Germany will become a top study destination for EU students due to Brexit. Are the university cities prepared?

August 8

• What Covid-19 could mean for an already troubled higher education system.
• GSA seeks to temporarily accommodate tourists in two of the companies Dublin residences.
• As Northern Ireland’s first minister announces masks will become compulsory in public enclosed spaces, Queen’s University has stated it will also make face masks mandatory on parts of its campus.
• A white-paper published by China’s largest private education service provider reports students favor studying in the UK over the US.
• The Spanish Ministry of Higher Education plans to reduce the huge gap in tuition fees between the countries communities in an attempt to eliminate barriers to university access. (ES)
• A recent study claims Germany’s effort to improve the international competitiveness of some institutions has instead harmed research quality.
• As the demand for Coliving is increasing among young people in Poland, Jolanta Bubel explains what Student Depot does to cater to their needs. (PL)

August 7

• UKEAS reports an expected decrease of 56% in next term student enrolments from a group of West African and Asian countries.
• The French government announced its universities will reopen in September with measures being taken to protect teachers, personnel and students.
• Although partially offset by higher sales from the companies PBSA portfolio, Far East Orchard reports a S$853,000 net loss for the end of Q2 2020.
• Bristol Councillors have approved an exciting mixed-use development project that include a 693 bed PBSA block, affordable housing, a school and offices.
• Leeds will soon be home to a £100M, 32 floor student accommodation development.
• The Build-to-Rent growth seen in Australia seems on par with the $18bn boom observed in the UK.
• A brief analysis on the benefits of integrating co-living into your apartment portfolio.
• Studies predict a significant drop in both national and international enrolments, leaving UK universities with real problems.
• Leading Architect Bjarke Ingels describes the inevitable role of outdoor spaces in improving urban living.

August 6

• The investment fund Q-Living has acquired a build-to-rent project of 110 homes in Cañaveral (Madrid) in which it plans to invest 17 million euros. [Spanish]
• HEPI Report: Call for a new approach on the affordability, regulation, and cost of student accommodation
• If Covid-19 enters student residences at universities it can spread quickly, according to new guidelines in Ireland.
• 2% decrease in student rent prices in Italy during the past months. For the next academic year, students may find a greater offering and at a lower fee. [Italian]

August 5

• Berlin-based Catella Residential Investment Management (CRIM) has significantly expanded the investment volume of the Catella European Student Housing Fund II (CESHF II) to almost €150 million with the acquisition of two student residences in Berlin and Greater Paris for approximately €60 million.
• 6-storey student accommodation block plan submitted for Leicestershire by Tang Developments Limited. It will include 13 studios and 48 apartments.
• UK: Calls grow to include student accommodation in fund to remove cladding from buildings.
• The Portuguese Ministry of Education has published new guidelines for HE. Including the possibility of implementing Saturday classes, mandatory masks, and testing for Covid-19. [Italian]
• UK: Almost a fifth, 18%, of young people aged 16-to-24 who are not currently at university and are not planning to go, cite coronavirus as a factor as they are concerned about paying the fees.
• Barcelona-based coworking company Aticco launches into Coliving. The company’s objective is to have 300 rooms by 2021. [Spanish]
• From September the whole Bristol Uni experience will change, with “Living Circles”, no house parties, no “sleepovers”, and fines of up to £800 for any student breaking Covid-19 guidelines, both at Uni and in the community.
• The demand for student dormitories in Berlin has decreased compared to last year. This is also due to the fact that international students are currently staying away. [German]
• Barriers to international education opportunities for UK students must be overcome to ensure more benefit from “enriching” experiences in other countries, the country’s former Universities minister has told The PIE News.

August 4

• What COVID-19 Has Taught Us About Germany as a Study Destination
• Nearly 4,000 international students are waiting to find out if they will be able to stay in Sweden this autumn, as coronavirus measures might affect their right to a residence permit.
• QS publishes research on how EU students are responding to changes to the UK university fees.
• Demand for student accommodation in the UK is up 25% against last year
• How Scotland’s student halls have changed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic
• Latvia observes the biggest number of higher education applicants in recent years
• Plans to turn a former car dealership in south Dublin into a co-living development have sparked intense criticism.
• Hundreds of new ‘co-living’ apartments will be coming to Manchester city centre – though not as many as developers had initially hoped for.
• The largest co-living complex in the Baltic States will soon open in Vilnius [Latvian]
• DoveVivo, the first and largest co-living company in Europe with over 1,500 properties managed, has announced the signing of an agreement with Enpam Re for the management of over 700 square meters of assets in Florence as a co-living unit.
• The Eneas Real Estate fund has acquired two 3,500-square-meter buildings in the Salamanca neighborhood to convert them into tourist accommodation and coliving apartments.
• While the student rental season has started in Albi, France, some real estate agencies are seeing a drop in requests, attributable to the uncertainty that still weighs on the start of the school year. [French]
• Will it always be so difficult to find accommodation in Paris? Whether buying or renting, the search for Parisian accommodation is far from simple. However, new factors may well change the situation. [French]
• In Paris, students pay 835 euros for an empty studio and 930 euros for a furnished apartment, according to the Se loger barometer. [French]
• 30% drop in international students for Bavaria’s summer semester compared to the previous year. [German]
• Covid also changes university cities: in Milan alone, international students are worth 700 million euros with 200 million for housing [Italian]
• 17 international student scholarships offered for those who enroll at the University of Catania [Italian]
• Average access to higher education in Portugal will be higher this year [Portuguese]
• After months of uncertainty, the past six weeks has seen the number of students looking for COVID-proof shared houses as they shun more communal, purpose-built blocks.
• There’s still plenty of potential for investors in commercial property

August 3

• HousingAnywhere partners up with Expatrio to make moving to Germany easier
• The University of Calabria, the largest campus in Italy to test the post-Covid campus life [Italian]
• Italy: one in two professors in favor of distance learning even after the emergency [Italian]
• The German government wants to boost digitisation in international programmes to make courses more competitive. The German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD, will be provided with funding to support a new IP Digital scheme.
• Fraxtor Private Limited (Fraxtor) and ​Q Investment Partners (QIP) are partnering to offer investment opportunities to accredited investors on the Fraxtor Platform. QIP is known for its strong track record in UK PBSA.
• 5 reasons universities are renovating student housing
• A2Dominion will lease a 76-bed student accommodation block to Oxford Council to provide interim accommodation for rough sleepers who have been living in hotels during the coronavirus lockdown
• Thousands of Dutch students sign a petition to urge universities for tuition fee compensation. For the previous months but also for the upcoming academic year [Dutch]
• The alternative sector, spanning purpose build student accommodation (PBSA), built-to-rent (BTR), co-living, later living and hotels, has not been immune from the effects of Covid-19, but it has fared better than many other areas of real estate and it is likely that the sector will revert back to business as usual more quickly than other areas and with less permanent scarring.
• Most HEI institutions say they will take Erasmus+ students in the autumn, with Swiss universities universally open, while the UK and Netherlands are more closed
• The University of London launches next-gen property rental app for students
• Property investors see a growing trend for co-living couples in London
• Why Italian students choose to study abroad [Italian]
• Student housing: the list of the most sought after cities since deconfinement [French]
• Student grants in France: An increase planned for the next school year [French]
• COVID changes the search for university accommodation: the demand for single rooms is growing, the house is ‘visited’ online [Italian]
• Italian university professors: “Distance learning has saved universities” [Italian]
• Former Universities Minister Rt. Hon Chris Skidmore MP has been appointed a Trustee of the UPP Foundation. He has also agreed to Chair the Foundation’s Advisory Board.
• UK: International students can request for one-month visa extension
• A Dry Run at a Socially Distanced Classroom
• NL: Interest in student associations is on the rise possible reasons include fewer students opting to study abroad and the absence of face-to-face contact organized by higher education institutions [Dutch]
• Leiden has new internationalization plans with special attention given to education, knowledge and economy, urban development and housing, and services. [Dutch]
• All eyes on Xior as they continue expansion in the Netherlands and now also in Spain and Portugal. On Wednesday they will be presenting their half-year figures. [Dutch]
• Between face-to-face and the internet: this is how higher education centers face the new academic year [Spanish]
• The hunt for student accommodation is on in Lille! And it’s not always easy… [French]

