If the government’s performance were to be graded, it would get a "sufficient" mark, just enough to pass. That is the view of Mattis Noël, President of the Association of Luxembourg Student Circles (ACEL), as he sums up the union’s mid-term assessment.
However, ACEL says satisfaction levels vary greatly depending on the topic.
The most pressing concern remains student housing. In a recent survey of over 300 University of Luxembourg students, many reported significant difficulties in accessing student accommodation.
ACEL is calling for the creation of 1,600 new student residences by 2030, but emphasises that these should be commissioned by 2028 to ensure the projects are realised within the current legislative period, rather than being handed over to the next government.
ACEL also highlights ongoing challenges stemming from varying rules for student housing across municipalities. To address this disparity, the union is demanding a national student housing law to be enacted by 2028.
According to ACEL, some municipalities still place obstacles in the way of developers who wish to build student residences. The proposed law should establish clear, uniform rules nationwide, and ACEL wishes to participate in the discussions concerning its content.
ACEL sees further room for improvement when it comes to student mobility. The organisation argues that free public transport, while positive, does not fully address students' needs, as many still face lengthy commutes or inconvenient connections.
The union recommends that rural areas be served by more flexible on-demand transport options and additional park-and-ride facilities.
ACEL is notably more critical regarding the review of the internship law. While the group welcomes the rule that internships longer than four weeks must be paid, it points out that many employers and interns remain unaware of the current regulations.
In particular, confusion persists over the fact that the Ministry, rather than the employer, is responsible for paying the stipend, which can result in missed internship opportunities for students.
There is also uncertainty over social security contributions for interns. ACEL has received reports that some interns are required to make contributions as if they earned the full minimum wage, even when that is not actually the case.
In contrast, ACEL’s opinion is much more positive regarding the reform of the student financial aid system (AideFi). The student union reports that it was involved in the government’s work from the outset.
Key improvements, from ACEL’s perspective, include lower interest rates for student loans, a higher mobility grant, and new eligibility for part-time students to receive financial support. ACEL considers these changes as concrete progress for students.
