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
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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:
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