The state will continue to support the University of Cyprus and the development of tertiary education in Cyprus in general, President Demetris Christofias stressed Wednesday night addressing the graduation ceremony of UCY.
Strengthening higher education beyond a state target is also a due offering to Cypriot youth, President Christofias said.
“We have already promoted many plans regarding tertiary education, with a vision to upgrade fully our educational system and speed up the pace of implementation of educational reforms,” Christofias added.
He made a special reference to the decision for the establishment of a Faculty of Medicine, adding that the University of Cyprus has already appointed the preparatory committee. The Faculty of Medicine at UCY is expected to begin operation in year 2013 and “it will help upgrade medical services in Cyprus and help extend and develop medical research,” he said.
“The ultimate target of the state is the qualitative and quantitative satisfaction of the local needs for higher education and at the same time the establishment of Cyprus as a regional educational and research centre of high standards” which “will attract academics and researchers of international reputation as well as students”.
Furthermore, President Christofias referred to the achievements of UCY, pointing out that when the University of Cyprus first opened its doors to students, the incoming class consisted of 482 undergraduate students, while in the academic year 2008-2009 the University has over 5571 students of whom 4288 undergraduate and 1283 postgraduate students.
During the period 2008-2013 the aim is to increase UCY’s students by 2000, Christofias said.
He also referred to the election of the Rector of the University of Cyprus as President of the Network of the Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA), to the fact that members of the academic staff of UCY have submitted the largest number of proposals for research to the European Research Institute, in relation to the number of researchers and other achievements, underscoring that these facts prove that the highest educational institution in Cyprus has earned the respect of the European academic community and the appreciation of the Cypriot society.
The Rector of the University of Cyprus, professor Stavros Zenios in his speech delivered during the graduation ceremony, reviewed the progress of UCY both in the field of education and in the field of research and referred to the future goals of the University.
Zenios outlined a number of reasons that lead to the conclusion that the University of Cyprus has earned the respect of the European academic community and indicate that it is in a position to play a leading role on a European level.
He also underlined the important role UCY is playing in Cypriot society and the local economy. The University is increasing the number of its student to 7500 of whom 2000 are postgraduate students.
Postgraduate studies absorb the unemployment wave and re-educate labour force,” Zenios said and added that the increase by 25% of the funding for research programmes the members of the academic staff have managed to gain has turned UCY to one of the biggest employers in Cyprus. “We can say that we offer a lever of economic development with 500 jobs for young scientists with mainly European funding”, he said.
Charis Charalambous, Chairman of the Council of the University of Cyprus in his addressed remarked that the University of Cyprus fulfils with great success the vision of the society to turn Cyprus into a centre of knowledge and innovation.