August 2

• Mobility postponed to 2021 or online classes from the Murcia region as COVID hits Erasmus [Spanish]
• Elvas, Italy plans to turn mill into 70-bed student residence to fill the gap in accommodation capacity. [Italian]
• Scotland’s ancient universities and their reliance on foreign students
• 3 Things Covid-19 Will End In Higher Ed
• Drunken behaviour in halls is a problem. Limiting bed spaces is not the answer

August 1

• UK universities putting finances above student safety, expert warns
• Moving forward: 700-bed student residency in Milan has been given the go-ahead. “Milan wants to continue to be an attractive city for young people – declares the councilor for urban planning Pierfrancesco Maran [Italian]

July 31

• Dutch student union LSVb is very dissatisfied that most universities/colleges are planning to hold their freshmen introduction weeks mostly online.
• The school year is scheduled to begin on August 22 at the United World College in Freiburg, but 50 students are not allowed to enter Germany. [German]
• Financial close on £100m+ Kingston student accommodation scheme
• Revealed: what students want from their accommodation post-COVID
• Development round-up: Notts scheme closer, new PBSA site in Edinburgh
• Résidence Gif by the French firm, SOA Architectes is a student housing project in Gif-sur-Yvette, a commune about thirty kilometres from the centre of Paris.
• New rush for student rooms in the Netherlands causes international students to lose out as they are not as aware of regulations [Dutch]
• Portuguese university residences may lose beds in the new school year due to new guidelines, concerns about implications on existing housing crisis [Portuguese]
• Liguria Region provides funding of over 20 million euros for university buildings: there will be two residences that will accommodate 384 students. [Italian]
• New student dormitory in Trier uses wood construction [German]

July 30

• A quarter of final-year undergraduate students are less likely to undertake a postgraduate (PG) study than they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent study.
• Ascott’s co-living brand lyf adds 6 new properties in Australia, China, Philippines
• TradeRisks arranged £90m private placement for PBSA refurbishment
• US: Half of HEIs see a drop in applications, 18% see “substantial decline”
• The EU’s new seven-year financial framework and coronavirus recovery plan fail to secure and strengthen Europe as a research location, according to three key science organisations.
• UK student accommodation provider Student Roost is set to open its 50th location. The Oaks is the provider’s first property in Warwick, and it will open in two phases, offering accommodation options to more than 1,000 students.
• The Student Hotel Opens in Bologna on October, 1st
• Commentary: COVID‐19 Pandemic and Higher Education: International Mobility and Students’ Social Protection
• It seems to me that universities and colleges interpret the infection control regulations far too strictly compared to high schools and elementary schools, says Trond Winther, associate professor at the University of Southeast Norway and Østfold University College [Norwegian]
• The ‘co-living’ flats planned for the edge of Manchester city centre that could be the future – or the ‘slums of the future’

July 29

• New reports reveal “shocking” impact of Covid-19 on UK ELT
• The U.K.’s largest listed student housing provider’s plans to reinstate its dividend could be stalled by a “second wave” of COVID-19, Unite Group CEO Richard Smith said during a first-half 2020 earnings call.
• Disruptive Transformation – A Way To Change Higher Education
• Private student accommodation company Sanctuary Students has refused to terminate rental contracts with students, resulting in some students going on strike and refusing to pay their rent.
• Nottingham universities reveal plan to shut down student parties when term starts
• Australia’s graduate work visa scheme attracts international students to our universities. Is it enough?
• Ivanhoé Cambridge and Bouwinvest Real Estate Investors’ partnership with Greystar Real Estate Partners to invest €1 billion to develop student and young professional housing in the Greater Paris Region is the latest commitment of foreign capital to the European market.
• Unite delays 1,300-bed student housing schemes because of the lockdown construction hiatus earlier in the year.
• Developer Urbanite has applied for planning permission for 112-bedroom student housing block on Foss Islands Road
• Beyond Zoom: can virtual reality replace the classroom experience?
• International students in the UK turn to food banks in lockdown
• International student visa applications to Australia have plunged by more than a third with growing fears the sector will take up to five years to recover.
• Since the inauguration of the first French co-living building, nothing has stopped The Babel Community. For 2025 their objective is to reach 25 addresses. [French]
• Over 4,000 international students waiting for news on their Swedish residence permits
• Concerns over late-night student behaviour fuel residents’ objections to Trinity accommodation plan
• Knight Frank has launched a new dedicated residential capital markets team to focus on the residential investment sector. Former head of residential capital markets at CBRE, Tim MacMahon, has been hired to lead the team
• Tensions over the rise in student accommodation prices in Toulouse [French]
• University of Algarve (UAlg) opens additional 1475 places for students in the academic year 2020/2021 [Portuguese]
• A 10% increase of international students at CEU Cardenal Herrera University (CEU UCH) next year. “Thus consolidating the internationalization strategy of the university”. [Spanish]
• The Miguel Hernández University has registered more than 11,300 applications for the almost 2,500 places it offers to study the degrees for the next academic year . This represents an increase of 10% compared to previous [Spanish]
• The municipality of Amsterdam has awarded the tender for the very last high-rise building lot at Overhoeks to the team including Mecanoo and Xior with their entry ‘BrinkToren’. [Dutch]

July 28

• A record number of 70,000 students have been offered admission to Danish higher education. As students begin to prepare for their studies, the hunt is now on for housing. Finding student housing is most difficult in Copenhagen as well as in other large cities such as Aarhus, Aalborg, and Odense
• As the pandemic upends higher education, is residential college worth the cost?
• Plans for a five-story block of co-living flats in Bedminster have been rejected for being too cramped.
• 4 questions students have for colleges regarding this fall
• Bocconi University sees an increase in student enrolment including international students, with Brexit and rankings playing an important role [Italian]
• The competition of Italian universities to grab freshmen in the COVID era with discounts on taxes and gadgets [Italian]
• Portuguese government wants the full resumption of classroom teaching activities, but the Lisbon Academic Association does not agree with this scenario, alerting to the dangers [Portuguese]
• The Polytechnic University of Cartagena and Mi Campus have begun working on 270-bed student residence which will take 18 months and cost 9.5 million euros. [Spanish]
• Student opinion: Where were the HE contingency plans and routines for dealing with infection crises on March 13 when the corona crisis occurred? [Norwegian]

July 27

• Stay Campus London, a UK provider of student accommodation and English language programmes, has launched a free two-week self-isolation offer for international students who are subject to quarantine rules.
• Rankings: top countries for great higher education opportunities
• Developer Bouygues Immobilier is launching the construction of its R’Campus in Brest, a 205-student accommodation scheme. [French]
• Will foreign students be there for the start of the school year? [French]
• Corestate Capital Holding invests 25 million euros in new 258 student apartments in Salamanca [Spanish]
• New research by student employer, ThisIsStint, reveals a worrying picture for English students in the UK, comparing OECD countries across indicators including fees, the cost of living, and employment prospects.
• New planned accommodation at Dublin City University has been postponed indefinitely due to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the university.
• Maven Capital Partners has announced the £2.8 million purchase of a site at Murieston Crescent in Edinburgh for the development of a £15 million purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) complex.
• COVID-19: Should students return to higher education?
• While the pandemic has created significant financial challenges for many higher education institutions, the campus itself may be the solution, Grace Winters and Elizabeth Levin write.
• New international students barred from US online-only classes
• REPORT: How Will COVID-19 Really Impact International Students’ Enrolments in 2020 & 2021?
• This year, it is easier for Norwegian students to get student housing [Norwegian]

