Category: Education

Restoring the e-learning platform is top priority, Rector of the Open University of Cyprus (OUC), Petros Pashiardis, said speaking to CNA regarding the “serious”, as he described it, incident of cyber attack against it that started on Monday morning. The Open University’s systems have since been taken down as a precaution until the incident is dealt with, he added.

The University will communicate with students and staff through Social Media for now, he said, as emails are down. The Rector noted that students will receive specific information regarding educational procedures.

It was “our first priority that distance education at the University continue as uninterrupted as possible, because this is the main way of education at the University,” he noted.

Pashiardis said that ways have been found for professors to contact their students within the next 1-2 days, adding that where there were deadlines for submitting assignments, the corresponding extensions will be given.

So far no malicious damage has been detected, the Rector said. “We are in the internal investigation stage, but at this time we have no indications” that data was compromised, noting that the incident is still being handled. Asked if any threat or demand for ransom had been made, he replied that “at the moment no, I don’t have such information.”

Asked when systems are expected to be restored, he said that it is still too early to know. “As I have been informed by IT Services, in order to be very careful, we are taking it one step at a time, so this process of getting back to normal will take time,” he explained. He reiterated that the priority is to restore the distance learning platform and the educational process, which is expected to happen within the next few days.

A possible connection between the three cyberattacks is being investigated

Communications Commissioner George Michaelides, who in also in charge of the Digital Security Authority, told CNA that the incident at the Open University of Cyprus is under investigation.

He noted that it is also under investigation as to whether the three cyber attacks that occurred recently at the University of Cyprus, the Department of Land and Surveys and now the Open University of Cyprus are connected.

“The forensic part takes a lot of time, sometimes it takes months and sometimes you get nowhere,” he noted, adding that the forensic analysis that is done once the attack is over and services are restored is a very difficult and time-consuming process.

Michaelides did not wish to comment at this stage whether there are common characteristics between the three attacks. “What we are looking at is whether there is any connection between them. Every attack leaves some sort of identity behind,” he said, adding that this type of evidence is what the authority collects to see if there is any connection.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Lilongwe, Malawi, 20- 24 February 2023 — In Chichewa, one of the indigenous languages of Malawi, there is an old saying: “Kali kokha nkanyama; ali awiri ndi anthu”. Translated to “No man is an island,” it stems from the African indigenous philosophy of uMunthu and reflects the notion that no single person exists as an isolated individual, but rather as a member of their broader community.

The values of ethics, integrity, altruism and empathy that reinforce uMunthu are also those key values that inspire and shape the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s work around primary education. Through its methodology to build a culture of rejection of corruption amongst young people around the world, UNODC’s Global Resource for Anti-Corruption Education and Youth Empowerment initiative, or GRACE, works directly at the intersection between Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 (quality education) and SDG16 (building peace, justice and strong institutions), to foster the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UNODC strongly believes in the progressive change that indigenous philosophies like uMunthu can bring when correctly integrated into formal education systems, while at the same time fostering Pan-Africanism and corruption-free societies.

To advance this, GRACE, the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Malawi (ACB), the Malawi Ministry of Education and the Malawi Institute of Education (MIE), in collaboration with UNDP Malawi, have been working to support the development of primary educational material based on this important African philosophy.

The aim is to create a ‘sourcebook’, i.e. a scripted manual with lesson plans and activities on ethics, integrity, and corruption for teachers to deliver in primary school. By embodying uMunthu values, attitudes and behaviours, the belief is that together it is possible to build just communities where corruption is ultimately rejected.

Ahead of the finalization of this important tool for teachers and the start of trainings in the country, representatives from the partner institutions and the two UN entities held discussions across Malawi. During the dialogues, the perspectives of students, teachers, parents, traditional and religious leaders and civil society were collected on the best way to approach this task and ensure the content is both context-specific and age-appropriate.

“The consultation experience was so enriching and changed the whole perception of the concept of the sourcebook,” noted Catherine Nkhoma, Principal Public Education Officer at the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Malawi and a former teacher herself. “After the consultations, we realized that the material we develop needs to speak to children!”

Over a period of ten days, 180-plus community members, primary school teachers and pupils from Blantyre, Lilongwe, Machinga and Rumphi were consulted.

“We are going to change Malawi. With this, we have an aim to achieve!” said one enthusiastic teacher who was consulted at Henry Henderson Primary School in Blantyre after reading the first unit of the sourcebook.

Currently, all the feedback gathered is being aggregated and will be included in the final sourcebook, which will be used as the foundation to develop a teaching methodology and start training teachers across the country.

Behavioural change is a long-term process, but youth deserve an opportunity to design better futures. As Ms. Nkhoma commented, “While we know corruption is a difficult and cross-sectional problem, we need to start somewhere.”

