The General Assembly of the European Council for Student Affairs (ECStA) has elected Matthias Anbuhl, Chairman of the Board of the Deutsches Studierendenwerk, as its new President. ECStA is the umbrella organisation representing the student affairs and student service organisations across Europe.

Matthias Anbuhl states:

"Rent, inflation, food - the cost of living is not just a problem for students in Germany, but throughout Europe. A particular problem for students in all European countries is the lack of affordable housing. A market research analysis puts the shortage for students in Europe at three million places and assumes that demand will increase by a further 200,000 places in the next five years.

We need a pan-European effort here; the federal-state programme 'Young Living' in Germany or the new-build housing programme in France can serve as role models.

The psychological consequences of the pandemic also continue to burden many students in Europe, in addition to the multiple crises of our time. We also have a mental health crisis at the European level, which the Studierendenwerke and their European partner organisations are facing up to."

ECStA is the association of student affairs and student service organisations in Europe. By facilitating the exchange of information and best practices from different European higher education systems, ECStA supports its members in promoting student well-being and success. The association also advocates for the social interests of students at both national and European levels.

The members of ECStA run student residences and restaurants and provide financial support as well as social and psychological counselling for more than 10 million students in the European Higher Education Area.

Website ECStA: https://ecsta.org/