July 26

• With an estimated 30% drop in international students at the University of Lisbon, there will be fewer residences available for students and teachers this year. [Portuguese]
• Irish students in limbo over accommodation as they await timetables
• A month after its creation, the Irish higher education dept is proving its worth

July 25

• The new 43-bed student accommodation at the University of Camerino has been inaugurated, a work created thanks to the Italian Red Cross, with the support of the Canadian government, the Canadian sister company, and the Italian Post Office. [Italian]

July 24

• Nuffic reports international students are still keen to travel to the Netherlands for their studies, preferably in September as originally planned.
• University students in Italy back on the attack: “Too many uncertainties about canteen and accommodation” [Italian]
• Uninest offers a risk-free rental model: “Flexi Stay – Flexi Pay” [German]
• According to research by Cimea and the European University of Rome, there hasn’t been a decline in number of foreign students who have chosen to study at an Italian university despite the pandemic [Italian]
• Micampus Residencias has begun the works to prepare the former Caja Cantabria nursing home in Cazoña into a modern residence for 419 students, in which it plans to invest between 20 and 25 million euros and which will be completed in 15 months. [Spanish]
• Xior Student Housing will revamp “Black Box” office building in Groningen into 300 homes, 225 intended for students [Dutch]
• OsloMet has ‘revoked admission’ to its master’s degree programmes taught in English for non-European Union students as a result of COVID-19.
• UK Conservative think tank Onward has called for caps on the number of international students from any one country in universities to “boost resilience” and wean institutions off their financial dependence on China.
• International students were already having trouble with landlords taking advantage of them in the Netherlands, but this situation worsened significantly during the coronavirus crisis, student union LSVB reported based on information from its Housing Hotline.
• College in 2020 is like overskiing/underskiing. The value of the college bundle sounds plausible but is actually meaningless.
• In scrapping university targets, the UK government will reverse progress and limit access to higher education for working-class students.
• Cork Councillors question the viability of student accommodation proposals in the current climate

July 23

• The Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research has communicated the co-financing for the construction of the Student House of Chieti inside the former Pierantoni Barracks, a property of the Municipality of Chieti
• Private co-living developers ‘can’t be relied upon to provide objective public health advice’ on Covid-19, warns Irish senator
• Since rents have exploded in Paris, finding accommodation has been synonymous with long-distance races. The least solvent profiles are the first to be rejected by the agencies, not to mention racial discrimination. [French]
• Rotterdam municipality creates housing agreement together with educational institutions, student housing organizations, and student organizations. With the aim to provide students with affordable student housing [Dutch]
• UK universities accused of over-reliance on fees from Chinese students
• Student opinion: Where were the HE contingency plans and routines for dealing with infection crises on March 13 when the corona crisis occurred? [Norwegian]
• EUA welcomes European Parliament resolution calling for more future-oriented EU budget deal
• 522-bed student accommodation development granted planning permission in Nottingham
• All higher education degrees officially recognized by Portugal to be recognized by Macau
• US universities including Harvard and the University of Southern California tell international students not to come to the US to take classes remotely as higher education groups lobby for greater clarity on federal policy
• Just In: The HousingAnywhere International Rent Index report for Q2 2020
• 190 million potential loss for the French Centre régional des œuvres universitaires et scolaires (CROUS) in 2020 due to the pandemic [French]
• Tune In at 13:00 GMT -4: Student housing amid the pandemic, infection control in buildings, and future airport design on “The Weekly”
• Blended learning: when edtech meets pedagogy. How have universities adapted their teaching during the pandemic and what will it mean for next year? James Higgins speaks to four experts in online teaching and pedagogy

July 22

• 5-year agreement signed with the University of Milan and the Lombard companies for residential construction in Milan, Pavia, and Lodi. The intent is to develop university housing services with the increase in dedicated residences and to offer widespread housing of Aler Heritage [Italian]
• Bookings data from UK student accommodation provider Host show a 5% increase in bookings from UK students
• Due to the length of student housing waiting list in Arnhem (NL) social housing providers switch to a lottery system
• Irish minister for education releases roadmap for colleges and universities in Ireland which limits the ability to hold lectures and graduation ceremonies
• The government of the Netherlands has relaxed income requirements for current international student because of Covid-19, while Dutch institutions and student accommodation providers have expressed optimism about recovery from the pandemic
• New student flat rules could stop building in ‘over-saturated’ Glasgow areas
• Universities and colleges in Wales are to receive a £50m support package to soften the impact of coronavirus. The Welsh Government fund aims to safeguard teaching and research as well as helping students.
• More than three quarters (77%) of international students who took part in a recent survey stated they would be willing to take part in quarantine programs if it meant commencing on-campus learning sooner.

July 21

• EAIE Blog: A holistic view of international student support
• Recent findings from the QS coronavirus survey of higher education institutions has revealed how universities are addressing the complex challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
• The French Minister of Higher Education announced the opening of 10,000 additional places as the school year begins in the most requested sectors of higher education, to cope with the influx of high school students this year after a record rate of passing the bac [French]
• Some US colleges invite a fraction of their students to live on campus this fall. But is that approach truly safer? And who gets to be on campus?
• Innovation in student engagement and flexibility in delivery have emerged as key to successful student recruitment in China amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a panel of higher education specialists.
• The UK’s announcement to grant British National Overseas passport holders in Hong Kong five years leave to remain with work and study rights has been welcomed by agents in the region, who report immediate interest spikes from students and families.
• The number of students coming to English language schools in Ireland could drop by 120,000 this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to school association Marketing English in Ireland.
• New plan for more student flats in central Reading. It could be the second studio development in the street.
• Top degrees will be harder to get after UK universities crackdown on grade inflation
• Are universities delivering the right graduates for the times?
• Liverpool-based Downing to expand student portfolio following £56m ‘green loan’ from HSBC UK
• Realty players may find big opportunity in the student housing sector; here’s how COVID is likely to help

July 20

• 5 Bigger and Better Ideas for Fall 2020: quarantined residential learning communities, big-problem interdisciplinary seminars, structured gap years, virtual and global partnerships, and relationship-first hybrids.
• Nuveen invests €100m in Danish student housing for core pan-European strategy. Michael Keogh, research director for Nuveen Real Estate, said: “Housing continues to be a key area of growth across Europe. Although we anticipate some short-term headwinds for the student accommodation sector due to the pandemic, we expect that by 2022, when the project is completed, the market will have adjusted and there will be strong demand.”
• Leeds City Council has given the go-ahead to B&B Pickard for a £40m student accommodation scheme
• Plans for giant block of student flats on site of demolished Edinburgh pub take step forward. The student halls near King’s Buildings have been proposed by Lanark Student Living Ltd. – who are based in Middlesex.
• The UK government has announced the details of a restructuring regime for the higher education sector in response to challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Chinese students stick with UK for uni despite 5G battle according to Student.com
• International students from Europe, UK and Ireland can now enter the US
• Will single dorm rooms be enough to ensure safe campus housing this fall?
• Universities’ ‘hybrid’ reopening plans now offer the worst of both worlds
• Australia to restart granting visas to international students to lift struggling university sector
• A drop in the number of international students studying in Ireland this year means co-living could be introduced through the back door, a Labour Party councillor has said.
• There’s a revolution happening at universities — students aren’t quite as keen as they used to be to become lawyers and bankers and management consultants; they want to become start-up founders instead.

