Campus Rural UPV 2026: opportunity for businesses in depopulated areas

Key data

Rural SMEs, agricultural cooperatives and local councils of small municipalities have a new way to access qualified technical support without resorting to conventional hiring. The Campus Rural Programme, activated through an agreement between the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación and the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV), channels university academic internships towards rural areas.

The resolution was published on 25 March 2026 in the BOE (reference BOE-A-2026-6955). The objective is twofold: to give students real professional experience and to strengthen the economic and social fabric of rural municipalities with university knowledge.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement formalises the collaboration between the Government and the UPV to develop the Campus Rural Programme. Its core mechanism is straightforward: university students complete their compulsory or voluntary academic internships in rural municipalities, rather than doing so exclusively in urban settings or large companies.

The key elements established by the agreement are:

• A framework of collaboration between the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación and the UPV for the management and coordination of the programme.
• Facilitation of university internships in rural municipalities as a tool for the economic and social development of rural areas.
• Temporary incorporation of qualified university students in businesses and local entities in depopulated areas.
• Integration of the programme within the national strategy against depopulation.

The regulation does not specify financial amounts, number of places, duration of internships or selection criteria for participating municipalities or businesses. These operational aspects must be consulted directly with the UPV or with the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación.

Economic and operational impact

The direct economic impact for participating businesses is not quantified in the published regulation. However, the operational value is clear: access to qualified university talent on a temporary basis, with the costs of academic internships generally lower than those of conventional hiring.

For entities in rural areas, this can translate into:

• Technical support in areas where the business lacks specialised staff (engineering, management, technology, depending on UPV degree programmes).
• Reduced cost of incorporating external knowledge compared to direct hiring or consultancy.
• Visibility as a business committed to rural development, which may facilitate access to other public aid or programmes linked to depopulation.

For rural municipalities, the programme represents an injection of dynamism and technical capacity at no direct cost to local finances, within an institutional framework backed by the central Government.

Who is affected?

The regulation expressly identifies the following profiles as recipients or beneficiaries of the programme:

• SMEs located in rural or depopulated areas that need technical support and can host students on internships.
• Agricultural cooperatives in rural municipalities, expressly mentioned as a relevant profile.
• Local councils of small municipalities that require technical support for projects or management.
• Businesses and local entities in depopulated areas in general, without explicit sectoral restriction.
• UPV university students seeking to complete their academic internships in rural settings.

The regulation does not specify whether the programme is limited to the Comunitat Valenciana or has national scope. Given that the agreement is between the central Government and the UPV, it is reasonable to assume that rural municipalities from different autonomous communities could be included, but this point must be verified with the signing bodies.

Practical example

An agricultural cooperative in a rural municipality of fewer than 2,000 inhabitants needs to digitalise its inventory management and has no internal technical staff or budget to hire an external consultant.

Through the Campus Rural Programme, the cooperative could host a UPV student from a degree related to computer engineering, agronomy or business administration to complete their academic internship. The student would develop the digitalisation project as part of their training, under the supervision of the cooperative and the academic framework of the UPV.

The result: the cooperative obtains qualified technical support at a reduced operational cost, the student gains real experience in a rural professional environment, and the municipality temporarily retains young talent that would otherwise not have reached that area. This is exactly the impact model that the agreement seeks to replicate at scale.

What should businesses do now?

1. Assess whether your business is in a rural or depopulated area: Check whether your municipality is classified as a rural area or at risk of depopulation. This is the starting requirement to participate in the programme.
2. Identify specific technical needs: Define what projects or tasks university students could carry out in your business. The more specific the assignment, the more value the student will contribute and the more attractive your offer will be to the UPV.
3. Contact the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia: The UPV is the entry point to the programme. Consult their internship service or the unit responsible for the Campus Rural Programme to find out the joining procedure and available profiles.
4. Contact the Dirección General de Políticas contra la Despoblación: If your municipality is particularly affected by depopulation, this body can guide you on other aid or programmes complementary to Campus Rural.
5. Prepare the hosting framework: Ensure your business can offer a suitable environment for internships: an internal supervisor, defined tasks and minimum working conditions. This is a standard requirement in any university internship agreement.

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-2026-6955