1stGeneration@hhu
...makes it easier for first- and second-semester students who are the first in their family to study to get started with their studies. They are supported by experienced students and through various events and workshops.
The Diversity Buddy Programme
Ability is nothing without opportunity.
For many, starting university marks the beginning of a new phase in their lives - with new environments, new responsibilities and new challenges. For first-generation students, however, starting their studies is often more difficult than for their fellow students from academic households.
The aim of the Diversity Buddy Programme ‘1stGeneration@HHU’ is therefore to help students who are the first in their family to study to overcome hurdles and make studying easier for them. In the best case scenario, long-term networks are established and friendships formed that extend beyond the buddy programme.
Duration: 1 year
Start: annually in the winter semester
Information for Junior-Buddys
Are you in your first or second semester and the first person in your family to study? Is everything new and do you have lots of questions? Then you've come to the right place. We'll help you find a suitable senior buddy who will support you during your studies and be there to offer advice and assistance. We also offer interesting lectures, workshops and other support to help you get off to a successful start in your studies.
Information for Senior-Buddys
Would you like to volunteer alongside your studies and pass on your experience to future students? Then you've come to the right place. We will help you find a suitable junior buddy to support during your studies. In addition to obtaining a volunteer certificate, you can participate in various workshops and acquire important soft skills for your professional life.
What is the motivation behind "1stGeneration@HHU"?
What former Buddys say:
"I hope that I have someone I can come to with all my questions and problems. Someone who understands me. I hope that I will be supported in my studies and that I will be helped to develop my skills so that I can improve in my studies." (Junior buddy, 2022)
"I am also the first in my family to go to university and I know how many hurdles this can involve. New terms, people and a new system can be quite overwhelming, especially if your family can't support you. I would like to get involved as a senior buddy to help first-generation students get started at university (...)." (Senior Buddy, 2021)