HOME² – Building the Future of Student Housing in Europe

HOME² – Building the Future of Student Housing in Europe

On 6 May 2026, the European conference HOME² – Building the Future of Student Housing in Europe will take place at Politecnico di Milano. The event represents a significant opportunity for dialogue among policymakers, institutions, universities, student associations, and housing providers operating at a supranational level.

Participants will include Members of the European Parliament, representatives of the European Commission – European Housing Task Force and DG EAC, together with key stakeholders in the student housing sector.

The conference marks an important milestone in a long-term process spanning nearly a decade, from the HousErasmus+ project (2016–2019) to HOME (2019–2022), culminating in HOME² (2023–2026). Throughout these initiatives, operational tools, Europe-wide research, and shared standards have been developed to improve student housing.

Key topics:

• Final results and policy recommendations of the HOME² project
• European best practices in student housing
• Multi-stakeholder dialogue among student organizations, universities, institutions, and operators
• Future perspectives for the implementation of project outcomes beyond 2026

Registration: https://bit.ly/4cedDY7

Scientific Coordinator: Prof. Oscar Eugenio Bellini – Politecnico di Milano
Project Manager: Maria Teresa Gullace – Politecnico di Milano

Partners:
Erasmus Student Network
European University Foundation
International Union of Property Owners
HousingAnywhere
Universidad de Oviedo

*

CONFERENCE AGENDA

09:00 – Registration and Welcome Coffee

09:30 – Opening and Welcome

Moderator:
Maria Teresa Gullace – HOME² Project Manager, Politecnico di Milano

Speakers:

• Valeria Biggi – INDIRE, Italian Erasmus+ National Agency
• Alessandro Perego – Vice Rector for Sustainable Development and Societal Impact, Politecnico di Milano
• Francesca Rizzo – Rector’s Delegate for European Research Policies, Politecnico di Milano
• Oscar Eugenio Bellini – HOME² Scientific Coordinator, Politecnico di Milano
• Simone Lepore – President, Erasmus Student Network (ESN)

10:00 – The Issue of Housing in Europe: Institutional Perspective

Moderator:
Emmanuelle Causse – Secretary General, International Union of Property Owners (UIPI)

Speakers:

• Tatiana Marquez Uriarte – European Commission, DG ENER Housing Task Force
• Hugo Pinto de Abreu – European Commission, DG EAC, Higher Education Policy Officer

Q&A with participants

10:30 – European Student Accommodation Framework: Key Findings from HOME² Research

Moderator:
Sabri Ben Rommane – Project Officer, Erasmus Student Network (ESN)

Interventions:

• Introduction to the Research
  Maria Teresa Gullace – HOME² Project Manager, Politecnico di Milano
• Students Perspectives
  Simone Lepore – President, Erasmus Student Network (ESN)
• HEIs Perspectives
  Ida Velthoven – Policy and Research Officer, European University Foundation (EUF)
• Private Rented Sector Perspectives
  Ana Veronica Martinez – Project and Technical Officer, International Union of Property Owners (UIPI)
• Results from Purpose-Built Student Accommodation - Research
  Antonio Intini – CEO, HousingAnywhere

Q&A with participants

11:15 – Call for Best Practices in European Student Accommodation Management

Moderator:
Maria Teresa Gullace – HOME² Project Manager, Politecnico di Milano

Topics:

• Topic A: Accommodation Management
• Topic B: Inclusion & Diversity
• Topic C: Affordability & Sustainability
• Topic D: Student Mobility Experience
• Topic E: Digitalisation of Data & Support

*the selected best practices will be presented during the conference day.

Q&A with participants

12:30 – Poster Session and Networking Lunch

13:45 – The Issue of Housing in Europe: Institutional Perspective

Moderator:
Maria Teresa Gullace – HOME² Project Manager, Politecnico di Milano

Speaker:

• Irene Tinagli – European Parliament, Chair HOUS Committee

14:00 – A Multi-Governance Framework for European Student Housing

Moderator:
Ida Velthoven – European University Foundation (EUF)

Interventions:

• European Student Union (ESU)
  Bianca Pace – European Student Union (ESU)
• Assembly of the European Regions (AER)
  Mirjam De Jong – Assembly of European Regions (AER)
• Eurocities
  Anna Iafisco – Eurocities
• Finnish Association of Student Housing Organisations (SOA)
  Lauri Leuoruusu – Finnish Association of Student Housing Organisations (SOA)
• BRIK Student Housing
  Jurgen Ral – BRIK Student Housing
• International Union of Property Owners (UIPI)
  Emmanuelle Causse – International Union of Property Owners (UIPI)

15:00 – HOME² Impact on the Student Housing Sector and Future Policies

Moderator:
Sabri Ben Rommane – ESN Project Officer

Interventions:

• HOME² & CESAER’s – Sub-Group on Affordable Housing
  Touko Närhi – Advisor for Benchmark & Higher Education, CESAER
• The Impact of HOME² on Monitoring Qualitative and Affordable Housing Offers Across Europe
  Maria Teresa Gullace – Project Manager HOME², Politecnico di Milano
• Policy Insights from HOME²
  Simone Lepore – President, ESN
  Ana Veronica Martinez – Project and Technical Officer, UIPI
  Ida Velthoven – Policy and Research Officer, EUF
  Antonio Intini – CEO, HousingAnywhere
  Eduardo Antonio Del Valle Tuero – Universidad de Oviedo

Q&A with participants

15:45 – Closure and Final Remarks

Speaker:

• Maria Teresa Gullace – HOME² Project Manager, Politecnico di Milano
• Oscar Eugenio Bellini – HOME² Scientific Coordinator, Politecnico di Milano