University of Cyprus advances in research

Cyprus has submitted the largest number of proposals for research to the European Research Institute, in relation to the number of researchers, according to statistics. The majority of proposals came from young academics of the University of Cyprus (UCY).
The Rector of the University of Cyprus Stavros Zenios said in an interview with CNA that there are currently more than 300 research projects, with a total budget of CYP25.9 mln. All these projects are financed by external funds.
There are objective indicators on the basis of which the research productivity of a University is assessed, Zenios said, noting that external independent evaluators such as the Carnegie Foundation for Higher Education assessed the University of Cyprus as eligible to be included in the list of research universities since 2003 as the UCY completely satisfied the criteria.
Zenios described the research productivity of the University of Cyprus as notable, adding that this demonstrates a rising trend. The average research production per year, in terms of the number of publications per member of academic staff during the period 2002-2004, was 3.53 compared to 3.11 during the period 1999-2001, indicating that the production will be even higher during the next reporting period.
The Rector of the University of Cyprus was recently elected President of the Network of the Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA), a fact that proves that the highest educational institution in Cyprus has earned the appreciation and respect of the European academic community.
Zenios has told CNA that high on his agenda during his presidency remains the policy of further developing UNICA as a network of academic excellence in research and education.
UNICA is an important network comprising some of Europe’s most historic universities from capital cities of the continent, with a combined strength of over 120,000 staff and 1,500,000 students. Its role is to promote academic excellence, integration and co-operation between member universities throughout Europe, the newly elected President of the Network said.
“The universities share a common interest and shoulder the same great responsibility to interact with the governments of their country in issues concerning the mapping out of policy and management of universities. All these universities are mainly research institutions with an important tradition in this field and as such they have been organised since 1990 in a joint network that, inter alia, promotes issues of excellence of its members,” Zenios explained.
The UNICA agenda includes issues concerning the necessity for Universities to account to societies that fund and support them without abolishing their high level of autonomy.
Asked about the importance of his election to the UNICA presidency, Zenios said it is proof that the University of Cyprus has earned the respect of the European academic community and indicates that it is in a position to play a leading role on a European level. Another important message sent by the Rector’s election is that Cyprus, a small country, has a role to play on an international level as long as it has clear opinions, which are documented and modern, Zenios stressed.
Asked whether scholarly research, in addition to education, remains the focus of modern universities, Zenios pointed out that internationally universities consider that teaching is not limited to communicating “canned knowledge.”
“Students of modern universities participate in the production of knowledge and they gain knowledge through such practices. Therefore, research is inseparable from teaching,” he said.
However, during recent years and mainly in Europe, Universities have assumed another special role, to help the societies they operate in transform themselves into societies and economies of knowledge, which is an objective set by the European Union, the UCY Rector said. “Therefore we are constantly seeking new ways to achieve the integration of research and innovation with society,” he added.
One of the objectives UNICA has set out for the coming years is the development of Knowledge Regions in European capitals. The University of Cyprus in association with the Employers and Industrialist Federation and the Planning Bureau has already prepared a proposal for the creation of the “Nicosia Knowledge Region”.
Outlining University plans to develop new programmes and faculties and create a new library; he said short-term plans include the increase of the number of students by 2000, accompanied by a corresponding rise in financial resources and further improvement of the ratio of academic to non-academic staff and student to academic staff to 1:1 and 14:1 respectively.
Academic development will focus for the immediate future on the offer of new programmes of studies within the existing faculties. UCY’s Rector mentioned that the Department of Law would commence operation during 2008, while the programmes of studies are further enriched by the offer of European Studies on graduate level and postgraduate programmes on History, Byzantine Studies, Journalism and others. “These programmes will be fully fledged during the next three years”, Zenios said.
The next phase of the University’s development will focus on the creation of new faculties. It is estimated this will be achieved by 2011, after the completion of the construction of two new buildings at the University campus. Among the University’s priorities regarding this aspect of development is the establishment of a Medical Faculty and a Faculty of Fine Arts.
Commenting on the University’s social contribution, Zenios pointed out that due to limited academic tradition society does not seek the expertise of the members of the academic staff to the extent that it can be provided.
Responding to questions, Zenios said that in the recent past both the University as an institution and the members of its academic staff have increased their interventions on important issues that worry the local society. In line with the policy to increase the University’s social contribution, the Senate has recently decided the regular publication of essays on a variety of issues, such as the energy policy, management of water resources, youth delinquency etc.
However, Zenios believes that society at large and the state in particular could address themselves more often to the University and its academic staff for an expert opinion on various issues.
Asked whether this could be attributed to a lack of will by the state or to University introversion, Zenios argued that the University of Cyprus has opened its doors to society and expressed the belief that this situation is due to the absence of academic tradition. “I believe this relates to the lack of will to utilize, in the good sense of the word, the expertise, the know-how and the knowledge of the academic staff,” the Rector said.
Zenios also told CNA that a major project for the University of Cyprus is the construction of the University campus. The building programme continues to expand, Zenios said. The Faculty of Economics and Management, the building of social activities and sport premises are currently being developed while the Students Residences, the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, including the Common Teaching Facilities, and the Anastasios G. Leventis University House, which houses the management and the administrative staff of the University, have been completed and are in full operation.
A big challenge the University has to address is the development of the new Library Building. “The Library is the heart of an academic institution,” Zenios stressed, adding that the famous architect Jean Nouvel has made the design of the new building and now the University awaits the necessary approval in order to begin construction.

History in Brief
The University of Cyprus was established in 1989 and admitted its first students in 1992. The University was founded in response to the growing intellectual needs of the Cypriot people, and is well placed to fulfill the numerous aspirations of the country
Admission to the University is highly sought, evidenced by the number and calibre of its applicants. The ratio of candidates to admissions is 10 to 1.
The main objectives of the University of Cyprus are twofold: the promotion of scholarship and education through teaching and research, and the enhancement of the cultural, social and economic development of Cyprus.
The academic faculty is international and has been recruited from reputable universities worldwide.
The University consists of 6 faculties, 21 departments and 3 research centres. They offer programme of studies at both undergraduate and postgraduate level (master and PhD).
The University of Cyprus Library houses more that 245.000 books, with an annual increase of about 12.000 new titles, as well as 60.000 volumes of periodicals.