoming international students while enabling them to form close bonds with our home students.
The Mentor Programme also provides our home students with an excellent opportunity to gain insights into new cultures, practice their language skills, and build up their international contacts and networks. In this regard, the Mentor Programme represents one of the University of Granada’s key ‘internationalization at home’ initiatives.
As well as assisting international students with a number of initial administrative procedures, the mentors or ‘buddies’ also help their peers to get their bearings in the city and learn Spanish more effectively.
How does it work?
The programme kicks off in September every year and normally runs for a semester or full academic year (depending on the availability of our home students). The mentors must complete a 10-hour preparatory course on intercultural skills provided by the UGR in the month of July before taking part.
Our International Relations Office then pairs each UGR mentor up with an international student from the same faculty or school. The mentor gets in touch with the international student via email prior to their arrival and helps them resolve any issues related to travelling to Granada or getting around at the UGR. They meet up during the UGR’s Orientation Days for International Students and from this moment onward the mentors assist them with everything from completing mandatory administrative procedures (such as registering at the Office for Foreign Residents), to searching for accommodation and finding their way around the University’s campuses. The mentors also organise cultural activities, including visits to historical sites; guided tours; excursions; concerts; plays etc. and establish a close rapport with the international students by regularly organising meet-ups.
By taking part in the programme our home students have a great opportunity to enhance their communication, language and intercultural skills—all of which are highly prized by employers in today’s globalised labour markets. Moreover, they can also earn 3 ECTS credits, a certificate of participation, and can apply to have the activity included in the European Diploma Supplement accompanying their degree.
For further information on how to take part in the UGR Mentor Programme please visit:
