In recent years, there has been a significant renewed focus in Italy on the issue of off-campus student housing, both as a challenge to be addressed in order to promote the development of qualified human capital and as an opportunity to support economic recovery. The aim is to encourage the creation of structures that allow for a significant increase in the number of student beds in all university cities across the country. From 2015 to 2019, despite the number of university students remaining largely stable, the number of off-campus students increased from 784,000 to 830,000 (approximately +6%). This trend continued even during the pandemic, with no significant difference between large and medium-sized universities. However, the overall supply of student beds in Italy is still insufficient, with about 62,000 beds available, of which 90% are in public or affiliated structures, meeting less than 8% of the total demand. This situation is particularly critical when compared to the European averages: France (23%), Germany (14%), and Spain (11%). France, for example, has around 365,000 student beds in university residences, a number six times higher than Italy’s, despite having only 0.4 times the size of Italy’s student population. This shortage is further compounded by the growing process of internationalization in Italian universities, which are attracting increasing numbers of foreign students through exchange programs and collaborations with other academic institutions. The length of stay for these students can range from a few months to a year, creating a demand for temporary accommodation that does not fit well with the traditional rental market, which is largely aimed at long-term off-campus students. The pandemic had a significant impact on the demand for both public and affiliated student housing for at least two reasons. On one hand, there was an increase in the number of foreign students (particularly from Asia) who came to Italy in search of a safer environment in which to continue their studies. On the other hand, residential facilities, many of which remained open even during the most uncertain times, provided essential services such as medical assistance, room service for students in quarantine, remote study support, and psychological services to cope with the difficulties caused by the pandemic. This strengthened the appeal of these residences, especially for Italian families who are looking for safe, comfortable, and economically sustainable conditions for their children. These factors have led the Italian government to include an "education and research" mission (M4) in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), which includes strengthening the provision of educational services, from daycare to university (M4C1). Specifically, Reform 1.7 focuses on interventions related to student housing, with the goal of tripling the number of beds available for off-campus students by 2026. In this context, the University of Pavia has launched a research project within the PhD program in Design, Modeling and Simulation in Engineering, funded by the Ministry Decree of August 10, 2021, n.1061, to address the issue of university residences and dormitories. The research aims to develop proposals that can meet the emerging needs of both students (the users) and the managers of these facilities, taking into account challenges such as rising energy costs and the need to optimize management and maintenance costs. The goal is also to identify innovative settlement models that are aligned with the ongoing internationalization process in Italian universities.
Negli ultimi anni, in Italia si è riaccesa in modo significativo l'attenzione verso il tema della residenzialità studentesca fuori sede, sia come una criticità da affrontare per promuovere lo sviluppo di capitale umano qualificato, sia come un’opportunità per supportare la ripresa economica. L’obiettivo è incentivare la creazione di strutture che permettano un aumento significativo del numero di posti letto per studenti in tutte le città universitarie del paese. Dal 2015 al 2019, nonostante il numero di studenti universitari sia rimasto pressoché stabile, si è registrato un aumento dei fuori sede da 784.000 a 830.000 (circa +6%). Questo aumento non si è fermato nemmeno durante la pandemia, senza distinzioni significative tra le università di grandi e medie dimensioni. Tuttavia, l’offerta complessiva di posti letto in Italia è ancora insufficiente, con circa 62.000 posti disponibili, di cui il 90% nelle strutture pubbliche o convenzionate, soddisfacendo meno dell’8% della domanda totale. Una situazione particolarmente critica se confrontata con le medie europee: Francia (23%), Germania (14%) e Spagna (11%). La Francia, ad esempio, conta circa 365.000 posti letto in residenze universitarie, un numero sei volte superiore a quello italiano, nonostante la sua popolazione universitaria sia solo 0,4 volte più grande di quella italiana. A questa carenza si aggiunge il crescente processo di internazionalizzazione delle università italiane, che attraggono sempre più studenti stranieri attraverso programmi di scambio e collaborazioni con altre istituzioni accademiche. Il periodo di soggiorno di questi studenti può variare da pochi mesi a un anno, creando una domanda di alloggi temporanei che difficilmente si adatta al mercato degli affitti tradizionali, destinato per lo più agli studenti fuori sede a lungo termine. La pandemia ha avuto un impatto significativo sulla domanda di alloggi, sia pubblici che convenzionati, per almeno due motivi. Da un lato, si è registrato un aumento degli studenti stranieri (particolarmente asiatici) che sono