An exchange program starts when a student accepts their place, looks up information about their destination, and begins to imagine what life will be like over the next few months. That’s why universities with a strong international focus, such as Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, understand that excelling in the academic experience isn’t enough, they also need a partner that can deliver the same level of excellence in the other side of the exchange: the life experience.

‍

The challenge: managing one of the most sensitive stages of the exchange

‍

Within the International Relations Office, the team identified student housing as one of the main friction points for international students arriving in Madrid. Many came without reliable references, with limited information, or struggled to identify safe and suitable housing options that met their needs.

‍

‍

"Many students approached this process with uncertainty, especially when they lacked clear options or a system that could offer security from the very beginning. We were looking for a solution that would allow us to centralize and simplify the housing search, particularly for those arriving without reliable references." - Arancha Castellanos, Deputy Director of the International Relations Office at Comillas

‍

At the time, the university provided guidance through its website and external providers. However, this approach required students to interact with multiple parties, and when issues arose, the university team had to manage extended and unstructured follow-ups. This resulted in a significant administrative burden and made it difficult to deliver the level of support the institution aimed to provide.

‍

Choosing a specialized partner

‍

To address this challenge, Universidad Pontificia de Comillas decided to work with Lodgerin, using its Abroad software and Arribo student app. The goal was not simply to adopt a digital tool, but to rely on a partner capable of strengthening the international experience at one of its most critical moments.

‍

“The onboarding process was straightforward and closely supported by the Lodgerin team, allowing the software to be quickly integrated into the university’s existing communication with students. Since then, the benefits have been clear: greater peace of mind for students and their families, a more structured process, fewer repetitive inquiries, and improved organization around housing-related matters.” - Arancha Castellanos, Deputy Director of the International Relations Office

‍

Safety and trust

‍

One of the most valuable aspects of the partnership is the focus on housing security. Through Lodgerin, the university can guide students toward carefully selected and verified options, assessed using clear quality and suitability criteria. In addition, it ensures peace of mind throughout the stay thanks to a 24/7 support line, direct access to mental health support, on-site guidance, and other exclusive benefits provided  through the Lodgerin ecosystem.

‍

As Castellanos highlights:

“Verified housing recommendations give us confidence when advising students, along with the ability to maintain more direct and organized communication. I would also emphasize the emergency phone service 24/7 provided by Lodgerin, brings peace of mind to us, the students, and their families.”

‍

Technology that supports the student journey

‍

Beyond housing, Abroad has enabled Universidad Pontificia de Comillas to structure workflows that were previously fragmented and difficult to scale.

‍

“The most valuable features for our daily work are centralized request management and process automation, which significantly streamline our operations.”

‍

As a result, the team experiences fewer repeated questions, clearer communication, and greater capacity to manage peak periods without compromising the quality of support. Technology does not replace human interaction, it enhances it, allowing staff to focus on higher-value tasks.

‍

“For us, Abroad has become a key tool in the pre-arrival stage.”

‍

Impact

‍

Thanks to this partnership, international students arriving in Madrid are able to manage their housing and arrival process in a clearer, safer, and more supported way. For Comillas, this has led to tangible improvements in operational efficiency and in the quality of service offered to students.

‍

The model allows the university to maintain a high level of oversight and transparency without increasing administrative workload, strengthening its ability to deliver an international experience aligned with its values and standards.

‍

A strategic relationship

‍

The collaboration between Universidad Pontificia de Comillas and Lodgerin extends well beyond initial implementation. Ongoing communication, responsiveness, and continuous product development have been key to building a relationship grounded in trust and long-term improvement.

‍

“There is a clear commitment to adapting the software to the real needs of universities and students.”

‍

Academic exchanges are, above all, life experiences. While universities lead with excellence in education, the case of Universidad Pontificia de Comillas shows that partnering with the right organization makes it possible to extend that same level of quality to everything that happens before and during a student’s stay.

‍

Want to learn more directly from the university?

‍

In this video, Arancha Castellanos shares how working with Lodgerin has shaped the international student experience at Universidad Pontificia de Comillas.

‍