European Affordable Housing Plan – housing Europe’s talent

Leuven, 17 October 2025

The over 50 leading universities of science and technology from across Europe, united within CESAER, welcome the European Commission’s initiative to develop a European Affordable Housing Plan.

In a position published today, affordable housing is emphasised as not only a social necessity but also an essential enabler of excellence in education, research, and innovation – and thereby of Europe’s talent strategies and the Union of Skills.

• The position is available here for download and dissemination (PDF).

Severe shortages of affordable housing for students, researchers, and university staff are widespread across Europe. For universities of science and technology, where in-person presence is indispensable for laboratory research, experimental teaching, and hands-on innovation, accessible housing is crucial. It enables collaboration, exchange, and creativity — all essential to Europe’s excellence in science and technology education, research, and innovation.

Addressing the housing crisis is therefore both a societal imperative and a prerequisite for attracting and retaining talent, achieving EU mobility targets, and realising the ambitions of the European Education Area and the European Research Area, including the ‘fifth freedom’.

CESAER calls on the EU institutions to integrate action along three key dimensions:

1. Integrate housing into talent strategies. Affordable housing for university communities must become a core pillar of the European Affordable Housing Plan to strengthen graduate mobility, support research careers, and attract and retain global talent in science and technology.
2. Build on evidence and existing initiatives. EU action should build on existing practices across member states and universities, including energy-efficient renovations, quality standards for Erasmus+ housing, innovative models like co-housing, and the expansion of public and non-profit student housing.
3. Foster cooperation across levels. Effective solutions require coordination between European institutions, member states, regions, cities, universities, and housing providers. A dedicated EU platform, task force, and advisory board could align funding, share practices, and ensure measurable impact.

“Access to affordable housing is a decisive factor for Europe’s ability to attract and retain students, researchers, educators and innovators. Universities of science and technology are ready to support the European Affordable Housing Plan by providing data, evidence, and innovative solutions that strengthen Europe’s talent base and competitiveness.”

— Orla Feely, President of CESAER and President of University College Dublin

CESAER and its Members stand ready to fully support the European Commission in developing and implementing the European Affordable Housing Plan, emphasising the importance of ensuring that affordable housing for students, researchers, and the wider university community forms a core pillar.

For more information, please contact our Advisor for Benchmark & Higher Education Touko Närhi.