Campus Rural 2026: opportunity for companies in depopulated areas

Key data

Companies and entities located in rural areas affected by depopulation have had, since April 2026, a formal channel to incorporate university students in internships. The Government, through the General Directorate of Policies against Depopulation, has signed an agreement with the Universitat de Girona to implement the Campus Rural Program, published in the BOE through Resolution of April 9, 2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-8690).

The program does not impose obligations on companies: it is an opportunity for voluntary participation that allows access to university profiles in training, with the possibility of subsequent labor linkage. For rural territories, it represents a concrete tool within the national strategy against depopulation.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution publishes the agreement signed between the General Directorate of Policies against Depopulation and the Universitat de Girona to articulate the Campus Rural Program. The program has a dual objective:

• To offer professional experience to university students in rural environments, outside the usual urban scope of academic internships.
• To provide qualified human capital to rural municipalities with scarce economic and demographic activity, affected by depopulation.

Local entities and rural companies that participate can benefit from the temporary incorporation of university students in internships. For students, the program represents an opportunity for practical training in non-urban contexts, with possible labor linkage after the internships conclude.

This agreement is part of the national strategy against rural depopulation and seeks to generate synergies between the academic sphere and the productive fabric of small municipalities. The Universitat de Girona acts as a collaborating academic institution, managing the participation of its students in the program.

Economic and operational impact

This regulation generates no direct costs or economic obligations for companies. Its impact is one of opportunity, not regulatory burden. The practical effects for participating entities are:

• Access to qualified human capital without the costs associated with conventional hiring. University internships have a differentiated remuneration and social security framework from ordinary labor relations.
• Boost to local development projects that require profiles with university education and that would otherwise be difficult to fill in rural environments with low density of qualified active population.
• Possibility of subsequent labor linkage with students who complete their internships in the entity, which can reduce selection and training costs in the future.
• Synergies with the academic sphere: participation in programs such as Campus Rural can improve the visibility of the company or entity in the university ecosystem.

For rural municipalities and their productive fabrics, the program represents one of the few formalized channels to attract qualified talent temporarily, with institutional backing and a defined academic framework.

Who does it affect?

• Companies in depopulated rural areas: can act as receiving entities for students in internships.
• Local entities and rural municipalities: can participate as host organizations to promote local development projects.
• University students from the Universitat de Girona: gain access to the possibility of conducting their academic internships in rural municipalities.
• Municipalities affected by depopulation: benefit from the temporary arrival of qualified human capital.
• Promoters of rural development projects: find in this program a support mechanism with institutional backing.

Practical example

An agribusiness company based in a rural municipality of fewer than 2,000 inhabitants, affected by depopulation, needs support to digitalize its administrative management and improve its presence in online sales channels. However, it cannot find qualified profiles in the area nor can it afford the cost of full-time hiring.

Through the Campus Rural Program, this company can incorporate a university student from the Universitat de Girona in academic internships. The student brings up-to-date training, works on the project during the internship period, and if the experience is positive for both parties, there is the possibility of subsequent labor linkage. The company gains access to qualified human capital with an internship regulatory framework, without the costs of ordinary hiring, and at the same time contributes to retaining active population in the territory.

What should companies do now?

1. Assess whether your company or entity is in a rural area affected by depopulation: this is the starting requirement to be able to participate as a receiving entity in the Campus Rural Program.
2. Identify needs for qualified human capital that could be met through students in internships: digitalization projects, communication, management, data analysis, business development, among others.
3. Contact the Universitat de Girona or the General Directorate of Policies against Depopulation to learn about the specific requirements for participation, deadlines and procedure for joining the program, given that the published regulation does not detail these operational aspects.
4. Consult the full text of the agreement in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-8690) to learn about the specific conditions of the agreement and the obligations of participating entities.
5. Consider the possibility of subsequent labor linkage with students who complete internships in your organization, integrating this channel into your talent acquisition strategy for rural environments.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information presented is based on the official publication in the BOE (Spanish Official Gazette). For specific guidance on how this regulation applies to your particular situation, consult with a legal professional or contact the relevant public administration directly. CambiosLegales is not responsible for any consequences arising from the use of this information.