We have been making friends all our lives. Isn't it intuitive?

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No. Not Really. 

We realised that making friends is not as easy as we think it is - particularly in university.

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Many of us are thrown into a brand new environment where we need to make new friends from scratch. Except this time, without the built-in opportunities to interact as frequently as we did with our classmates back in the old days where we had a common timetable.

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In the past, it is much easier to do so because our school life and social life largely overlaps. But now, ​with more flexibility in our schedules, activities, and life plans, comes the challenge of finding convergence. 

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The limited frequency of interaction makes knowing someone on a deeper level much more difficult. Not mentioning the additional effort required in initiating and sustaining interactions.

As a result, "hi-bye friends" become much more of a commonplace.

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In short, we can no longer take "forming friendships" for granted. 

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But time is not on our side. 

Yet, with our studies and future career at stake, many find it difficult to juggle social life and other priorities. 

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The pandemic is not making it any easier.

Physical interactions are often integral to engaging and interacting on a deeper level. With the social distancing measures and online lessons, we recognise that making friends in university has just become even harder.

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Hence, Project Fren-Z

Having a strong support network becomes all the more crucial in this critical phase of life where we explore our self-identity, navigate a myriad of uncertainties, and manage the gradual transition into adulthood.

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At the very core of our human nature is the desire to find a sense of belonging and forge meaningful bonds - as much as studying or other matters may also take priority from time to time.

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With this in mind, we started this ambitious project & experiment aimed at promoting friendship formation in university - in a fun, hassle-free, and interest-based manner.

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Find out more about our research by clicking on the sub-pages below!