The Class Foundation and Global Student Living announce research collaboration on the link between PBSA and student well-being

The Class Foundation and Global Student Living are excited to announce a joint research collaboration investigating the relationship between student accommodation, living experience, and student well-being across Europe. With students across the continent preparing to move on to the next levels of their academic careers against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, it is vital that student accommodation is positioned to provide appropriate support for students.

The Student Well-being & Living Monitor will survey tens of thousands of students across key European markets to examine the impact of shared student accommodation services and amenities on residents’ well-being. This research will enable accommodation providers to understand which of their offerings bear an effect on student well-being, ultimately empowering the next generation towards academic success.

Research Aims & Objectives

Our survey and subsequent analysis will measure the impact of student accommodation facilities and services on student wellness – a direct driver in academic achievement. Prior to the pandemic, significant progress had been made on student well-being and support services. Yet, many universities are now reporting “significant increased demand” for mental health support services, according to Universities UK, which represents 140 British higher education institutions.

As a think tank bringing together the full range of stakeholders responsible for delivering student accommodation across Europe, The Class Foundation’s mission is to unite the sector in tackling shared challenges. The Student Well-being & Living Monitor will build on a ground-breaking pilot survey conducted by The Class Foundation in The Netherlands in 2020/21, which showed students with access to community facilities and networking opportunities reporting a greater sense of well-being.?Additionally, the pilot revealed that while international students were generally more vulnerable with regards to mental health, access to shard facilities and support services was linked to a marked increase in well-being.

Empowering the Student Living Sector

A far cry from the days of “student digs”, student accommodation across Europe is today packed with state-of-the-art facilities ranging from gyms and swimming pools to study space, communal cooking facilities, cinema lounges, and other areas that provide students with the opportunity to interact and build social connections while away from home.?

Many accommodation providers now take a leading role in the provision of student well-being activities and support services, which are a regular feature across both accommodation and campus settings.

Frank Uffen, Co-Founder of The Class Foundation, said of the new partnership,

“We are delighted to join forces with the team at Global Student Living to deliver research that can contribute towards improving the student housing situation in Europe. Understanding the tangible impact our spaces and services have on student well-being presents an exciting moment at a time when investment in European student accommodation is growing 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 young 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.”

Tim Daplyn, Founder and CEO of Global Student Living, commented,

“We are excited to be partnering with The Class Foundation on this important project, and expanding 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 policy-makers in finding solutions to a chronic student housing shortage that is rapidly becoming a crisis, and causing significant social and economic harm.”

The Class Foundation and Global Student Living aim to use this data to inform investors on which assets are most valuable. This research will also act as a tool to gauge social value within the PBSA sector, identifying new ways for investors, developers, and operators to improve their market strategies. This data will also be leveraged as an internal, local, and international benchmarking tool for current PBSA assets and planned pipeline developments. The Class Foundation and Global Student Living aim to work alongside the European Union and local municipalities to provide evidence-backed recommendations on how to support the growth and enable the maturity of the student housing market, which will in turn ensure the student experience in decades to come.

Further Notes

The Class Foundation is Europe’s leading platform for the student housing sector. Its vision is for cities to attract and retain the brightest young minds, and for these students to lead the way to social and economic success in return. Together with their industry-leading community, The Class Foundation sets out to rethink the places where students live, work, and learn. The Foundation hosts regional and hybrid gatherings and a flagship annual conference where they challenge delegates to look ahead at the forces that are shaping the future of living, learning, and working in Europe. Ultimately, their mission is to inspire industry players to provide more affordable, sustainable, and human-centric accommodation options for students.?

Global Student Living is the definitive channel for professional news, information and insight into student living and lifestyle around the world. Our partners include PBSA investors, developers, operators and suppliers as well as higher education providers, charities, trusts and policy-makers internationally. The Global Student Living Index provides unparalleled insight into global student living and lifestyle metrics and international benchmarks based on surveys of hundreds of thousands of students around the world every year. ?The data we gather is used by our partners to inform investment decisions, improve operational performance and design more effective marketing campaigns.?

For questions, or to get involved, please email Scott Blakeway, Head of Research Projects for The Class Foundation.