17. September 2026: Gaby Bischoff, a member of the EU Parliament, learns about student housing.

How can student services create affordable housing — and what challenges does the construction of new dormitories bring?

We discussed this topic with Mrs. Bischoff, a member of the European Parliament, during her visit to two of our dormitories. This visit was accompanied by representatives of the German Students' Union (DSW) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

The first stop was our construction project at Rintheimer Querallee 2c. Here guests could see the successful conversion of a historic building and the construction of a new building side by side. This is our first construction project that was funded by the "Junges Wohnen" program. We discussed the possibilities and challenges of current dormitory construction projects, particularly the costs of construction and the creation of affordable housing.
Then, we visited our dormitory on Tennesseeallee 14. The tour offered an opportunity to gain further insight into student housing and dorm life.

During the conversation, it became clear: A dormitory room is more than just a place to sleep. Dormitories make it easier for students to settle into their new academic environment, create space for community, and are an important part of the social infrastructure for students. We are pleased that we were able to share this perspective during Ms. Bischoff’s visit and highlight the importance of affordable student housing at the European level as well.