Buddy Program

Become a Buddy!

The Itenas Buddy Program is a mentorship initiative designed to connect Itenas students with international students. As a Buddy, you will play a vital role in helping international students navigate administrative processes, adapt to local student life, and explore the vibrant city of Bandung.

Why Join the Itenas Buddy Program?
  • Gain invaluable intercultural experience by connecting with students from diverse nationalities and cultures.
  • Help create a welcoming and inclusive environment for international students as they integrate into life at Itenas.
  • Build meaningful relationships and develop your leadership and communication skills.
Requirements to Become a Buddy:
  • Fluent in English, both spoken and written.
  • Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
  • Knowledge of Bandung city and its local culture.
What’s Next After Applying?

Once your application is submitted, the Office of Partnership and International Affairs will review it and contact you for an interview if you meet the requirements. After being accepted as a Buddy, you will be assigned to support events and activities involving international students as needed.

APPLY – APPLICATION REVIEW – INTERVIEW – ASSIGNMENT

How to Apply

Click the link and complete the form with the required information.

Buddy Itenas

Meet Our Buddies
Farah Amani Hessa Hasana Purnawarman

Visual Communication Design Student

About Farah

Farah is a passionate and creative Visual Communication Design student at Itenas. She has a strong enthusiasm for learning and excels in creating illustrations, designs, and storytelling. Her commitment to fostering intercultural understanding and her active involvement in various projects and organizations make her a standout Buddy in the Itenas Buddy Program.

Skills and Expertise

  • Fluent in English and Bahasa Indonesia
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  • Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Canva, and other design tools
  • Extensive knowledge of Bandung’s local culture and attractions


Buddy Experience

Farah has been appointed as a Darmasiswa Buddy, assisting international students with administrative processes, local guidance, and cultural adaptation. Her dedication ensures that international students feel welcomed and supported during their time at Itenas.


Achievements and Activities

  • Awarded First Place in English Speech Competitions
  • Top 15 Winner at West Java Expo for Packaging Design (2024)
  • Active member of the Itenas Student English Forum (ISEF)
  • Headed multiple design projects, including pop-up books, magazines, and eco-friendly packaging


Fun Fact

Farah loves exploring Bandung’s unique culinary scene and sharing her knowledge of local culture with international students.

Rafa Naila Azhar

Visual Communication Design Student

About Rafa

Rafa is a calm, reliable, and hardworking Visual Communication Design student at Itenas with a GPA of 3.74. Known for adaptability and a positive outlook, Rafa is dedicated to creating impactful visual communication, including illustrations, editorial design, and visual storytelling. Rafa’s passion for learning and teamwork makes them a valuable asset to the Itenas Buddy Program.

Skills and Expertise

  • Fluent in English and skilled in visual persuasion and storytelling
  • Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Canva
  • Experienced in videography and digital content creation
  • Knowledgeable about local culture and traditions, enhancing support for international students

Buddy Experience

Rafa has been an active Darmasiswa Buddy at Itenas since September 2024, providing guidance to international students in adapting to life in Bandung and fostering cross-cultural understanding.


Achievements and Activities

  • 3rd Winner of the Digital Poster Competition by Permata (2024)
  • Participant in West Java Mascot Competition (2024)
  • Crew member for the “Binar” Art and Design Exhibition (2023-2024)
  • Facilitator for the Project-Based Curriculum at Itenas (2024-present)


Fun Fact

Rafa enjoys participating in art competitions and training events, always seeking to improve their skills while sharing insights with international students.

Stories from Our Buddies

Rafa Naila Azhar

Having the chance to be the buddy for Darmasiswa RI-ITENAS Bandung has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic journey. I am honoured to serve as a fellow companion for international students and navigating not only academic but also their non-collegiate journey in a foreign environment. This experience has not only enriched my understanding of diverse cultures but also allowed me to develop valuable skills in communication, mentorship, management, and empathy.

Tam and Boeing are very lovely that we habitually became comfortable way before we meet each other face to face. As I helped them navigate challenges, from understanding the environment to overcome language barriers, I witnessed their growth of confidence in socializing with more group of people which makes me feel proud of them. I feel delighted having this experience as a part of my self-development journey and this experience has become a stimulus for me to keep seeking more impactful experience for my self-development to improve my skill in various aspects.

Farah Amani Hessa Hasana Purnawarman

Being a guide for international exchange students was something I had never done before, so I was both nervous and excited when I was appointed as a Darmasiswa Buddy for Isa and Linh. Isa, from Boston, was always full of energy and stories to tell. Linh, from Vietnam, had a calm and quiet demeanor and was very sweet. I felt lucky to be their guide and friend.