Source: EMM/ Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The need to inform and educate the public about water is today more necessary than ever, because technological progress and the improvement of infrastructure and our daily lives have also brought about complacency, PIO Director Aliki Stylianou said on Tuesday, addressing a conference titled “Challenges and opportunities for drinking water in the Eastern Mediterranean”. Stylianou reminded the participants that the Press and Information Office has been cooperating with the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the Department of Water Development in the organization of information campaigns for the proper use and management of water resources. She assured that as Head of PIO the Office will continue its role and will assist in all efforts to raise awareness. She said that in recent years, climate crisis has brought to the forefront the need for awareness and a shift towards an environmentally sustainable consumer behavior in terms of the use of water, especially in areas such as the Southeast Mediterranean region where the effects of climate change are now more than evident. Stylianou added that in case of Cyprus, the water problem has always been a challenge for Cyprus society and its authorities, adding that looking at the archives of the Press and Information Office it is easy to see that water and the proper management of this resource, has always been among the main priorities of the state.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The 8th General Assembly and the annual conference of the «European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste Management» (EURAD), took place last week in the coastal town of Larnaka. The events were organised by the Agence National pour la Gestion des Dechets Radioactifs (ANDRA) in cooperation with the University of Cyprus. According to a press release of the University of Cyprus, the 8th General Assembly, which was attended by representatives from 51 organisations from 23 European states, was addressed by Vice-Rector of Finance and Administration of the University of Cyprus Professor Ioannis Giapintzakis The Annual Conference was attended by 200 delegates and 100 more who participated online. They were welcomed by the representative of the University of Cyprus at EURAD Ioannis Paschalidis, Professor in the Department of Chemistry. The Chemistry Department of the University of Cyprus participates as a partner in the European Joint Program on Radioactive Waste Management (EURAD) project, which is funded by the European Union.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Free educational programmes to girls and women from Ukraine who live in Cyprus are being offered by the non-profit initiative Girls in STEAM Academy. The programmes will be available to girls 14-17 and women 18+ years old, free of charge and will take place in the English language.

According to a press release by the initiative, the BridgeSTEAM programmes aim to empower the participants by developing their coding skills, informing them about the career opportunities in the STEAM fields, and bringing them in contact with inspiring women role models working in these fields in Cyprus. The programmes will also offer a career counseling workshop with a certified trainer, as well as a workshop addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs.

According to the announcement, the program for Ukrainian-displaced women 18+ will take place 22-23 April 2023, 9:00 am – 18:00 pm, at Youth Makerspace in Larnaka. Applicants may express their interest online here by 3 April.

The programs for Ukrainian-displaced girls 14-17 years old, will take place during 20-21 May 2023, 9:00 am – 18:00 pm, in Limassol. Applicants may express their interest online here by 2 May.

The announcement encourages those interested to contact Anastasia Liopetriti at 00357 99169053.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

New Minister for Education Athena Michaelidou participated in her first Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council in Brussels on Tuesday, during which she referred to the appointment system for educators applied in Cyprus, in the context of a discussion on the need for recruitment of high quality teachers and policies aimed at promoting the professional development of teachers.

The agenda of the meeting, chaired by Swedish Minister for Schools, Lotta Edholm, included the adoption of conclusions on skills and competences in the context of the green transition, and the issue of teaching staff shortages in the EU.

During the discussion on attracting and retaining qualified teachers and trainers in national education systems as a necessary condition for the creation of a European Education Area by 2025, the Minister of Education said that Cyprus has established, through qualitative criteria, a meritocratic appointment system aimed at attracting the most suitable, qualified and competent teachers, according to a statement.

Michaelidou also referred to existing targeted policies that aim to promote the professional development of teachers, focusing on the school unit, and stressed the need for a modern and reliable evaluation system, which will contribute to the feedback and training of teachers, but also to the creation of new career paths and professional development.

She also made specific reference to European cooperation initiatives in which Cyprus participates, such as the pilot programme for careers in teaching and Erasmus+ Teacher Academies. Michaelidou also stressed that the exchange of good practices is always useful and that Cyprus is ready to provide expertise on professional learning for teachers.

In their conclusions on the green transition, ministers stressed the role of initial and continuing vocational training, higher education and adult education in upgrading the skills and competences required for the green and digital transition, with a view to meeting the needs of the labour market.

In particular, in the conclusions the Council invites Member States to engage education and training providers, research organisations, employers, social partners and other relevant stakeholders in jointly identifying reskilling and upskilling needs for the green transition including public-private cooperation.

During a working lunch, the Ministers of Education exchanged views on ways to integrate displaced teachers from Ukraine into the education systems of member states, with a view to supporting Ukrainian students.

A minute’s silence was observed at the beginning of the meeting in memory of the victims of the deadly train collision in Greece.

Source Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus’ Foreign Ministry on Friday signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Limassol-based University of Technology (CUT) for scholarships in postgraduate programmes to students from third countries.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Kasoulides, who signed the Memorandum together with the Rector of CUT, Panayiotis Zaphiris, noted the importance of such collaborations as “on the one hand, they contribute to the strengthening of the bilateral relations of the Republic of Cyprus and on the other hand, they promote internationally the academic institutions and the image of our country as a centre of high-level studies”.

For next year, he said, they have designated scholarships for students from Gambia, Guyana, Libya and the Palestinian Authority. Five scholarships totaling €45,000 euros, meaning €9,000 for each student, will be awarded annually. The Memorandum covers the two-year period, 2023-2024.

