The Class Foundation and Global Student Living announce a collaboration to investigate the relationship between student accommodation, living experience, and student wellbeing across Europe.
The Student Wellbeing and Living Monitor will seek the views of tens of thousands of students across key European markets, to examine the relationship between student accommodation amenities and services and the wellness of those living within different environments. The aim is to help accommodation providers understand which of their offerings makes the biggest impact on student wellbeing and ultimately supports them towards academic success.
Operators, investors and service providers are all invited to support the project and can get in touch with the organisers.
The research intends to measure the impact of student accommodation facilities and services on student wellness. Prior to the pandemic, significant progress had been made on student wellbeing and support services. However, many universities are now reporting ‘significant increased demand’ for mental health support services, according to Universities UK, which represents 140 higher education institutions.
“I am delighted to be partnering with the team at Global Student Living and delivering research that can contribute towards improving the student housing situation in Europe. Understanding the tangible impact our spaces and services have on student wellbeing presents an exciting moment at a time when investment in European student accommodation is continuing rapidly.
“We know there is more work to be done to ease the student housing crisis in Europe and this research will drive that agenda forward to ensure our products and services benefit the people living within our communities. I am calling on colleagues and partners across Europe to join us and take part in this fantastic research opportunity.”
Frank Uffen, Co-Founder, The Class Foundation
As a European think tank, The Class Foundation’s mission is to encourage the sector to tackle key challenges. The Student Wellbeing and Living Monitor will build on a pilot survey conducted by The Class Foundation in The Netherlands in 2021, which showed that students with access to community facilities and networking opportunities reported a greater sense of wellness. Also, international students were more vulnerable with regards to their mental wellbeing, but where they had access to facilities and support, they reported a marked increase in wellbeing.
“We are excited to be partnering with The Class Foundation on this important project and to expand our reach further into the European student living space. Our core mission is to ensure that universities, investors, developers, and operators have the data and insights they need to deliver what students want and need. This partnership will provide further valuable evidence to support European operators and policymakers in finding solutions to a chronic student housing shortage that is rapidly becoming a crisis causing significant social and economic harm.”
Tim Daplyn, Founder and CEO, Global Student Living
The Class Foundation and Global Student Living aim to use this data to inform investors on which assets are most valuable. The partners work alongside the EU and local municipalities to provide evidence-based recommendations on how to support growth and enable the maturity of the student housing market, with the expectation that it will enhance the student experience.
