The Delft International Connection

The Delft International Connection

Team Gouda 1

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Matteo Qiao Mia Matej Barbara Antonio

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Objective

What needs improvement?

• Integration of International students into campus community

• More personal peer-to-peer interaction with Dutch students

• Getting insider tips and personalized advice

• The types of sources of info available to International students

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An Inspired Solution...

• Student Buddy System

• ‘Speed-dating’

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The Buddy System

Common in most universities:

• New student is appointed with a “buddy”

• The buddy helps the student adapt to university life

Drawbacks:

• Students cannot choose who they are paired up with

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‘Speed-dating’

• Optimized approach to meeting people- Meet a lot of people in a short time!

• Reduced likelihood of the “awkward silence”

Drawbacks:

• Short time frame only allows for introductions and small-talk

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The Solution

The Delft International Connection is composed of:

• Real-life Meet&Greet events

• An online community called TulipBuds (pun intended)

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Real-Life Meet&Greet

• Registration via

• e-mail• TulipBuds• Delftulip• on the spot walk-ins

• A series of 2-minute interviews

• A 30-minute social mixer

• Students exchange contact info• Further discussion

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Trial Meet&Greet Event

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Proof of Concept

• Had fun!

• Collected feedback

• Contributed tips and advice to TulipBuds

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Reflections

• Common discussion themes:- Cool places on campus- Delft dining- Travel in the Netherlands- Commuters- Where to buy/sell...- Accommodation- Experience with studying at TU Delft

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TU Delft Tulip Buds

Benefits of the online community:

• Share stories and experiences

• Archive of instantly accessible info

• Forums for learning Dutch

• Register for events

• Chat

http://delftulipbuds.ning.com/

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Tulip Buds

Uses the same platform as Delftulip

Why Ning?

• Layout already familiar to users• Possibility of merging with Delftulip

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Cornerstones of Meet&Greets and TulipBuds

• Personally choose your buddy

• Very low time demand

• Talk to the student community, not just staff

• Students from faculties other than your own

• Info on a reliable and central platform

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Feedback

“It’s always nice to meet eager students, especially when they’re coming from abroad.”

“I do think however that 2 minutes might be just a bit too short. 3 to 4 might be better, so you can get beyond the first question.”

-Sake

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Feedback

“…it is in the nature of this meeting that it attracts people who have chosen to seek out to others”

“A follow-up meeting with even more people would be nice.”

-Casper

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Analysis of Feedback

• Frequent complaint:

• 2 minutes is not enough!

• Most common suggestion:

• Follow-up meeting in the near future

• Best part of the experience:

• The opportunity to meet a large number of fun international students

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In the future?

• Connect TulipBuds to Delftulip

• Long-lasting buddy relationships!

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Conclusion

• Met all 4 objectives• Integration• Interaction• Advice• TulipBuds

• Future success contingent on participation

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Contact info

For more info please visit:

http://delftulipbuds.ning.com/

Or e-mail us at:

Delft.InternationalConnection@gmail.com

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