Campus Rural 2026: opportunity for businesses and rural municipalities with university internships

Key data

Small businesses and rural councils have had, since 4 April 2026, a new instrument to access university talent: the Campus Rural Programme, activated through the agreement between the Directorate-General for Policies against Depopulation and the Universidad Rovira i Virgili (BOE-A-2026-7692).

The programme is not a direct financial grant, but a pathway for entities in depopulated areas to benefit from university students completing their academic internships in their municipality or business. The management, selection and monitoring of students falls on the central administration and the university, not on the host entity.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution publishes the agreement signed between the Government — through the Directorate-General for Policies against Depopulation — and the Universidad Rovira i Virgili. This agreement defines the framework of collaboration to implement the Campus Rural Programme, which has three main pillars:

• Programme management: The central administration and the university jointly coordinate the operational running of the programme.
• Student selection: The selection process for participating university students is handled by the parties signing the agreement, not by the host entities.
• Monitoring: A monitoring system is established for students during their stay in rural areas.

The stated objective of the programme is to contribute to the economic and social revitalisation of rural areas, within the framework of the national strategy against rural depopulation.

Economic and operational impact

For host entities, the direct economic impact is positive: they gain access to qualified university support on a temporary basis without bearing the costs of permanent employment. Students carry out academic internships, meaning their engagement is governed by the university internship framework, not by a standard employment contract.

From an operational standpoint, host entities must be prepared to:

• Define specific tasks and projects that can be carried out by an intern student.
• Designate an internal tutor or supervisor to support the student during their stay.
• Coordinate with the Universidad Rovira i Virgili within the monitoring framework established in the agreement.

For rural municipalities and local councils, the programme represents an opportunity to incorporate technical capabilities — data analysis, communications, management, technology, depending on the student's profile — that would otherwise be difficult to fund with limited municipal budgets.

Who is affected?

• Rural municipalities: Can act as host entities for intern students, strengthening their technical and administrative capabilities.
• Small businesses in depopulated areas: Companies located in rural municipalities that wish to temporarily bring in university talent for specific projects.
• Local councils in areas at risk of depopulation: Local entities seeking economic and social revitalisation through the programme.
• Students of the Universidad Rovira i Virgili: University students who choose to complete their academic internships in rural areas.
• Local entities in general: Any organisation with a presence in rural municipalities that can offer a suitable internship environment.

Practical example

A local council in a rural municipality in Tarragona with fewer than 500 inhabitants needs to develop its digital presence and improve communications with residents, but does not have the budget to hire a communications officer.

Through the Campus Rural Programme, this council can register as a host entity. The Universidad Rovira i Virgili selects a Communications or Marketing student who completes their academic internship in the municipality during the established period. The student develops the communications strategy, manages the council's social media channels and produces informational materials. The management and monitoring of the student is handled by the university and the central administration, not by the council.

The result: the municipality gains qualified technical support at no hiring cost, and the student completes their internship with real-world experience in a rural setting.

What should businesses do now?

1. Assess whether your entity fits the host profile: Check whether your business or council is located in a rural municipality or an area at risk of depopulation, which is the main requirement to participate as a host entity.
2. Identify specific needs: Define what tasks or projects a university student could carry out in your organisation. The more specific the brief, the easier the coordination with the university will be.
3. Contact the Universidad Rovira i Virgili: As this agreement is specific to this university, the first point of contact for entities interested in participating is the Universidad Rovira i Virgili itself or the Directorate-General for Policies against Depopulation.
4. Prepare the internal tutor role: The programme requires the host entity to designate a supervisor to support the student during their stay. Identify who can take on that role in your organisation.
5. Consult the official resolution: Review the full text of the agreement published in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-7692) to learn the specific conditions for participation.

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-2026-7692