40th Student Fair to head back to the capital with new concept

This follows a meeting between ACEL representatives and Minister for Higher Education and Research Stéphanie Obertin. ACEL representatives did not yet wish to reveal the future venue, noting only that several options are being examined and that consultations with the student circles will follow.

The fair had been moved from Luxexpo to the Belval university campus due to Covid, but ACEL was never fully satisfied with the location.

ACEL therefore wants the event to return to a site nearer the centre of the country – a place with stronger public transport connections, better bus access, and enough space to host more actors, students said. ACEL is convinced that a more central location will make it easier for secondary school pupils to drop in spontaneously after class or during authorised absences to learn about their future options.

Before meeting ACEL representatives, Obertin attended a parliamentary committee session where MPs from The Greens (Déi Gréng) also raised the organisation's concerns. Obertin told the committee she was open to holding the fair elsewhere. She later reiterated in an interview with RTL that she was not insisting on keeping the event in Belval. Obertin stressed that she was not ruling out any location, as the choice would depend on how much space is needed and what kind of event the organisers wish to have.

Green MP Joëlle Welfring welcomed this openness, noting that such flexibility had not been evident a few weeks ago. She mentioned the Rockhal concert hall as a possible venue during committee discussions but emphasised that the ideal site can only be selected once the full concept has been decided.

She argued that if the fair is meant to offer broad guidance, not only on academic pathways but also on professional careers, then more industry representatives should be involved. Internships, holiday jobs, and information from banks on student loans are all valuable elements of a modern career fair, she added.

Obertin said she had reserved two hours for the ACEL delegation, who travelled from Cologne and Munich for the meeting. In the end, they reached an agreement in under an hour at the ministry's offices on Boulevard de la Pétrusse in the capital.

A budget of around €250,000 has been allocated for the 40th edition. ACEL insists it does not intend to exceed this amount and wants to stay within a reasonable financial framework, which they say is possible to achieve in the capital. A return to Luxexpo is unlikely, as the budget would not stretch that far, they said.

What can visitors expect from the 40th edition?

According to ACEL President Gianni di Paoli, the new concept will integrate several long-standing wishes of the association. He said that more professional sectors will be represented, ensuring the fair is not exclusively geared towards academic careers. Non-formal education will play a larger role, and the fair aims to offer an information platform unlike anything currently available in Luxembourg.

The association is confident that a more modern programme will once again attract higher numbers of pupils. The ACEL emphasises the importance of direct, face-to-face contact, which they said many students still value. From next year, pupils will no longer need to travel all the way to Belval, as the Student Fair will return to the centre, likely somewhere in or near Luxembourg City, as explained by ACEL Vice President Sophie Mangen. She added that Luxexpo is not the only option and that several other venues are being evaluated one by one.

Neither di Paoli nor Mangen wished to reveal the shortlist of venues, but they did hint at a promising option that would keep the event within budget. They said there is a potential site with costs comparable to those in Belval, which could serve as a viable alternative if it meets all requirements.

ACEL stressed that it wants to consult with the student circles before announcing the final location. A decision is therefore expected after the conclusion of that consultation.

Video report in Luxembourgish