July 19

• Published by the Italian Ministry of University and Research “Procedures for entry, residence, and enrollment of students applying for visas, relating to higher education courses in Italy, valid for the academic year 2020-21”.

July 18

• Finding a room in Utrecht: make your own advertorial or pay for registration
• The COVID-19 pandemic impacts the landscape of transnational higher education (TNHE) in three dimensions: student mobility, economic recession, and international political tension.
• Universities can better prepare themselves for future pandemics and become more resilient with a planning approach that encompasses other natural disasters, says Hideo Ohno, president of Japan’s Tohoku University in Sendai, which was severely affected by the 2011 East Japan Earthquake.
• Student Roost, which operates four student accommodation developments in Belfast, lodged a planning application to temporarily use 266 rooms in its new Little Patrick Street block as an aparthotel.
• THE Caledonian Trust has revised the terms of the planned sale of a landmark building in Edinburgh earmarked for student accommodation.

July 17

• Scottish government publishes guidelines for safe re-opening during the coronavirus pandemic for college, university, and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA).
• Irish Minister for Education Norma Foley has said that it was up to third-level institutions to decide if they should defer commencement dates to facilitate first-year students seeking accommodation.
• St Andrews University sets out a commitment to reduce its impact on the town, through the provision of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) which is operated and managed by the university. Half of the student beds at Albany Park will be classed as affordable accommodation
• Report on the survey “COVID-19 – Challenges and good practices at UNICA member universities”

July 16

• Universities in England at risk of going bust could apply for emergency loans from the government, in plans announced by the education secretary.
• Xior Student Housing NV, has won a tender together with DubbeLL and Mecanoo and thereby acquired an option on a new development project in the Netherlands situated at a strategic location on the north side of the IJ waterfront in Amsterdam.
• It’s clearer than ever that existing technologies are not being leveraged symmetrically across the higher education landscape. This has had a direct effect on individual institutions abilities to cope with the demands of the pandemic and suggests that the future of higher education might be closer than we think.
• Pathway providers have announced plans to provide flexibility and confidence in a bid to reassure international students who may have concerns about future study intentions.
• What will students want from their accommodation post-coronavirus?
• The New Normal: How Student Accommodation Will Change In The UK After Covid-19
• An industrial site in St Philips could be transformed into a block of student flats with almost 300 rooms. Developers have unveiled plans for a building ranging in height from six to nine-storeys, which would house 285 new student rooms.
• 12 Top Reasons Why International Students Continue To Fall In The U.S.
• A desire to be customer-centric is why Unite Students invested £100m in students as the first UK PBSA provider to forgo rent following the Covid-19 outbreak in March.
• Seven big European technological universities change Covid-19 emergency into an opportunity, by creating ENHANCE – European Universities of Technology Alliance, awarded 5 million euros over the coming three years by European Commission to strategically develop cooperation between educational institutions.
• An economist explains how COVID-19 will impact universities
• New UK government scheme launched to support English universities at risk of insolvency

July 15

• Jensco Group’s proposals to build a development of purpose-built student accommodation on a largely cleared site between Traffic Street, Waterway Street West and Sheriffs Way, in Nottingham, have been recommended for approval.
• The Department of Homeland Security rescinded a July 6 policy directive that would have required international students to take at least some in-person coursework in order to remain in the U.S.
• It might have been expected that self-contained studio units would have increased in popularity in recent months. The latest enquiry data from StuRents, however, suggests this trend has not played out as anticipated.
• Plans have been lodged to convert a prominent Hartlepool hotel into student accommodation
• Nicosia aims to establish an agency for the promotion of Cyprus tertiary education that will attract students from both home and abroad. Cyprus House speaker Demetris Syllouris met on Tuesday with ministers and academics to discuss the establishment of an agency to promote higher education.
• Germany is set to become a top student destination following the loss of home fee status for EU students in the UK. But challenges remain to ensure international students can continue to receive a warm welcome in the face of Covid-19, according to industry experts
• New student accommodation lending platform Kinetic Capital launches with initial GBP100 million commitment
• Overall, 83 per cent of the 311,432 UK students who responded to this year’s National Student Survey (NSS) are satisfied with the quality of their course – marginally down from 84 per cent last year.
• Pandemic-Driven Progress: 3 Innovations Higher Ed Needs Now according to Scott Pulsipher, president of Western Governors University
• The five toughest near-campus real estate markets for students in the US
• US and UK universities try to calm Asian students’ COVID-19 fears
• Student accommodation complexes in Dublin could be temporarily converted into co-living spaces, Dublin City Council has said.

July 14

• Student accommodation operator GoBritanya has joined Turkey-based student recruitment fair company a2 International Education Fairs as a shareholder, the companies have announced.
• A group of German students in the US has written to their foreign minister and the German Ambassador to the country to ask for their support in opposing the visa restrictions that would prevent international students whose courses are being taught online
• The University of Memphis has announced new housing requirements for the upcoming school year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Venture investor Eric Tarczynski has a plan to fund student entrepreneurs who’d rather take a gap year than go back under current
• In the short term, analysts write, a possible spike in coronavirus cases could weigh on the performance of student housing properties. But in the long run, how online learning will shape higher education could forever change the landscape.
• A survey of about 4,000 prospective international students suggests they are gaining confidence that Covid-19 will not derail their dreams of overseas degrees, with 74 per cent expecting to commence their studies at the time planned – up from 69 per cent when a similar survey was conducted in April.
• More than a third of students would feel unsafe returning to face-to-face teaching on UK university campuses in September, according to a survey conducted by the National Union of Students.

July 13

• Media and property group Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) said on Monday (July 13) that its operating profit for the year ending Aug 31 is expected to be “significantly lower” than the $187 million recorded a year earlier due to the ongoing pandemic.
• The Rising Popularity of Erasmus and its Top Challenges for International Offices
• Industry stakeholders from the Netherlands have said that they expect student numbers to grow in the country despite the Covid-19 pandemic. 
• The European Commission has revealed 24 additional alliances are joining the European Universities network, adding to the initial network of 17 announced in 2019. The Commission is also reaffirming its hopes on digital mobility as it seeks to mitigate the
• Anne Marie Graham, chief executive of the UK Council for International Affairs “The UK will remain attractive to EU students because of its very highly respected education system,” she says. “We will not go from having several thousand EU students to zero but it’s inevitable that numbers will fall because the issue is two-fold.”
• Students at British universities should not expect automatic tuition fee refunds for disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak, according to MPs, despite complaints from thousands of those affected.
• Amro Real Estate Partners has completed the sale of its student residence in Granada, in Spain’s Andalusia region, to Xior Student Housing NV, for a total consideration of EUR37 million.
• ‘We expect international enrolment rates to fall substantially, while the cancellation of freshers’ week and the suspension of large-format in-person lectures are likely to delay occupation, resulting in some additional rental forbearance this autumn.’ said by Berenberg analysts

July 12

• Universities resemble cable companies and enterprise software companies that believed in the power of the bundle and suite. COVID-19 and online learning have accelerated higher education’s day of reckoning.

July 11

• A departure from ‘Erasmus’ seems next on the list for the UK. Pro-Leave sites, backed by such figures as the historian of France, Robert Tombs, and the businessman John Mills, one-time chair of Vote Leave, have been gunning for Erasmus for some time.

July 10

• A planning application submitted by J H Dant Property could see flats on New Street converted to a house of multiple occupancy for student accommodation.
• Australian student accommodation remains robust amid pandemic

July 9

• The ongoing COVID-19 crisis poses a “significant financial threat” to the United Kingdom higher education sector, with some institutions at risk of severe financial problems or even insolvency in the long term, according to new analysis by the Institute Fiscal Studies (IFS)

July 8

• Chicago-based CA Ventures, a leading developer and operator of off-campus student housing communities across the US, notes that its pre-leasing numbers are only 2% lower than at the same time last year for the upcoming school year.

