We are thrilled to announce Student Living Italy 2025, returning to Milan for the third consecutive year. Following the success of last year’s forum—praised for its collaborative spirit in bringing together universities and private sector leaders to explore shared goals—this year’s event will build on the learnings from previous editions to work towards collaborative, sector-wide strategies.
About the Event
Italy is at a pivotal moment for student living and learning. It has become one of the top three most searched study destinations in Europe. Yet with only a 4% student housing provision rate, the growing demand and lack of supply will lead to a unmet demand of 225.000 beds by 2030.
The urgency for coordinated, impactful action is clear. The Student Living Forum Italy is therefore not just a gathering - it’s a launchpad. This one-day, high-impact event brings together pioneers in real estate, higher education, and city governance to co-design Italy’s path forward. Through strategic dialogue, shared data, and outcome-focused workshops, we aim to forge the foundation for a National Action Framework (NAF) for student housing - built around four core pillars:
- Availability
- Accessibility
- Student Experience
- Collaboration
Join us as we once again convene a diverse group of stakeholders, from policy makers to investors, operators, and educational institutions, to help inform the development of a common agenda for change. Through site tours, workshop sessions, and thought leadership panels, we’ll reflect on the progress made and explore new approaches to keep working collectively towards the future of student living.
Smart Living Community Awards
This year, we are introducing the Smart Living Community Awards for the first time, recognising collaboration, leadership, and demonstrable ESG impact across the student living ecosystem.
The awards span four categories: Smart Cross-Sector Collaboration, Smart Sustainability Initiatives, Smart Social Impact Initiatives, and Smart Leader of the Year.
The programme will conclude with the Smart Living Celebration, featuring live presentations from shortlisted nominees and a real-time voting process with participation from investors and operators, who will select the initiatives that best demonstrate meaningful impact and sector leadership.
Interested in taking part and being recognised by industry leaders at the event? Apply via the link below.
Agenda
Registration and Networking
The programme will take place at Hub Lombardini22, a uniquely stylish and innovative venue:
Workshop Session : Enhancing Student Experience in Italy
We will open the Forum with a deep dive into what lies at the heart of our mission: the student experience.
Part 1 – Data Insight – 11:30 - 11:45
Presentation of the Student Experience pillar of the NAF, featuring exclusive insight from the European Student Living Monitor.
Part 2 – Operator Best Practices - 11:45 - 12:00
Industry leaders share case studies on how they are investing in and innovating the student experience.
Part 3 – Group Workshop - 12:00 - 12:30
Each group will take on one stakeholder perspective — Investor, Operator, University, or Regional/National Authority — and work to:
- Define a shared goal to improve the student experience
- Propose a recommendation or practical action
Part 4: Feedback/Takeaways - 12:30 - 12:45
Feed it back to the wider group by moderators or a person nominated from the group
Outputs will directly feed into the development of the Student Experience pillar of the NAF.
Networking Lunch
Welcoming Remarks
A Vision for Success: A Story by L22
Speaker:
Marco Zanibelli, Managing Director – Education and Student Housing | Lombardini22
Setting the Scene: Housing, Higher Education and Fiscal Realities
Three experts will provide the latest data that shape the supply and demand imbalance in Italian. We will identify the data that shape the trends and make forecasts for future scenario’s with focus on three interdependent policy areas: housing, higher education and fiscal.
Speakers:
Frank Uffen - Co-founder | The Class Foundation
Paolo Reyneri di Lagnasco - Student Housing Specialist | JLL
Lucia Guglielmi - Commercial Process Coordinator & University Advisor | StudyPortals
Simone Monesi - Partner, Head of Urban Dynamics, Italy | Osborne Clarke
Together, they will explore:
- The rise in English-taught programmes
- Shortfalls in housing provision
- Regulatory and legal barriers to delivery
This act lays the groundwork for the NAF’s Availability and Accessibility pillars.
Next Gen Capital: Opportunities and Bottlenecks
Speakers:
Carlo Matta - CEO | Nido Living
Paolo Reyneri - Student Housing Specialist | JLL
Anna Ivannikova - Senior Acquisitions and Transactions Manager | Milestone
Luca Migliaccio - Director | Ardian
Stefano Pagliani - Senior Director Living | Hines Italy
This session explores:
- Converting growing domestic and international capital interest in Italian PBSA
- The barriers currently impeding progress — from administrative hurdles to funding gaps
- Tackle why the market has been slow to accelerate despite the interest and what needs to change to activate it.
The conversation will surface real solutions to accelerate delivery and quality of supply.
Forging a Common Path: Italy’s National Action Framework
This is the Forum’s central proposition: collaborative development of a National Action Framework (NAF) for student housing.
Speakers:
Elisabetta Tagliente - Country Director, Italy | RELIFE
Manuel Farina - CEO | Demosion Consulting S.r.l.
Maria Teresa Gullace - Senior Architect | Politecnico di Milano
Elena Cattani - Regional Development Director, Italy | The Social Hub
Paola Delmonte - Chair of the Student Housing Committee | Confindustria AssoImmobiliare
This session introduces:
- The NAF’s core pillars: Availability, Accessibility, Student Experience, Collaboration
Key goals for the NAF:
- Appointment of a National Student Housing Coordinator
- Development of a National Housing Monitor
- Agreement on clear, actionable targets
Participants will explore how to refine and apply these proposals across public, private, and academic sectors.
Catalysing Action: Our Commitment to the Future
The final session will cover:
- Key takeaways from each session
- A collective commitment to the NAF’s principles
- Tangible next steps for implementation
Site Tour and Evening Reception
A closing opportunity to continue conversations and celebrate the day’s progress in a relaxed and social setting.
Sponsors.
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Laura Wollard
,
Lavanda
Jaime Caruncho
,
Micampus Residencias
Emily Sims
,
Yugo
Henri Vuong
,
INREV
Brian Welsh
,
Nido
Jacob Chai
,
Common
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