Long-term/ Passive
Max. participants
200
Min. duration
N/a
Cost per head
Free
Mode
In-Person, Online
Team phase
Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning
About the intervention
Buddy programmes pairing students within and across cohorts for mutual support.
How to set it up.
Cohort buddy programme
Split the cohort into pairs randomly, or based on criteria (if the cohort does not have an even number of students, create one trio)
Choose 1 or 2 goals for the buddy programme
Record buddies in a Google spreadsheet - name + contact details
Send the spreadsheet to the cohort
Cross-cohort buddy programme
Assign each first-year student to a second-year student
Record buddies in a Google spreadsheet - name + contact details
Send the spreadsheet to the cohort
What to do during.
Organise icebreaker sessions for buddies to meet each other
Provide best practice information based on the chosen purpose
Provide activity ideas for buddy interactions
Follow up with the cohort with a Google Forms feedback survey Best practice
Catch up with your buddy at least once a month (Add them on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat or Signal for best communication)
Set expectations for your relationship
Activity ideas
Discussing future careers (Book club, Games Night, Pub Crawl)
Reflecting on your modules/ term/ year -
Skillshares (Bi-weekly catch-up Feedback survey)
Rate your experience with your buddy so far (1-5)
Rate your relationship with your buddy (1-5), What did you not like? What worked well?
Recommendations
How you can mix it up ...
Widening horizons: This cohort buddy programme could be expanded into a cross-cohort buddy programme (second years & first years), or even different programmes in a department or cross-department buddy programmes, even though the closer the two students are, the easier and more effective is going to be the interaction and exchange of information.
Goals: These may differ dependng on the cohort and format, could be to improve professional relationships, relationships among friends or to get academic support.
Start with an Icebreaker: We suggest using "10 Things", "3 Words to describe your future career" or "21 Questions" icebreakers to kick-off the first meeting.
Useful resources.
Go to Jackbox Games for a great collection of fun paid games to play with your buddy family online.