This paper explores the aspects and activities of a buddy program at a Swedish university to derive practical insights for enhancing similar initiatives that support Internationalization at Home (IaH). Since its introduction, the concept of IaH has gained significant attention in the field of internationalization of higher education and has even shifted the focus of approaches from mobility-based ones to domestic, campus-based strategies in the European context. Within this context, internationalization of the informal curriculum, alongside the formal curriculum, constitutes a core component of IaH. Informal curricular activities play a vital role in fostering international and intercultural learning across campus, extending beyond formal educational settings. However, empirical studies on informal curricular practices remain limited both in Europe and Japan. Therefore, sharing successful examples is valuable for institutions seeking effective ways to promote IaH. This study identifies five key insights: (1) clearly articulating that IaH within institutional policies is essential for advancing internationalization; (2) appointing dedicated personnel to manage buddy programs enhances their effectiveness; (3) that communicating the benefits of being a buddy is crucial; (4) that organizing activities in groups rather than one-on-one may improve accessibility and participation, and (5) that collaboration within and out of institution is essential to broaden the reach and enhance the impact of the buddy program. Universities can adapt these insights to suit their own organizational structures and circumstances.
Yoshiko Rotter (Hatanaka) (Sun,) studied this question.