Generales

For six years, Universidad de Antioquia has been offering an international mentoring program that provides guidance and support for students from outside Colombia.

Photo: International students and their "parceros" during a trip to the town of Guatapé, Colombia, in 2015

Adjusting to a new cultural environment can be an exciting and challenging experience. Universidad de Antioquia is committed to make your stay on campus a memorable, positive experience.

The Parcero Program was created by the UdeA Office of International Affairs in order to ease the transition, with current domestic and international undergraduate students helping new undergraduate students.

This program is designed to provide international visitors and students with the opportunity to be paired with an internationally minded current UdeA student or “parcero”. The purpose of the Parcero Program is to provide guidance on issues of cultural adjustment and other study abroad-related topics.

Arriving in a new country means you will inevitably have to deal with a new culture, and probably, with a language other than your own. This is one of the biggest fears of international students, however, having the opportunity of being provided with a mentor or “parcero” can make your transition easier and more fun.  

Established by the Office of International Affairs in 2010, the program is aimed at making study abroad and exchange programs an enriching and enjoyable experience for foreign students. The program was created on the initiative of Mathang Seshagiri, an Indian exchange student, along with UdeA undergraduate students Luisa Ortega, Sara Saldarriaga and Jairo Mosquera. Since then, these students have been responsible for connecting newcomers to their mentors at UdeA.  

For its part, the Office of International Affairs is responsible for providing logistics support and managing the list of admitted international students. It is also responsible for initiating the first contact, organize meetings and provide meeting rooms for use by the mentors and visitors, among other activities.

"This is an initiative made by students for students and we want it to continue like this. The fact that they came up with this successful initiative and be able to stick with it encourages us to put our trust in program," says Andrea Ayerbe-Castro, coordinator for Academic Cooperation at the Office of International Affairs.

The program currently has 40 Colombian “parceros” selected via a call for mentors which is held at the end of each semester. After an international student has been admitted to UdeA a program coordinator provides the student with a mentor who will be responsible for helping the newcomers settle into their new city, get familiar with campus life, find accommodation, and assist them in all matters concerning their stay in Colombia.

In addition, visitors are offered a variety of leisure and recreational activities such as visits to Parque Arví - a nature reserve on the outskirts of the city with hiking trails, zip lines, boating and little shops -, and Museo El Castillo, as well as nights out, and trips to the cities of Cartagena and Santa Marta in the Colombian Caribbean.

“it is hard to get to a place where you don’t know anyone. The Parcero Program was a great experience for me because it helped me to better understand the University and the city. It would have been very difficult for me to adapt to a new environment and interact with locals if I had not had the support of the program”, says Ivan Moreno-Diaz, a business administration student from Universidad Automoma de Mexico.  

Thanks to continuous networking with people in other countries and their knowledge of migration procedures, scholarships and study-abroad opportunities, many of the students participating in the Parcero Program have managed to pursue studies abroad.  

Program coordinator Luisa Ortega, spent a semester at Universidad de Huelva, Spain, and also attended a summer school at the University of Giessen, Germany. She says the support and advice of her "parceros" abroad were crucial for her trip.

“Participating in the program has helped me to overcome the fear of speaking to unfamiliar people and also gave me the opportunity to visit several countries including Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal and Switzerland. It is great to see my “parceros” again after a while and stay with them in their home countries,” says Ortega, who pursues a bachelor's degree in microbiology at UdeA. 

During their stay abroad, visiting students become cultural ambassadors of their home countries so that domestic students can better understand their mindsets and lifestyles. Likewise, international students will be able to explore the culture and customs of the host country which will result in successful cultural immersions. 

According to Ortega, German and Mexican students who are currently studying at UdeA like to attend soccer matches and become fans of local soccer teams such as Nacional and Medellín. Also, many non-Spanish speakers not only manage to improve their Spanish but also end up mastering the local accent. On the other hand, the “parceros” are so deeply committed to their role as mentors that they end up acting as brothers/sisters of the incoming international student. 

“We are aware of the role of international students in promoting the University, the city and the country. To some extent, they become our ambassadors abroad,” Ortega said.

Through the Parcero Program, the Office of International Affairs at Universidad de Antioquia receives constant feedback on matters related to international student support services. As of this year, a series of meetings and surveys are regularly conducted in order to make recommendations on student mobility and improve this service.

“I am very grateful to have had the opportunity of living abroad. The people I met in Colombia were very friendly and respectful. I loved every single place I visited and I felt very comfortable during my stay. Having had the opportunity to learn from other cultures was a wonderful experience I hope to repeat one day,” Mexican student Ivan Moreno-Diaz said.

How do I apply?

All new incoming international students are invited to apply to be paired with a UdeA student. You can contact us through the Parcero Program email at programaparcero@udea-internacional.net or visit our Facebook group.

You may also contact a program coordinator through email

Luisa Fernanda Ortega
lu_fernanda26@hotmail.com

Sara Saldarriaga
sarasaldarriaga.h@gmail.com

Veronica Novoa
veronovoa16@gmail.com

Jairo A. Mosquera
djjalo@hotmail.com

After you apply and are admitted to the Parcero Program you will:

• Be contacted through email by a program coordinator who will match you with your peer mentor (parcero). 
• Tour the University campus with your mentor and learn about important resources upon your arrival.

Specific mentor responsibilities include:

• Help new students with arrival matters such as becoming familiar with the UdeA campus and the city.
• Provide advice and support regarding off campus housing options and transportation needs.
• Assist with the enrollment or registration process.
• Provide advice and support regarding the issuance of an alien identification card before immigration authorities in Colombia.
• Serve as a continuing contact during the student's time at UdeA and provide guidance regarding any eventuality.