Reconfiguring university students’ relationships with urban space during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

This study analyses how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed students’ spatial practices and experiences of urban space. The study is based on 15 semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted among students from 10 universities in Poznań, Poland. The study extends research on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, remote learning, and social isolation by focusing on students’ everyday relationships with urban space and their sense of place. The pandemic not only restricted students’ mobility and access to urban spaces but also presented an opportunity to reconfigure their daily relationships with the city. Students reported increased engagement with local and open urban spaces, a shift in preferences for public space use, and greater sensitivity to other users. While many participants described a return to pre-pandemic routines, some practices and perceptions of space developed during the pandemic have persisted. Mobility restrictions encouraged many incoming students to explore previously unknown urban landscapes, helping them gain a deeper understanding of the city, become more familiar with it, and strengthen their daily connections to urban places. The results highlight the role of universities as key facilitators of students’ daily mobility, social interactions, and their engagement with urban space, even during periods of crisis.