News
Daily life
30 June 2025
Each year, over 80,000 students, including 20% international, choose Alsace as their place of study. To support them, the Grand Est Region has launched the “Campus Life and Talent Plan”, a €3.4 million initiative over three years aimed at improving students’ living conditions and reinforcing the region’s reputation as a welcoming, supportive, and dynamic destination.
Developed through a wide-ranging consultation in 2023 involving students, associations, and university institutions, the plan includes 22 concrete measures. It focuses on key areas such as mobility, nutrition, mental health, and access to sports: essential factors for student success and personal growth.
Improving nutrition and housing
Food insecurity is a major concern: nearly half of the students surveyed reported difficulties in accessing proper nutrition, with many experiencing this regularly. To address the issue, the Region is supporting the creation of solidarity markets on campuses, offering up to €8,000 per project. It also encourages the development of mobile and solidarity grocery stores, similar to those already operating in Strasbourg and Mulhouse.
Housing is another challenge. Only 56.7% of students expressed satisfaction with current housing options. The plan aims to strengthen support systems in collaboration with student housing providers to improve access and quality.
Mental health and mobility: clear priorities
To improve access to mental health care, the Region is funding training for student representatives and association leaders, helping them better identify and respond to signs of distress. Additionally, 2,000 bicycles will be made available by 2026 for low-cost annual rentals, making daily travel more affordable and sustainable.
Sports are also a focus. A dedicated call for projects, with funding of up to €60,000, will support the installation of free-access sports facilities, especially on smaller campuses.
Expanded support for senior learners
The Region’s commitment to education goes beyond younger generations. Since April 2025, a partnership with the Caisse des Dépôts has supported training for job seekers aged 55 and over. With an annual budget of €500,000, the initiative covers up to 90% of the remaining cost of eligible training programs under the Personal Training Account (CPF), up to a maximum of €4,500 per application. This initiative is part of a broader effort to promote the professional reintegration of older adults and to recognize the value of their experience.
