Campus Rural Andalucía 2026: opportunity for rural businesses with university interns

Key data

Andalusian rural businesses have had, since April 2026, a formal channel to bring in university students for internships at reduced cost. The Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación has signed an agreement with the Universidad Internacional de Andalucía (UNIA) to launch the Campus Rural Programme, an initiative that connects university talent with Andalusian municipalities affected by depopulation.

The resolution was signed on 23 March 2026 and published in the BOE on 2 April 2026. The programme has a dual objective: to give students real professional experience and, at the same time, to stimulate the economic and social development of rural territories that are losing population.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement formalises the collaboration between the Andalusian regional administration and UNIA to implement the Campus Rural Programme. The internships will take place in businesses, local entities and organisations in the Andalusian rural environment, creating stable links between university students and depopulated territories.

The key elements of the programme are as follows:

• Internships take place in rural settings in Andalucía, prioritising municipalities affected by depopulation.
• University students gain professional experience in real-world contexts.
• Host businesses and entities gain access to qualified profiles at reduced cost.
• The programme is part of the national strategy against depopulation.

The sectors expressly mentioned in the regulation as potential hosts are:

Economic and operational impact

For rural businesses, this programme represents an opportunity to temporarily bring in qualified university profiles at a lower cost than a standard employment contract. This is not an obligation: participation is voluntary.

The most relevant operational impact for each type of entity is as follows:

• Agricultural and rural tourism businesses: can cover specific needs in management, digital marketing, data analysis or administration with university profiles without taking on the cost of a full-time hire.
• Local shops: access to students trained in areas such as commerce, economics or communications for digitalisation or expansion projects.
• Town councils and rural local entities: reinforcement of technical capabilities in areas where small municipalities struggle to hire specialised staff.
• Organisations and cooperatives: incorporation of talent for innovation, sustainability or territorial development projects.

The regulation does not specify specific compensation amounts or the number of available places. The reduced cost mentioned is the guiding principle of the programme, but the specific economic details will be determined in the development of the agreement.

Who is affected?

• Businesses in the Andalusian rural environment in the agriculture, rural tourism, commerce and services sectors.
• Local entities (town councils and public bodies) of Andalusian rural municipalities affected by depopulation.
• Organisations, associations and cooperatives operating in the rural environment of Andalucía.
• University students seeking internships with territorial impact.
• Andalusian rural municipalities that form part of the regional and national strategy against depopulation.

Practical example

A rural tourism business in the Sierra Norte de Sevilla, a municipality with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants and at risk of depopulation, could bring in through the Campus Rural Programme a university student in Tourism or Digital Marketing to develop its online presence, manage social media or design new tourism products.

Instead of hiring an external professional or taking on the cost of a full-time employee, the business gains access to that qualified profile at the reduced cost established by the university internship framework. The student, in turn, gains real experience in a rural environment with a direct impact on the territory.

The same scheme applies to a rural town council that needs technical support in grant management, digitalisation of services or institutional communications — areas where small municipalities typically lack specialised staff.

What should businesses do now?

1. Assess whether your business or entity is located in an Andalusian rural municipality affected by depopulation. This is the basic territorial criterion for participating as a host entity for internships.
2. Identify which university profiles could add value to your business. Think about specific needs: digitalisation, management, communications, data analysis, sustainability.
3. Contact the Universidad Internacional de Andalucía (UNIA) to find out about the procedure for joining the programme, the call deadlines and the specific economic conditions of the internships.
4. Also consult your town council or mancomunidad. Local entities are part of the programme and can facilitate access or act as intermediaries.
5. Prepare internally for the placement. Define a mentor within the business, a specific project and the minimum resources needed to make the internship productive for both the student and your business.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7534