SolBridge Peer Group Program is a mentoring program which is designed to assist international students to adjust into the new environment, as well as to promote mutual understanding and cultural exchange among international students.
Peer Group Program is designed to serve as an extension of Orientation Program throughout the first semester of all the international students, because our research has found that many new students feel somewhat Homesick or isolated while their settling-in stage, and large events usually don’t give enough time and space for real communication and contact to ease the anxiety. Each Peer Group comprises one Peer Group Leader and five to six team members. To encourage more interaction, two or more Peer Group Leaders may choose to cooperate and conduct their group activities together from time to time. You will soon be assigned to a Peer Group and have your own Peer Group Leader to afford you necessary help, guidance and advise.
Diversity, this is not just a concept, and we want to form a unique SolBridge culture rooted in it. We wish to share with all the participants in this program our experiences and thoughts concerning the unexpected and the expected, the conflict and the wonder, the complexities and the sparkles involved in learning and living with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Our pursuit is, throughout the program, to both teach and learn. Our expectation is, everybody leads and supports. Providing an environment where all views, ideas and beliefs are encouraged to be shared freely and respectfully, we cherish the different experiences each of us brings and value it as a precious opportunity to enhance learning. We firmly believe that all these cross-cultural dialogs will eventually nourish and enrich our life.
Welcome to SolBridge and hope you enjoy your stay!
Li, Shu Shen
Peer Group Program Director
Peer Group Leaders—a short profile
SolBridge PGLs are:
- Bi-lingual or Tri-lingual (or even more!);
- Enthusiastic & Caring;
- Familiar with Woosong University, Daejeon, and Korea;
- Friendly & Active;
- Determined & Positive, and;
- Talented & Attractive!
What do Peer Group Leaders do?
- To help you adjust yourself to the new environment.
- To contact you via meeting/ email / phone weekly (at least).
- To get you connected to needed resources and assistance.
Peer Group Leaders are committed to help SolBridge international students settle in to the new environment
When you first arrive & during your first meeting, PGLs will…
- introduce themselves, their cities, their countries, their cultural background etc. to you.
- make you and your peer group members get to know each other.
- provide information about dorms, SolBridge International, Woosong University, Daejeon, and Korea.
- teach and practice some practical Korean with you.
- show you around to the shops, markets, or restaurants nearby.
- guide you to use public transportation, and make sure that you fully understand and are capable of doing it on your own.
- be prepared to answer whatever the question you might ask.
- help contact Student Services Manager, Officers or Student Advisors whenever there is an emergency or accident.
After you settle down, PGLs will…
- Contact you constantly via meeting/ email / phone.
- contact you to make sure everything is fine.
- inform you when there’s an event, activity, or festival on campus or in the neighborhood.
- coordinate with Student Services Department to conduct events, activities, or festivals.
What training do Peer Group Leaders get?
- Basic training course: principles and theories on leadership and teamwork.
- Cultivation of leadership skills and qualities.
- Knowledge and understanding about other cultures and global issues
What past Peer Group Leaders say
The word ‘leadership’ sounds like there’s a power in it, but it also means responsibility. Leadership is a process of getting things done through people’s effort.—Terry, Korea, Tourism Management, PGL 2007
The friends I’ve made at SolBridge are really a big fortune for me.—Ryan, China, E-Commerce, PGL 2007
Through the training and the activities at SolBridge International I’ve learned an invaluable lesson which is the need to try to understand various cultures and customs and respect the decisions of people from different cultural background.—Harry, Korea, English Literature, PGL 2007
I try to apply the theories from the training course when I do things; it really helps me a lot, and saves a lot of time.—Jimmy, China, E-Commerce, PGL 2007
Leadership is the process of directing others towards the completion of a shared goal.—Glen, Indonesia, MBA, PGL 2007
The opportunity to know people and culture from foreign countries and the opportunity to introduce my culture to them is the most valuable aspect I’ve got from the program—Margaret, Indonesia, MBA, PGL 2007
What the mentees say;
Peer Group Program is great, as students are allowed to learn from each other in their group, and also studying more about Korea in general and Daejeon in particular from experienced peer group leaders. Students can also share their experiences one to another, by collaborating in cultural performance, or working together on some interesting projects. Students learn to appreciate other cultures, and get prepared for a multicultural business environment.—Paulus Thomas, Indonesia, MBA, first year.
It is a mind-expanding experience.—Gu You-Zhan, Nanjin China, BA, first year.
I like the experience that I am having here, with communication with many friends I made in South Korea.—Anna Salenko, Russia, BA, first year.
I choose to study abroad because I’d like to learn a foreign language to open a new perspective to understand the world.—Chao Yan, Beijin China, exchange program, second year.
Peer group program is giving advantages for new students to adapt to local culture much faster and even better because it also gives students opportunity to understand other cultures. And it’s so interesting!—Claudia Ruliyanti, Indonesia, MBA, first year.
I have met friends from different countries here: Pakistan, Nepal, Russia, Uzbekistan...We have different culture and different background. We share our culture and then know what it’s like in the other parts of the world.—Chen Xi, Sichuan China, exchange program, second year.
This is my first time being abroad. At first I was a bit afraid. Now I like Korea very much.—Usman Virk, Pakistan, BA, first year.
Living far from family, Home country and the beloved ones is of course heart breaking, but I promise it will change your life and you’ll go back as a whole new person.—Krishna B. Magar, Nepal, BA, first year.
So, what’s the value? The answer is the culture, the society, the people.—Qian Meng-Lun, Sichuan China, exchange program, second year.
Most of all, it’s fun!—Yao Yan, Nanjin China, BA, first year.