July 7

• While near-term metrics for student housing contain bad news, analyst Keegan Kelly wrote that the market is likely to recover when a reliable vaccine becomes available, hopefully by the start of the 2021-22 school year.

July 6

• In the wake of the pandemic, certain student accommodation requirements have become even more important, many of which can be addressed by PBSA operators with the aid of electronic access control (EAC) technology.

July 3

• The student housing division of Glasgow-based property developer London & Scottish Property Investment Management (LSPIM) has sold its first two luxury student property developments in Sheffield and Leeds for £90m.

• Australia set to ease virus visa hardship for foreign students

July 2

• Report released by the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) Consortium uncovers one in four international undergraduate, graduate and professional students expressed concerns about intimidating, hostile or offensive behaviour that occurred during the pandemic
• Scholars in Ireland asked to make room for non-EU students in campus accommodation “at a time when international demand is at risk”
• There is one remaining group that UK universities can target to increase recruitment: domestic students who have lower grades, more complicated school trajectories, or have been out of education for some time. What about reaching out to these people rather than international students?
• Investec Structured Property Finance has provided a £17.5m senior loan to Scape, a purpose-built student accommodation provider
• Teachers and tutors expect to deliver most of their lessons online over the next 12 months, according to a new survey by Bramble, with many respondents suggesting that online tutoring improves upon or equals the in-person approach

July 1

• The 20-year crusade to get more young people into higher education appears at an end after the universities minister accused England’s universities of “taking advantage” of students with dumbed-down courses that left them saddled with debt
• European Commission presents Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness, and resilience
• If fees for EU students rise to those charged from international students, 84% of surveyed prospective students say they will “definitely not” study in the UK
• Global Student Accommodation (GSA) has appointed former ING REIM, CBRE Global Investors, and Hodes Weill professional Will Rowson to lead the platform as it expands across international markets
• IP Investment Management (IPIM) and Maven Capital Partners have joined together again to continue their growth in the UK student housing sector with the acquisition of Centro House, a student accommodation property in Stirling
• Savills has been instructed by the student housing platform Valeo to market a modern 168-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) investment opportunity in Sweden. Fully let since it was completed in 2015, the asset is located on the University of Gävle campus, home to 16,000 students
• International students report higher levels of satisfaction with remote learning than their domestic peers, but they have concerns about issues of health, safety and immigration
• What can higher education institutions learn from Netflix and Ted Talks to revitalise the sector post-COVID-19
• We should be thinking about what we want higher education to look like after the pandemic subsides and what we need to do now to accomplish that vision. William G. Tierney shares 10 guidelines on how to get there
• Professors across institutions are increasingly waving red flags about the private and public health implications of default face-to-face instruction come fall, along with a lack of shared decision making in staffing and teaching decisions.
• The core principles of interchange, research, and teaching will define the modern university in the future. To master this change within higher education successfully, education leaders need to embrace a new mindset.
• With so much uncertainty surrounding the fall term and concerns about using predicted A level results for admissions, can students in the UK expect to see the start of term shifted to January instead?
• The new Program for Government offers a “mixed-bag” for international students, with the absence of any reference to the International Education Mark a particular cause for concern for the Irish Council for International Students
• Graduate route extended in the UK as part of Global Talent drive
• Universities are struggling to cope with COVID-19 but that does not mean institutional investors will move out of student housing IPE Real Assets reports
• Erasmus+ should embrace the benefits of virtual mobility

June 30

• New European inter-university fund of €32M to accelerate innovation
• FRESH OFF THE PRESS: Coliving Insights No2: Is Coliving Here To Stay?
• JLL’s latest EMEA Living Quarterly Bulletin reveals that the living sectors, including multifamily, student housing, coliving, and healthcare have maintained their defensive position as stable operating cash flows continued during the pandemic

17 June

• President Levits of Latvia outlines higher education reform strategy, to be completed by 2022
• While Universities in Norway opened for the remainder of the Spring semesteron Monday, borders remain closed leaving international students uncertain about August arrival
• British and American universities will be hit harder by financial troubles than those in Continental Europe, Politico argues
• The UK Home Office has confirmed that international students will remain eligible for post-study work rights upon graduation if they begin or continue their studies online in the 2020/21 academic year
• More than nine in 10 (97%) institutions have said they will provide some in-person teaching to students at the start of term this year, according to a Universities UK (UUK) poll of 92 universities.

11 June

• European Commission Report finds that experience abroad during a study period increases the level of problem-solving skills

10 June

• In latest QS rankings, Asian institutions rise while nearly three-quarters of UK universities fall
• 60% of higher education institutions report online learning provision strategic planning prior to COVID-19, but only 33% provided full online courses, according to survey results
• According to new modelling by Universities Australia, universities stand to lose AU$16 billion (US$11 billion) in revenue between now and 2023
• Most Irish universities and third-level colleges are returning rent fees to students but not academic fees
• UK university advocacy group says issues with student accommodation and racism risk sending the wrong message to future international students
• Expo Real announces hybrid format for October 2020 fair
• Spain’s IE University announces it will reopen its campus in July one permitted by the Spanish authorities, and that it will launch a ‘liquid education’ model in all undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education programs this September
• The Interuniversity Council of Catalonia approves a 30% reduction in the price of university enrolment
• The European Commission has called for a €5.4 billion decrease in funding for the Erasmus+ program as part of its recovery plan

5 June

• Boston’s Northeastern University has secured 2,000 hotel beds for use as socially-distanced dorms in September
• A snapshot survey conducted by CUBO suggests there could be more than 100,000 students still resident in on-campus accommodation across the UK
• Director of Irish PBSA manager predicts halted rental growth and a cooled market in the country, where an estimated 6,000 beds are in the pipeline in Dublin alone
• Six of Harvard’s schools will switch to online-only classes in the next academic year, as the university joins a growing list of higher education institutions that will keep students off campus until 2021
• Ukrainian President Zelensky forms Council for Development of Higher Education to improve the quality of higher education, develop modern comfortable dormitories and promote Ukrainian higher education among foreign students
• Universities warn that EU research funding allocation is insufficient to support through future pandemic shocks
• Several UK universities discuss plans for students to operate in ‘social bubbles,’ mixing only with peers on their courses 
• UK Department of Education releases guidance on reopening buildings and campuses

3 June

• As universities across the U.S. weigh whether to reopen campuses for the fall semester, some schools are eyeing the use of hotel guestrooms as a safer and social distancing-friendly alternative to dorms
• Details of English student numbers cap revealed, which intends to prevent universities from taking a recruitment approach against the interests of students and the sector as a whole
• Cardiff student accommodation owner seeks change of use to serviced apartments due to impacts of COVID-19 on the sector

28 May

• UK student news website, The Tab, provides live tracker of university decisions on the next academic year
• In Northern Ireland, Ulster University suspends face-to-face lectures until Christmas
• The Scottish Government could end free university tuition for EU students to try to help historic institutions survive the pandemic
• Independence and confidence are the most selected skills recent graduates felt they developed at university, Universities UK survey finds
• Oxford University announces it will teach both face-to-face and online, but warns of a “slow and protracted process”
• A first mover in announcing plans for student accommodation, Swansea University says all of its classes this September will be delivered via a blend of face-to-face and virtual. University accommodation will be available as normal with appropriate social distancing measures in place

