President reveals higher education upgrade by May

The comprehensive strategy for the reorganization and improvement of Higher Education is due to be published by May the latest, said the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, addressing on Wednesday a naming ceremony of the building of the Rectorate of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), to be labeled as "Christodoulos Sozos Rectorate Building." The foundation stone of the building of the laboratories of the University's Fine Arts Department was also laid at the same event.

In his speech, President Christodoulides pointed out that the substantial support of all public and private university institutions is a strategic goal for the Government, noting that "as a Government we invest in quality education, and in the near future we will publish - by May at the latest - our Strategy for Higher Education, which is currently under consultation."

He said that for this purpose, a relevant meeting was held very recently in the presence of the Ministers of Education, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Interior and Labour.

At the same time, President Christodoulides continued, other specific objectives have been set to ensure the quality of Higher Education in Cyprus, such as linking Higher Education to the labour market, while noting that CUT has an important role to play on that.

Speaking about the decision to associate the name of Christodoulos Sozos with the building of the Rectorate of the CUT, he said that it is a minimum recognition of the multi-level contribution of the late Mayor to his beloved city and the country in general.

He expressed confidence that the construction of the Fine Arts Department's Laboratory Building will contribute crucially to the development of the Department of Fine Arts and will enable students in the field to create innovative projects.

He also said that the state supports the efforts of CUT adding that "we consider crucial in this direction, the expansion of CUT outside Limassol with the establishment of the School of Tourism Management, Hospitality and Entrepreneurship in Paphos and the start of the construction of the dormitories and other projects."

He noted that at the same time an internal study is being carried out for the implementation of the decision to expand CUT in Larnaca, expressing hope that in 2024 the implementation of this decision will begin.

The Rector of CUT, Professor Panayiotis Zaphiris, referred to an important moment in the history of CUT, noting that "the building of the Rectorate of the Cyprus University of Technology is the heart of our University and one of the most imposing buildings of Limassol, a beacon of learning and innovation."

In his own address, the President of CUT Council, Dr. Christos Chomatas, said, among other things, that the Rectorate Building of the University is emblematic for the city of Limassol.

Furthermore, in his speech, the Mayor of Limassol, Nicos Nicolaides, congratulated the Council of the CUT and the Rector's authorities for their decision to give the Rector's building the name of the late mayor "one of the most famous and glorious Greeks of Cyprus, who died in the battles of Greece."

The event was attended by, among others, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Members of Parliament, a representative of the Metropolitan of Limassol, Mayors and members of Municipal Councils, as well as members of the Council and members of the university community of the CUT.