My role was to help them navigate campus life, the city, and anything else they needed during their first three months in Bandung and Itenas. I accompanied them to events and places, helped them find their way around, and hung out with them, which turned into moments I’ll always cherish.

One of the most memorable moments was our very first meeting. My professor introduced us at a cafe over brunch. At first, it was awkward—we were all shy, and as an introvert myself, I wasn’t sure how to break the ice. But as the days went by, we bonded quite quickly. Playing games like “Go Fish” and another card game that Isa taught us, talking about slang words in our native languages, shopping at a supermarket and almost getting the wrong cab, sharing our favorite webtoons and songs, and even gossiping about crushes turned those shy first meetings into unforgettable memories.

Another highlight was the opening ceremony for new students on campus. We watched the welcoming parade for new students that was performed by the seniors, and I could see the excitement and curiosity on Isa and Linh’s faces. One time, a couple of my friends and I helped Linh get her phone checked at a mall, and we ended up grabbing milk tea, bread, and taking photos together. Moments like those were simple yet incredibly special.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend their farewell dinner or see Linh off when she returned to Vietnam, but I’m glad I got to say goodbye to Isa before she left for the U.S. Looking back, I wish I had taken more photos to capture our time together. But even without many pictures, the memories we created are vivid and unforgettable, moments that I’ll cherish forever.

I am deeply grateful to Mrs. Levita for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity, and Itenas for organizing this memorable Darmasiswa program. I hope Isa and Linh found me to be a good guide and a memorable friend. Most of all, I hope that the bond we shared will not fade over time and that we’ll see each other again someday. Until then, the memories we made will always have a special place in my heart.

BRIDGE (2022)
Institut Teknologi Nasional hosted the eleventh and twelfth sessions of Building Relationships, Intercultural Dialogue, and Global Engagement (BRIDGE): Exploration of Sundanese Culture 2022 at Room 14301 of the Itenas campus in Bandung on Saturday (12/3/2022). The event ran from 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM WIB as part of the BRIDGE program, which was also organized by seven other universities in Bandung.

The topic of the event focused on Craftsmanship (Interior Design), and the activities of the BRIDGE: Exploration of Sundanese Culture 2022 program were held in person (offline) featuring Dr. Jamaludin, S.Sn, M.Sn. from Itenas as a speaker. During the session, Dr. Jamal brought 10 traditional Sundanese boboko crafts to be given as souvenirs to participating students.

The event was attended by international students from universities across the Greater Bandung area, including: Institut Teknologi Nasional (2 students), Universitas Padjadjaran (22 students), Telkom University (9 students), Universitas Kristen Maranatha (5 students), Universitas Katolik Parahyangan (4 students), Universitas Widyatama (4 students), Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (15 students), and Politeknik Negeri Bandung (6 students). The international students who participated came from Germany, Rwanda, Japan, Korea, India, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Gambia, the Philippines, Madagascar, Timor Leste, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Afghanistan, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Ghana.

The BRIDGE: Exploration of Sundanese Culture 2022 program was implemented based on the Key Performance Indicators (IKU) in accordance with the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Decree No. 754/P/2020, which serves as a performance measurement tool for universities that is adaptive and outcome-based. It is also a tool for measuring the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program. One of the IKU parameters to be achieved is the number of international students. Therefore, the Bandung International Office Consortium (KUI Bandung) organized a joint event to share resources among the participating universities to collaborate on the BRIDGE program. This activity is aimed at international students studying at the ten universities in the KUI Bandung consortium for eight weeks, to explore Sundanese culture as part of diplomacy. The program, which started on October 29, 2022, and ended on December 10, 2022, at Universitas Kristen Maranatha in Bandung, was held every Saturday, with each session consisting of theory and practical activities for 2 x 50 minutes.

The goal of the BRIDGE: Exploration of Sundanese Culture 2022 program is to promote local culture and wisdom, particularly Sundanese culture, to international students residing in the Greater Bandung area, provide a platform for international students to communicate and network with other international students on campus, and foster their social and cultural engagement in Bandung as part of soft diplomacy efforts. This program is also expected to produce outcomes such as increased IKU 2 for each participating university, which measures the number of students gaining off-campus experience, and IKU 6 related to university cooperation with partner universities ranked in the top 100 QS WUR by subject. In addition, the number of international students engaging in activities on campus can contribute to QS and THE rankings.

“Through the BRIDGE program, it is hoped that there will be positive impacts for both students and universities, such as the increase in the number of international students in Indonesia, the enhancement of the international reputation of the host universities, and serving as a prototype for MBKM for international students,” said Dr. Eng. Dyah Asri H. Taroepratjeka, S.T., M.T., head of KUI Itenas.

DARMASISWA Activity to Batik Komar & Galeri Rosyid in Cigadung Bandung
DARMASISWA activity to Museum in Bandung