27 May

• In The Netherlands, international students in Eindhoven are reportedly facing challenges including financial difficulties, trouble understanding Dutch news updates and loneliness
• While Canada is making life easier for international students in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the US is expected to take advantage of the current health crisis to impose new restrictions on those planning to study and work in America
• Rating agency Moody’s downgrades UK student housing provider Unite and its subsidiary Liberty Living from positive to stable outlook
• 53% of prospective international students intend to delay or defer their entry until next year, latest QS survey results find
• Cushman & Wakefield completes £22 million student accommodation deal in Edinburgh
• While 80% of prospective non-EU students remain interested in studying at a Dutch university after this crisis, 25% report they have changed their plans for the next academic year due to uncertainties about grants and travel restrictions

25 May

• Amid US-China tensions, experts predict China will pivot towards Europe in research and higher education collaboration
• Student accommodation providers face share price hit following Cambridge announcement of blended September semester
• Amy O’Brian writes for the Financial Times of the muted student life ‘Quaranteens’ now face

22 May

• Survey finds majority of students from Asia and Africa with offers from the UK’s top 30 ranked universities would prefer a delayed start to the next academic year to online instruction
• Three weeks after the German federal government announced emergency support measures for students during the coronavirus crisis, money has still not been paid out via a special emergency fund, leaving one million students in financial hardship
• Dutch institutions will reopen on June 15, allowing 20 per cent of students to return on-site during off-peak public transportation hours
• Ernst & Young (EY) education strategist Matt Robb believes that any changes in higher education qualifications will heavily depend on labour market acceptance
• US tops Universitas 21 global higher education systems for the ninth year, with Switzerland, Denmark, Singapore and Sweden in the top 5

20 May

• In a survey of 2,800 graduating high school students in the US, nearly 50 percent say an on-campus experience the only college living experience they will consider
• European University Association calls on policy makers to prioritise research and innovation in post-COVID-19 rescue packages – and avoid reproducing some of the effects of 2008 financial crisis
• During a time of crisis, people are prone to focus on the tactical, but what we know already suggests we should be thinking longer term and for greater disruption, writes José Antonio Bowen for Inside Higher Ed.
• Cambridge University announces all lectures will take place online until Summer 2021. Some face-to-face seminars may be possible if social distancing requirements can be met.

19 May

• The Spanish government has softened the academic requirements for scholarships and increased higher education funding by 22% [Spanish]
• The UK’s regulatory body the Office for Students has warned that UK higher education providers should not promise in-person teaching in September
• Universities in Finland are preparing to increase admissions and accept more students during the current application period to stem rising youth unemployment
• The German rectors’ conference has opposed a rush to reopen universities
• The University of Amsterdam (UvA) has announced all exchange programme and internships have been cancelled for the first semester of 2020/2021
• The Australian New South Wales government has announced that it will fund temporary crisis accommodation for international students who are facing hardship due to COVID-19
• The Irish Universities Association has called for a €20 million international student advertising campaign as a matter of urgency for the next government
• UCAS survey finds that 30% of UK full-time first-year students prefer to live in private purpose-built student accommodation, which is an 8% increase from 22% as it was five years ago

18 May

• As universities begin to make announcements about their 2020 plans, Inside Higher Education provides a snapshot of how their 15 predicted scenarios are playing out
• Latest UK National Code guidance provides advice on arranging for students to pick up remaining belongings and further guidance on rent payment obligations
• 14 college and university presidents told US Vice President Mike Pence that they are more likely to reopen their physical campuses if they can be protected from lawsuits if students get sick

16 May

• Visa application issues could stop students reaching universities

8 May

• The Municipality of Eindhoven has launched the Rental Team (Huurteam) Eindhoven pilot to make Eindhoven a hospitable student city
• The current academic year in Portugal may be extended until the end of July, the Government said this Thursday, announcing that face-to-face classes, when possible, can be given at night, on weekends and holiday [Portuguese]
• Smaller destinations such as Ireland are commanding attention for their approach in supporting international students during the pandemic
• In Cork, Ireland, Future Generation’s plans for a 623 bed student block on a former Coca Cola plant are moving forward, with the scheme expected to be completed for the 2022 academic year
• Developer Empiric Student Property has announced it has halted plans for three student accommodation projects as it seeks to protect cash reserves
• Pressure to relieve student rent continues for PBSA providers in the UK
• International student applications for Sweden have increased by 12% compared to last year’s figures
• Student survey results find that prospective UK Autumn 2020 international students are waiting to see what happens in their own countries and in the UK before committing to studying overseas
• M3 Capital Partners (M3) has sold its 7,402 bed Urbanest Australia Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) platform

6 May

• QS releases white paper detailing how HEI recruitment teams can engage students on the virtual student journey
• Latest US higher education finance report reveals that public HE funding has not yet fully recovered from the 2008 recession
• 91% of calls received by Australian HE emergency app are mental health related
• “Partner institutions can form an excellent stepping stone for students who are reluctant or unable to travel abroad to study. This can be in the form of blended learning, 1+3, 2+2, recognition, matriculation or any other form of arrangement that ensures that students have options.” Said Yusra Mouzughi, vice-chancellor of Muscat University, Oman
• Norwegian universities and colleges have increased study capacity to include 4,000 extra study places this fall in response to unemployment increase [Norwegian]
• Irish universities considering recruitment freezes due to severe drop in income due to the collapse in international student fees
• English university students will still have to pay full tuition fees even if their courses are taught online in the autumn
• Germany’s coalition government will provide emergency loans for students whose source of income is threatened by the pandemic but who are not entitled to federal grants
• US coliving operator Common unveils property brand geared towards workforce housing

4 May

• The Collective is considering reallocating rooms for long-stay use in order to make up for the loss of short-stay revenue
• Immigration statistics in New Zealand report a 14.5% drop in foreign student numbers since mid-March
• Dutch university students report challenges in online learning including struggling to raise questions in online lectures
• Dublin City University (DCU) has said it is reversing a plan to increase the cost of on-campus accommodation from September
• Irish universities could lose out on up to €200 million in international student revenue next year
• The UK government announces admissions rules to protect students and the HE sector from the impact of COVID-19
• “Even under nationalistic models, national success will depend on global collaboration for access to the best students, faculty and scholars. It is the right kinds of global collaboration that will result in cutting-edge opportunity and results that benefit all – the big guys, the little guys and in between.” Dr John K Hudzik, chair of the NAFSA Senior Fellows for Internationalisation

30 April

• Maynooth University will reverse a proposed 3% rent increase and introduce a freeze
• Italian university representatives characterise online learning as “essential” to resuming the next academic year and emphasise the key role universities will play in developing economies following this crisis
• Italian government legislation specifies that for packages to countries where Italians aren’t allowed to land, they can withdraw from tourism and study abroad contracts [Italian]
• Hygiene and sanitation will become the top priority in the sharing economy, experts predict
• Only 57% of US parents say they would continue paying for their children’s higher education if it were to continue as online-only in the fall
• UK Education Minister rejects suggestions that the government will “pick and choose” which universities to support
• International Hospitality Media CEO Piers Brown has predicted the urban living winners and losers in this crisis

29 April

• Real estate lenders fear their loan books will come under stress in Q3 2020 if economic activity does not pick up
• International graduates in The Netherlands are calling for extensions on their one-year job-seeking residence permits post-graduation due to the current challenge of finding a job [Dutch]
• Dutch national student unions are joining forces to call for support for students financially struggling from the crisis [Dutch]
• It is too early to predict the impact of Covid-19 on the recruitment of international students, the director of Universities UK International says
• Some experts predict that study abroad providers more focused on discipline, over destination, will better weather the storm
• Experts warn: UK Government needs to take urgent steps to ensure that visas for international students are not held up by the outbreak
• Australia’s state government of Victoria announces an emergency support fund of AU$45 million offering AU$1,100 for all struggling international students
• China has threatened a possible boycott of Australian universities as bilateral tensions rise over Australia’s call for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus

