Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) has become a constantly growing living cell within Limassol town, CUT Rector Elpida Keravnou Papailiou has said.
In an interview with CNA shortly after the University became autonomous, Keravnou notes that CUT Senate and its Board have to face new challenges as a result of the current financially difficult period.
Being the first CUT Rector is “at once a great honour and a big responsibility”, she says, adding that much is expected from the first University Board.
Keravnou acknowledges the support and assistance given to CUT by the Limassol Municipality so far, enabling the University to establish itself in the centre of the city. This support continues to be enhanced on a daily basis, she notes.
“Despite difficulties, the University’s presence has changed Limassol, it has brought the historic Limassol centre to life”, she says, adding that “a University should be a living cell of the city and CUT has achieved this”.
Replying to a question as regards the new challenges CUT faces, Keravnou points out that budget cuts due to austerity have meant that the Senate and CUT Board have new challenges to face over their four year term, as development projects’ timetables are affected.
“All members of the University community have been asked if they wish to submit their suggestions so that we can put down on paper certain priorities of the strategic planning initially completed in 2010”, she says.
One of the main priorities is building a University campus, she points out, the master plan of which is to be presented to CUT Board and other interested parties in May. Work on the campus will probably start by the beginning of 2013 at the latest.
Right now, she says, the specifications for the architectural competition on Campus buildings are being prepared.
Keranvou explains that having to rent buildings to meet CUT’s needs constitutes a burden for its finances so the University administration has proceeded to renegotiate the rental agreements in place in an effort to reduce costs.
At the same time, the implementation of a new rental model for student residences has been decided, so that students rent directly from the owner and the University only acts as an intermediary, ensuring that residences fulfill requirements and that students are not taken advantage off, she adds.
Keravnou estimates that by building the Campus and gradually reducing the number of buildings CUT rents, current difficulties regarding space needed will be overcome.
Founding a School of Fine and Applied Arts and restructuring the current School of Applied Arts and Communication to a School of Communication and Media are within CUT’s priorities, she notes.
Replying to a question as to whether the School of Fine and Applied Arts will be based in Limassol, she says it is a natural assumption without excluding the possibility that the School will also have activities elsewhere.
Research and development is also important for CUT.
The CUT Rector believes that “we need to enhance our efforts to attract external funding”, adding that “discussions on the creation of new institutions, such as Research Institutes, is already underway”.
The fact that the University has managed to attract significant internal and external funding in a particularly competitive environment, shows that its scientific reputation has started to be recognized both in Cyprus and abroad, she points out.
According to Keravnou, another challenge ahead is the operation of a Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. Speech therapy will be the first programme expected to start in September 2013, she adds.
The first two PhDs are to be awarded this year, which is a sign of the rapid growth CUT has known in a short period of time, Keravnou notes, adding that the aim is for PhDs to be offered in all CUT’s departments so that it will be categorized as a research oriented institution.
She highlights the fact that during the Cyprus EU Council rotating presidency due to begin on July 1, CUT will host the Fall Summit of the Senate and the Board of the Euromediterranean University, of which CUT is a member.
CUT has submitted a proposal to create a Southeastern Mediterranean network on energy and environment matters, she says, expressing the hope that during the Summit the network will be established.
