Thirty years have passed since September of 1992, when the University of Cyprus welcomed its first students. The Rector of UCY, Professor Tasos Christofides describes this as a historic moment, with many symbolisms and messages for the country, in the fields of education and research.
UCY Rector spoke to Cyprus News Agency on the occasion of the 30th anniversary, pointing out that the University has rightly won the trust of the citizens and its value is being recognized in Cyprus and abroad as a prestigious academic institution connected with research and teaching with impact.
He, however, acknowledged the fact that there is awareness in the University community about how much more can be done to strengthen the fields of research, innovation and education.
The University of Cyprus, the first public University on the island, was established by law in 1989 and it opened its doors in 1992 in the historical building of Pedagogical Academy, by Kallipoleos Avenue in Nicosia.
“Thirty years later, counting 30,091 graduates and heaps of research achievements and distinctions, we can say with confidence that we won the bet,” the Rector says.
The UCY moved and expanded from the academy buildings in Kallipoleos to the Campus, in Aglantzia, and the Rector says that “we gave life to the wider area”.
Professor Christophides expressed his pride in the graduates and in what the University as a community has collectively achieved in these thirty years of teaching and research. He said that these achievements are the outcome of the hard work of the academic staff, administrative staff, and the students.
“In these 30 years of teaching and research, the University of Cyprus has grown, developed and continues to evolve thanks to the creativity of its human resources, with the constant support and sponsorship of the State, with perennial supporters, donors, benefactors and the support of the citizens”, the Rector tells Cyprus News Agency.
He said that new study programs were introduced for the first-time last September such as the master’s program in Data Science. This is an interdisciplinary program with the collaboration of three departments.
The School of Medicine offered its first master’s degree in Precision Medicine in clinical practice and the Rector says that they are calling on doctors in Cyprus and abroad, as well as graduates to specialize and develop in their science.
The Department of History and Archeology’s Master’s Degree in Digital Cultural Heritage and Landscape Archeology recognizes how new applications and technologies come to work positively in the preservation and rescue of cultural heritage.
The Rector told the Cyprus News Agency that in the current academic year two more postgraduate programs are being offered, the interdisciplinary postgraduate in behavioral economics and the postgraduate in Artificial Intelligence.
Professor Christophides said that the UCY is growing, developing and evolving and this continuous growth is reflected to a large extent in the prestigious international rankings such as TIMES (in the top 401-500), QS (473) and the Shanghai list (501-600).
He said that they do not deify the rankings, but this is useful tool, as the lists are visited by prospective students and prospective academics and researchers looking for work in international universities and academic institutions.
The Rector said that the UCY secured flagship research programs, among them TEAMING programs for the creation of the Center of Excellence for Biobanking and Biomedical Research and the Center of Excellence for Research and Innovation – “KOIOS”.
UCY is also a partner with the CYENS Center of Excellence and at the same time managed to secure 23 European Research Council (ERC) programs.
Christophides also said that UCY has the honor of working with academics of international caliber, such as the Nobel laureate Sir Christophoros Pissarides.
He went on to say that the experiences from the University are not only about the acquisition and transmission of knowledge, but they are much more connected to university environment skills and abilities which are developed and they finally empower each and every one at the University community.
Professor Christophides said the vision remains for UCY to have a contribution and impact on society, the awarding of prestigious degrees, the influence not only in Cyprus, but also in Europe through substantial synergies and utilizing the power of academic diplomacy.
He noted that much needs to be done and that there is no complacency.
He called for the support of the political and social entities, underlining that the School of Medicine and Cyprus as a whole must have university clinics. The Rector also pointed out that at a time when international cooperation is at the center of every action, public universities cannot but offer foreign language undergraduate study programs.
The Rector went on to say that the achievements of these past thirty years include the recognition of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees by countries and organizations, but he says that we are unable to attract a large market for undergraduate study programs, because the legislation is not modernized.
He proudly said that every story contains unique bits of creation and innovation and that one of these important stories for our country is the one of the University of Cyprus.
Source: Cyprus News Agency