28 April

• US Public Policy and Economic expert Christina Paxson writes she is “cautiously optimistic that campuses can reopen in the fall, but only if careful planning is done now.”
• Universities UK proposes a numbers cap on admissions, but experts worry it will not be enough to stop the most prestigious universities from ‘hoovering up’ domestic students
• The Australian government plans to announce economic relief measures for international students on Wednesday
• Virtual tours are becoming more widely used in the real estate sector, and some predict the current challenges will help bring these tools into the mainstream
• 87% of Chinese parents and students are reconsidering plans for studying in the US and are diversifying their choices of study destinations
• In Sweden, the numbers of applications to local universities are rising. According to the Director General of the University Council, this is likely due to the impact of the pandemic and the economic recession
• The Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education said that there are currently no plans to delay the start of the next academic year [Polish]
• QS survey of prospective international students to the UK has found that only 6% of prospective students are aware of the extension of the post-study work visa from 4 months to 2 years
• Students are in dire financial straits, German universities warn
• As COVID-19 responses in Germany are praised, interest in studying in the country are growing

23 April

• International students at the University of Lisbon ask for financial support for the disruption to this academic semester [Portuguese]
• UK universities face loss of £2.5 billion with 30k jobs at risk, according to new report
• German coalition government is yet to reach agreement on supporting the many thousands of students facing financial hardship because of the lockdown measures
• International students who have left the US report feelings of isolation and anxiety due to time differences and concerns about visa status
• “In this new environment, higher-ed institutions that are less in love with tradition and more in love with their students will be the ones that thrive.” Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College
• Inside Higher Ed imagines 15 possible scenarios for the autumn semester, ranging from back to normal to fully remote
• 90% of US Higher Education institutions used emergency distance education to complete Spring 2020 term, survey finds
• Universities worldwide report that the COVID-19 epidemic has drawn attention to the work universities do in their communities as experts and healthcare workers visibly make a difference

22 April

• The National Union of Students is calling for a student hardship fund of £60 million for all students currently in further and higher education in the UK
• Singapore Press Holdings reports bookings to date for the 2020/2021 academic year are around 60%, which is higher than this time last year
• A survey of prospective Indian students looking to study overseas finds 70% wish to continue their applications to study overseas
• Student Living by Sodexo is providing virtual support programme for UK students in lockdown
• ESN Impact Report finds 5% of students experienced at least one major problem related to their exchange
• Trinity College unveils plans for university accommodation with low rent designed in, moving away from the en-suite style towards apartment-style accommodation
• Tier 4 visa restrictions loosen in the UK. Includes provisions that sponsors can self-assess whether students have met language requirements and relaxed attendance requirements
• Experts are weighing in on the pandemic’s impact on university business models as well as whether the potential to reach more people will be offset by the pressure to cut fees
• Flexible workspace provider Tribes announced the launch of ‘corona-proof’ offices
• Restaurants, cafes, and some schools in Austria will re-open from May 15, Universities remain closed
• NAFSA CEO Esther D. Brimmer said: “While we are awaiting an official executive order and do not yet know how the announced immigration policy will impact international students and scholars, we can unequivocally state that they are vital to the US economy.”
• As many as 40% of recent travellers may wait six months or more after coronavirus containment measures end before they decide to fly again

21 April

• At least 5 US institutions and university students are facing class action lawsuits from students and parents demanding refunds for underused tuition fees and unused room and board
• The first wave of US government relief funding to HE will see $14 billion in grants distributed to colleges and universities
• A number of US universities consider cancelling in-person classes until 2021
• International students in Norway from low-income countries are eligible for a government grant, but will need to write an essay on their experiences as international students during this time in order to receive it
• The UK government has announced that international students employed in healthcare work are not confined to usual caps of 20 hours per week during term time
• Scottish Minsters have begun preparing a bailout for struggling universities

20 April

• Anticipating an 80% drop in international students and a loss of hundreds of millions of euros, Trinity College Dublin announces recruitment freeze as part of a cost-saving strategy
• As professors worldwide adjust to online teaching, many international students are adapting to unusual class times
• International students in Australia report feelings of abandonment as they are stranded without flights home, assurances of visa extensions or extension of financial support.
• Survey finds 58% of respondent US HEI are considering or have decided to continue online learning in Autumn 2020
• A McKinsey report defines 3 potential epidemiological and public health scenarios for US HE, outlining the implications for a resumption to face-to-face instruction as early as Autumn 2020 or as late as Autumn 2021
• Polish universities remain closed but the HE Minister comments that should they reopen this academic year, universities could shorten the summer holiday to compensate at their discretion
• Portuguese universities and polytechnic institutes have two weeks to prepare for the possibility of restarting face-to-face classes in early May [Portuguese]
• Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron announces higher education institutions will remain closed until September [French]
• Cornell University sociologists estimate the average Cornell undergraduate student comes into contact with 500 other students per week in class alone

16 April

• Global universities struggle to engage fully with Chinese students given Chinese internet restrictions
• “One positive side-effect of the coronavirus crisis is that it has speeded up experimentation with alternative recruitment practices that don’t involve long-haul travel. A key factor in how soon an institution is likely to recover is how well it treats its current and prospective international students at this time of crisis.” says Dr Vicky Lewis, international education strategy and marketing consultant
• HEPI study confirms that living at home is the most popular option for local students in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while shared flats and halls of residence are most common in England
• “Institutions have to roll up their sleeves in the next few years and work hard to achieve their voice, brand, and presence post COVID-19. Students will not find (institutions) in the same ways,” said Content Marketing Manager of QS NA, Amity Bacon
• QS Global survey finds 53% of respondents worldwide say COVID-19 has impacted their plans to study abroad and 50% of institutions predict the pandemic will have a detrimental impact on the volume of student applications

15 April

• Students in The Czech Republic can return to universities next week for activities capped at 5 people [Czech]
• “If anything, there will be a rediscovery of how really special the traditional campus is,” writes US education historian John R. Thelin
• The International Association of Language Centers has launched a new online portal offering agents and students an overview of available language courses and the ability to directly contact institutions and book courses
• Hungary reports a drop of 20,000 applications for higher education institutions this year [Hungarian]
• 27% of prospective Chinese students intend to cancel their study plans in the UK, British Council survey finds
• UK higher education sector launches #WeAreTogether campaign to highlight support for international students

14 April

• US university finance expert Lucie Lapovsky suggests universities innovate in their summer offerings to encourage new student enrolments
• PropTech providers are seeing a huge surge in demand with the need for virtual touring solutions
• A group of major English Language Teaching schools have written an open letter to education agencies explaining the industry is at risk
• 56% of surveyed international students in Norway cannot pay their rent due to lost income [Norwegian]
• Portuguese universities are very likely to postpone the beginning of the next academic year [Portuguese]
• HEI should focus on 3 core principles during these times if they wish to survive; the sharing of best practices, staying close to their students, and focus on competence
• UK Universities prepare for a reduction in international students of between 80% and 100% with some prestigious names expecting to lose over £100m in the short term

10 April

• CUBO offers complimentary membership to UK and Irish HEI for support amidst the Corona crisis
• The Institute of Student Employers indicates routes into graduation jobs have been reduced by almost a third, while 68% of UK firms have canceled work experience and trial opportunities
• Xior has issued its first debt capital markets transaction through a €100 million green US bond
• Police fine students in the Amsterdam region for social distance violations, despite their shared household status in student accommodation [Dutch]
• France, Canada and New Zealand extend financial support measures to international students, while the US, UK and China refuse to do so
• Three UK universities have made hundreds of lecturers, researchers and support staff redundant