Zaphiris thanked the Minister and his Ministry staff for the cooperation, and noted that, these scholarships will help the university in its efforts to attract students from third countries.

In recent years, he said, they have been exerting great effort to make the university an international one, adding that they have also joined the “European universities” initiative that brings together universities in Europe to work together to offer joint study programmes.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Andreas Efstathiou, Astrophysicist, Rector and Director of the Aristarchus Research Center at European University Cyprus, has been working with University of Hawaii and a team of 17 researchers across nine countries to develop a description of black holes that agrees with observations from the past decade.

According to a press release by the European University Cyprus, searching through existing data spanning nine billion years, the researchers have uncovered the first evidence of ‘cosmological coupling,’ a newly predicted phenomenon in Einstein’s theory of gravity, possible only when black holes are placed inside an evolving universe.

“The question of the nature of Dark Energy is perhaps the most important unanswered question in contemporary physics. It’s the majority, 70% of the energy of the universe. And now we finally have observational evidence of where it comes from, why 70% and why it’s here now. It’s very exciting”, Andreas Efstathiou said.

The team has recently published two papers, one in The Astrophysical Journal and the other in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, that studied supermassive black holes at the hearts of ancient and dormant galaxies.

The first paper found that these black holes gain mass over billions of years in a way that can’t easily be explained by standard galaxy and black hole processes, such as mergers or accretion of gas.

The second paper finds that the growth in mass of these black holes matches predictions for black holes that not only cosmologically couple, but also enclose vacuum energy—material that results from squeezing matter as much as possible without breaking Einstein’s equations, thus avoiding a singularity.

It adds that with singularities removed, the paper then shows that the combined vacuum energy of black holes produced in the deaths of the universe’s first stars agrees with the measured quantity of dark energy in our universe.

These new measurements, it says, if supported by further evidence, redefine our understanding of what a black hole is.

The researchers say their studies provide a framework for theoretical physicists and astronomers to further test – and for the current generation of dark energy experiments such as the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument and the Dark Energy Surve – to shed light on the idea.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Prodromos Prodromou will participate at the Greek Language Day celebration ceremony in Athens.

According to a press release by the Ministry, Prodromou travels on Thursday to Athens, where he will address the Greek Language Day celebration ceremony, which is co-organized by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth of the Republic of Cyprus and the Academy of Athens and the Greek Language Center.

Prodromou returns to Cyprus on Friday.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The political climate between the two sides in divided Cyprus has deteriorated, says UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in his mission of good offices report for June to December.

“In the absence of constructive or harmonised messages from the two leaders that could resonate with both communities, the climate between the two sides and vis-à-vis the United Nations has deteriorated”, said Guterres.

According to the report, due to the lack of progress by the two sides towards finding common ground, public confidence in prospects for reaching a negotiated settlement in Cyprus remains low islandwide.

“The positions of the two sides remain far apart, and both sides maintain their opposing views about the way forward.”

He also notes that the political landscape has been further complicated by disputes and statements regarding areas in and adjacent to the UN-controlled buffer zone and Varosha.

Guterres said the situation on the island is compounded by ongoing tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, including maritime zone claims and a worsening of relations between the guarantor powers Greece and Turkey.

The report also points out that beginning in October, hardening demands related to the status of the north and political rhetoric in the south in the context of electoral campaigning increased perceived psychological barriers to cooperation.

“While the overall climate has become increasingly negative, with a further deepening of mistrust, the technical committees have nonetheless achieved some progress in reducing existing barriers to intercommunal contact and trade.

This included increased trade volume after the Republic of Cyprus eased certain restrictions on the trade of processed food items of non-animal origin under the EU Green Line Regulation.

On confidence-building measures proposed, discussions were held with the sides on possible steps forward.

“An understanding between the representatives of the two leaders to focus initially on a European Union-backed proposal for a photovoltaic park potentially to be located in the buffer zone and on irregular migration, a pressing issue for both sides, had not yet produced progress on a way forward.”

According to polls, “a majority of respondents from both communities reconfirmed their aspirations for a mutually agreed settlement and expressed the belief that it was imperative to reach one as soon as possible”.

“Despite the desire and urgency expressed, however, significantly fewer respondents of those polled had confidence that a settlement could be reached”.

Guterres said respondents who had contact with members of the other community, in general, wanted a settlement more urgently, had higher trust and less fear of the other community and foresaw fewer problems in case of a settlement, compared with the respondents without contacts.

He notes that difficult political and economic developments and regional tensions have impacted both communities over the past six months.

“The situation has both reflected and exacerbated the current lack of political space for finding common ground for formal negotiations, with the positions of the two sides growing further apart.”

Given the continuing absence of full-fledged negotiations, the leaders’ presence at the 7 December reception in Nicosia sent a positive signal to the broader public.

“The continued absence of substantive dialogue on the Cyprus issue between the two sides, and given the prevailing socioeconomic and political climate, prospects for reaching common ground on the Cyprus peace process remain uncertain.”

Source: The Financial Mirror