Become a Buddy!

 

If you are well accommodated by EMÜ, feel like Estonia is your second home, and would like to help our new foreign students arriving to Tartu to feel welcome, come to the course to become a Buddy!

 

Buddy’s main activities are to help accepted foreign students to get to know Estonia, its people’s habits, way of life, traditions, and culture to adapt here better, to get to know EMÜ, study systems and regulations, find their way to students’ life, and leisure activities; to support the fellow-students with and advice and a kind word when needed. Being a Buddy opens possibilities to develop your personal, and social skills, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork. It widens possibilities to get a lot of friends from all over the world and discover Estonia and people leaving here together with them. If you believe, that you are to become a Buddy, apply for the course!

The training program for international student tutors (OP.1453, 3 EAP) consists of two parts: in spring there are theoretical seminars dedicated to development of social abilities, intercultural communication, migration and university regulations and in autumn buddies will apply their gained knowledge in practice.

Who can join? Students of EMÜ of all levels who feel that they want to support International students in adapting to Estonia more easily!

 

Why should I become a buddy?

· Personal development: as a buddy you will get access to seminars and develop your personal communication-, organizational-, performance-, and guidance skills;

· Social capital: you will be able to gain friends for life from all over the world, cooperate with university workers and student union, arrange fun activities, and create common memories of studentship;

· Become an aware student: you will get a better awareness of the ground regulations of EMÜ, complete your CV with valuable experience, and gain 3 EAP for free-elective courses

 

If you would like to join the team of our bright, energetic, and initiative buddies, send us your motivation letter to ksenia.safonova@emu.ee by the 20th of January 2023. Please discuss the following points in your motivation letter (max 1 page long):

· Tell us a little about yourself: what do you study and why? What are your hobbies, interests, what do you like to do in your free time?

· Why in your opinion would the buddy role suit you well?

· What is the role of buddies in the EMÜ context in your opinion?

· How have you been practicing helping others before? Please bring at least one example.

· What personals skills and knowledge would you like to develop while being a buddy?

 

After receiving the applications we will make a meeting with all suitable candidates to meet and greet each-other and discuss our common plans and expectations as a kick-off for the activities. We hope to meet You very soon!

 

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Buddies

The tutoring network has been successfully functioning at the Estonian University of Life Sciences already for years. Buddies are students who help newly arrived international students to adapt to the academic environment and coexist with tutors - Estonian students who help their local younger co-students integrate into university life.

All newly arrived international students are welcome to contact any of the buddies below regardless of their speciality. Of course, students of the same specialty can offer you more help, but they all are ready to answer your questions on customs and traditions, study regulations, handling everyday life issues, sports, etc.

 

Our Buddies:

Indrek Virro, Buddy since 2016, Institute of Technology, virroindrek@gmail.com

Lidiia Moskalenko, Buddy since spring 2020, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, lida.moskalenko@gmail.com

Salini Chandrasekharnnair, Buddy since spring 2022, Institute of Technology, salini.chandrasekharan@student.emu.ee

Rohish Kaura, Buddy since spring 2022, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, rohish.kaura@emu.ee

Ingrid Tõrra, Buddy since spring 2022, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, ingrid.torra@emu.ee

 

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The Buddies/Tutors Scholarship 2023

The EMÜ has a great tradition of recognizing its good tutors with a scholarship every year in December. It is intended as a thank you for the work done in uniting the university family and supporting first-year students at the beginning of their studies and later.

If you have caught the eye of a buddy(s) who has supported you in adapting to your studies, helped you find answers to questions, and organized cool events, write to us about them.

 

THIS YEAR CANDIDATES ARE:

Indrek Virro, a buddy since 2016, Institute of Forestry and Engineering

Lidiia Moskalenko, a buddy from spring 2020, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry

Rohish Kaura, a buddy from spring 2022, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry

Salini Chandrasekharan Nair, a buddy from 2022, Institute of Forestry and Engineering

 

If you didn't find your buddy on this list, it's because continuing tutors can apply for the scholarship and new tutors can apply next year!

 

The letter of support must contain the following information:

- the name of the supporter and the curriculum/field of studies (anonymous e-mails will not be considered);

- the name of the supported tutor;

- a short explanation and/or description (5-10 sentences) of the tutor as to why you think he/she deserves the scholarship. Please give examples of how he/she has helped freshers to start university life more easily, and how he/she has been helpful/advised.

 

We are waiting for letters of support until the 10th of December 2023, including to the e-mail address ethel.rosenfeldt@emu.ee

 

The Buddies/Tutors Scholarship 2022

This year it was possible to reward buddies who have supported international students during their settling period in Estonia and helped them to smoothly begin their degree studies or exchange semester at Estonian University of Life Sciences with a tutor scholarship. Until December 5th, 2022, it was possible for everyone to send in their support letters for buddies/tutors. We are very happy that people didn’t hold back and there were many support letters from students and staff.

 

Lidiia Moskalenko and Keshav Nagpal – you’ve done a really good job and it has been noticed!

 

The prorector of studies of EMÜ issued a certificate of appreciation together with a small gift for you.

Once again, thank you from the International Club, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the whole EMÜ family!