9 April

• American dormitories making room for hospital overflow face backlash from students
• A Belgian student accommodation provider has established a fund to pay 75% rent and utility costs of now struggling students [Belgian]
• “Extreme conditions often clarify what otherwise is vague or uncertain… as the wave of COVID-19 subsides, I believe there will be a greater need for intimacy within communities,” ODA founder Eran Chan writes
• Research done by THE in 2016 showed that students from public and private universities felt less engaged by blended learning. Have universities gotten better at blending since?
• GCP has backed off the acquisition of the 412-bed Scape Mile End Canalside in London
• The Collective has launched The Collective Virtual Experiences initiative, available to all to stay connected, entertained, inspired and healthy
• Studyportals has launched a free COVID-19 dashboard to track data about international study interest
• After Airbnb recently secured $1bn in funding, sources suggest the company is paying a steep 10% interest
• Colliers CEO predicts post COVID-19 global real estate investment recovery to be sharper and faster than the 2008 crisis

8 April

• Similar to the UK, Spanish students would prefer to avoid face-to-face evaluation during the summer vacation [Spanish]
• Students in The UK would prefer to avoid face-to-face evaluation through the summer, poll finds
• Santander Universities and the IE Foundation have launched a fund aim to provide 15,500 digital scholarships to educators, university students and young professionals
• “Yale is a rich institution. A large number of education centers face the same emergency with dramatically lower resource availability. Hundreds of thousands of students risk a reduction in the acquisition of human capital due to the lack of internet access, or due to a lack of technical and professional assistance that make online education a valid substitute for traditional education.” Yale professor Fabrizio Zilibotti writes
• UNESCO reports that school and university closures have impacted 91% of the world’s student population
• Facing likely reductions in international enrolment, The UK takes stock of the influence of international students on their economies and campuses
• In the midst of an onslaught of cancelations due to travel restrictions, Airbnb has raised $1 billion in debt and private equity as it shifts focus to long term stays (including student accommodation)
• Unite Group PLC reports a 2.2 % drop in portfolio value despite 2020/21 reservations remaining in line with last year’s figures
• StudyPortals has used its student sentiment data to craft guidelines for organisations communicating with current and prospective students
• Student accommodation is resilient to this crisis and transaction volumes will increase in the second half of 2020, predicts Savills’ Director of Operational Capital Markets Aurelio Di Napoli

7 April

• The Polish Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education writes an encouraging letter to international students [Polish]
• Having faced global criticism, the Australian government confirms support for some international students
• A Czech university hall of residence offers remote check-out and belongings storage at discounted rate for students restricted from retrieving belongings. It also extends discounts to students involved in the fight against COVID-19 [Czech]
• Move online or bank on postponement? Language schools and education agencies weigh short and long term options
• Coliving operators in Hong Kong are offering 50% discounts to combat significant (and persistent) drops in occupancy
• While European and US coliving executives say they are feeling short-term pain, they maintain long-term confidence in the housing model
• UK HE experts predict university survival will depend on exposure to international market, with those attracting 25% or more from overseas at the highest risk

6 April

• AT RISK: While many struggle to get back to families from their study destinations, Chinese students are at risk of severe racism and discrimination
• EAIE Board President delivers an open letter to the European Commission, applauding them on the steps taken so far and issuing an appeal for continued action across six key areas
• MARKETS: Savills Global Market Sentiment Survey reports an overall fall in transaction volume of 62%. However, more countries reported no change in residential, including multifamily, student and senior (56%), than a fall (42%)
• ZOOM IN: Despite significant challenges, international students in The Netherlands are supported by collaboration between student unions, universities, the ministry of education and other stakeholders
• The Head of the International Education Association of Australia says Australia should look to New Zealand and Canada “which are providing much more support to overseas students”
• “Things won’t change as much as they will accelerate. While other crises reshaped the future, COVID-19 is just making the future happen faster.” NYU Professor Scott Galloway
• PREDICTION: International higher education experts suggest the post-pandemic outlook will be bleakest for the poorest
• The German summer semester will still go ahead and application and admission deadlines for the winter semester will be adjusted. The goal is to mitigate uncertainty by making all summer courses available digitally [German]
• LATEST DECISION: Thirty Spanish universities have announced they will not return to face-to-face classes this academic year, despite Andalusian students reporting their universities are not ready for online tuition [Spanish]

3 April

• View from here: While China and South Korea begin to re-open, universities remain closed and entrance exams are postponed
• Closer Look: 46% of students in ‘consideration and research’ phase of study abroad planning reported their plans have changed, according to early QS survey data
• Markets: The Dutch construction sector is looking at a third crisis in twelve years, with investment in residential anticipated to drop 20% [Dutch]
• Remarks: The Chief Executive of Universities UK calls for government support given top-end prediction of 20% drop in average university income next year

2 April

• Portuguese polytechnic universities consider postponing payment of tuition fees, universities have not yet [Portuguese]
• Over 500 students remain in university-owned residences in the North of Portugal [Portuguese]
• International students in Norway face financial challenges [Norwegian]
• Following last week’s ban on evictions, the Dutch government allows the extension of temporary rental contracts [Dutch]
• 86% of Chinese students abroad report they want to return home
• Nick Hillman of Times Higher Education sees the potential for graduates to stay in higher education during the global recession the world is entering

1 April

• Uncertainty on the impact on study abroad programmes next academic year
• A training course for teachers on anxiety and stress management is under development in Italy [Italian]
• UK universities fast-track financial assistance for international students
• A semester like no other, higher education experts weigh in on the situation at universities [German]
• High school exams cancelled in The Netherlands [Dutch]
• European Commission provides clarity on Erasmus+ grant concerns
• Irish Government Offers Unemployment Payment for International Students
• Study abroad nonprofit CIEE forced to eliminate over 600 jobs
• American study abroad organisations report more struggles, but commitment to their missions
• Cushman & Wakefield outlines 10 considerations in approaching lease renegotiation and rent reduction
• Empiric Student Property considers waiving student rents and prepares by strengthening cash position
• The Federation of Education and Language Consultant Associations gives an update on the impact on their markets

31 March

• Italian Ministry of Education allocates 85 million euros to the further development of digital education
• Political party joins students in the call to waive rents – the public sentiment is likely to follow
• Leiden and Maastricht commit to online-only until September
• International students in France report anxiety and chronic stress
• International student recruitment expert sees 5 changing trends in internationalisation

30 March

• Experts predict “prolonged acceleration” in the adoption of technology-enabled learning in higher education
• The UK follows the EU in confirming visa extensions for international students affected by the COVID-19 outbreak

26 March

• 2020/2021 international student mobility faces more uncertainty as visa application processes halt worldwide
• Emergency funding for international students among initiatives pursued by German higher education organisations
• Student Roost steps up to support tenants and communities
• The Dutch Education Ministry’s HE strategy includes the postponement of application deadlines, ease on application requirements and a call for leniency with student rent collection
• Nearly 75% of EAIE survey respondents characterize the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on student and staff mobility as somewhat or very significant

25 March

• PBSA provider follows hotels in offering rooms for COVID-19 isolation
• Only 4.7% of prospective study abroad students intend to cancel study abroad plans entirely, initial survey results find

24 March

• Provada and LD Event Student Housing 2020 latest industry event postponements
• The UK government releases COVID-19 guidelines for College and University halls of residence
• Coliving operator opens doors to displaced students

23 March

• PBSA and coliving operators quick to adopt virtual initiatives for community and wellbeing
• In an ultra-risky environment, institutional investors still see student accommodation as a tool for defensive portfolio diversification
• Blended learning surges as universities move to online teaching
• Confusion as COVID-19 closes European universities