venuti in Italia in cerca di un ambiente più sicuro per continuare i loro studi. Dall’altro lato, le strutture residenziali, molte delle quali sono rimaste aperte anche durante i periodi più incerti, hanno offerto servizi essenziali come assistenza medica, pasti in camera per gli studenti in quarantena, supporto allo studio a distanza e servizi psicologici per affrontare le difficoltà causate dalla pandemia. Questo ha rafforzato l'appeal delle residenze, in particolare per le famiglie italiane che cercano per i propri figli condizioni sicure, confortevoli ed economicamente sostenibili. Questi fattori hanno portato il Governo italiano a inserire una "missione" dedicata all'istruzione e alla ricerca (M4) nel Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR), che prevede il potenziamento dell'offerta di servizi educativi, dall'asilo nido all'università (M4C1). In particolare, la riforma 1.7 include interventi sul tema degli alloggi per studenti, con l'obiettivo di triplicare i posti letto per studenti fuori sede entro il 2026. In questo contesto, l’Università di Pavia ha avviato un progetto di ricerca nell’ambito del Dottorato in Design, Modeling and Simulation in Engineering, finanziato dal Decreto Ministeriale 10 agosto 2021, n.1061, per affrontare il tema delle residenze e dei collegi universitari. La ricerca ha l’obiettivo di sviluppare proposte in grado di rispondere alle nuove esigenze emergenti, sia per gli utenti (gli studenti) che per i gestori delle strutture, tenendo conto delle sfide legate all’aumento dei costi energetici e alla necessità di ottimizzare i costi di gestione e manutenzione. L’intento è anche quello di individuare modelli innovativi di insediamento, adeguati al processo di internazionalizzazione in corso nelle università italiane.
Strutture residenziali per studenti universitari. Modelli organizzattivi e principi progettuali per affrontare le sfide del terzo millennio
PELINI, FRANCESCA
2025
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a significant renewed focus in Italy on the issue of off-campus student housing, both as a challenge to be addressed in order to promote the development of qualified human capital and as an opportunity to support economic recovery. The aim is to encourage the creation of structures that allow for a significant increase in the number of student beds in all university cities across the country. From 2015 to 2019, despite the number of university students remaining largely stable, the number of off-campus students increased from 784,000 to 830,000 (approximately +6%). This trend continued even during the pandemic, with no significant difference between large and medium-sized universities. However, the overall supply of student beds in Italy is still insufficient, with about 62,000 beds available, of which 90% are in public or affiliated structures, meeting less than 8% of the total demand. This situation is particularly critical when compared to the European averages: France (23%), Germany (14%), and Spain (11%). France, for example, has around 365,000 student beds in university residences, a number six times higher than Italy’s, despite having only 0.4 times the size of Italy’s student population. This shortage is further compounded by the growing process of internationalization in Italian universities, which are attracting increasing numbers of foreign students through exchange programs and collaborations with other academic institutions. The length of stay for these students can range from a few months to a year, creating a demand for temporary accommodation that does not fit well with the traditional rental market, which is largely aimed at long-term off-campus students. The pandemic had a significant impact on the demand for both public and affiliated student housing for at least two reasons. On one hand, there was an increase in the number of foreign students (particularly from Asia) who came to Italy in search of a safer environment in which to continue their studies. On the other hand, residential facilities, many of which remained open even during the most uncertain times, provided essential services such as medical assistance, room service for students in quarantine, remote study support, and psychological services to cope with the difficulties caused by the pandemic. This strengthened the appeal of these residences, especially for Italian families who are looking for safe, comfortable, and economically sustainable conditions for their children. These factors have led the Italian government to include an "education and research" mission (M4) in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), which includes strengthening the provision of educational services, from daycare to university (M4C1). Specifically, Reform 1.7 focuses on interventions related to student housing, with the goal of tripling the number of beds available for off-campus students by 2026. In this context, the University of Pavia has launched a research project within the PhD program in Design, Modeling and Simulation in Engineering, funded by the Ministry Decree of August 10, 2021, n.1061, to address the issue of university residences and dormitories. The research aims to develop proposals that can meet the emerging needs of both students (the users) and the managers of these facilities, taking into account challenges such as rising energy costs and the need to optimize management and maintenance costs. The goal is also to identify innovative settlement models that are aligned with the ongoing internationalization process in Italian universities.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14242/209942
URN:NBN:IT:UNIPV-209942