Larnaca:The foundation stone for the Cyprus University of Technology's (CUT) School of Marine Sciences, Technology and Sustainable Development was laid in Larnaca, marking a significant investment in higher education. President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, emphasized the government's commitment to furthering education, research, and innovation during the ceremony.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the new facilities, located in the Mackenzie area of Larnaca, are expected to be completed by August 2028, with a construction cost of £10,934,000 plus VAT. The school will include departments of Marine Sciences and Technology and Sustainable Development, accommodating approximately 500 students.

The building will cover around 4,960 square meters and will feature classrooms, lecture halls, laboratories, offices, and technological infrastructure. President Christodoulides noted that all necessary procedures had been completed to ensure the project's success and expressed satisfaction with overcoming initial challenges.

He highlighted the project's importance for Larnaca and Cyprus's higher education landscape, emphasizing the symbolic nature of establishing a marine-focused school in a city with a strong maritime identity. The school is part of broader efforts to enhance higher education and link academic programs with the blue economy's labor market needs.

CUT Rector Panayiotis Zafiris announced plans to commence the Sustainable Development program in temporary premises by September 2027, with the Marine Sciences and Technology program starting in 2028 at the new facilities. The programs are developed with international collaboration, including input from universities such as Cambridge and Oxford.