BINUS UNIVERSITY Strengthens International Support Through iBuddy Community Impact Summit 2025
Alam Sutera, 14 July – Starting out in a new country can be quite challenging for international students during their first week. Without family nearby, connecting with a friend or buddy can make a significant difference. At BINUS University, the iBuddy Community Impact Summit 2025 trains local students to serve as buddies, providing support with campus life, cultural adaptation, and academic responsibilities.
(Photo Credit: Mufti Warits)
The iBuddy program, supported by Proyek Inisiatif of BINUS Higher Education, promotes holistic development among local students through cultural immersion and design thinking workshops. Facilitated by the International Office, the summit fosters internationalization and community engagement while equipping buddies with the skills to assist their international peers effectively.
(Photo Credit: Mufti Warits)
Being an iBuddy provides engaging experiences and meaningful connections that enrich the university journey through a series of events starting at Alam Sutera and continuing in Yogyakarta, Bandung, and Bogor in collaboration with co-hosts from Universitas Islam Indonesia, Universitas Padjadjaran, Universitas Katolik Atma Jaya Jakarta, and Institut Pertanian Bogor, which enable buddies to engage with local communities and propose feasible solutions to pressing social issues.
(Photo Credit: Mufti Warits)
“Misunderstandings often happen because of language barriers, especially in group projects. Some local students hesitate to collaborate with international peers. Buddies assist by clarifying issues and organizing gatherings to foster better relationships,” said a representative from Institut Pertanian Bogor.
(Photo Credit: Mufti Warits)
Our campus in Alam Sutera hosted the first phase of the summit, where buddies from participating universities gathered to discuss potential challenges and explore best practices. They were introduced to the design thinking framework—a human-centered approach to problem-solving that encourages empathy, creativity, and collaboration. Participants learned to define problems, ideate solutions, prototype, and test effectively.
(Photo Credit: Mufti Warits)
“Each faculty’s International Office (IO) assists international students directly with academic concerns, while the central IO handles general matters,” as mentioned by a representative from Universitas Padjadjaran.
Through the interactive session, they identified many potential issues they might face when working internally or with the community. These proposals will need to be verified and followed up on, as the outreach activities to Yogyakarta, Bandung, and Bogor will provide opportunities to seek further development from the community.
(Photo Credit: Mufti Warits)
As the summit progressed, participants emphasized the importance of designing S.M.A.R.T. activities—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. By identifying root issues and proposing sustainable solutions, buddies aim to empower communities to implement changes independently, even beyond the program’s duration.
