Nicosia: President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides inaugurated the new premises of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Cyprus in Nicosia. In his speech, President Christodoulides emphasized the importance of investing in knowledge and research, describing it as the most crucial and valuable investment a state can make. He noted that the project aims to serve the modern educational and research mission of the University, focusing on significant areas such as the green transition, natural resource management, civil protection, infrastructure improvement, and enhancing urban resilience. The President reiterated the Government’s view of the University as a strategic partner in efforts to position Cyprus as a regional research center. He also highlighted the strategy for ensuring the quality of higher education, its internationalization, and its connection with the labor market.
According to Cyprus News Agency, UCY Rector Tasos Christofides described the Faculty of Engineering as a dynamic organization of research and innovation, a hub of knowledge and creativity, and a technological and scientific park. He highlighted the Faculty’s high rankings in environmental science and engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, and automation and controls on the Shanghai list. The Faculty is also ranked forty-eighth in Europe according to the Engirank ranking for Engineering Schools. Rector Christofides noted that the Faculty has attracted 706 external research programs since its inception, with a total budget exceeding 168 million euros for the University.
The President of the University Council, Tasos Anastasiou, described the newly inaugurated building as emblematic with state-of-the-art facilities, infrastructure, and laboratories. He expressed confidence that it would become a reference point for architectural excellence and a center for innovation and scientific cooperation in the region. Anastasiou assured that the project would enhance the academic, research, and economic contributions of the Faculty and the University, with EU funding expected to yield long-term benefits for Cyprus’s economy and society.
Themis Christofidou, Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional Policy and Urban Development, celebrated the realization of a vision that integrates research, technology, and innovation into development. She noted that the Faculty’s research laboratories represent a milestone for Cyprus, with a total public expenditure of 44 million euros and 85 percent co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund. Christofidou emphasized that the focus on political cohesion extends beyond projects to people, particularly the new generation of students and researchers, with the Commission aiming to provide them with incentives to remain in their chosen locations.
Thomas Bocek, Vice Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank, expressed pride in witnessing the Faculty’s inauguration, underscoring the Bank’s ongoing support for the UCY Campus’s development and anticipation of future inaugurations.
The Faculty of Engineering, which welcomed its first students in 2003, boasts over 4,000 graduates, four departments, three research centers, two centers of excellence for research and innovation, and more than 70 laboratories. It offers a range of programs, including 6 undergraduate, 13 postgraduate, and 7 doctoral programs, and has secured over 170 million euros in research funding. Notably, the Faculty has obtained 16 grants from the European Research Council, with a significant portion of its academic staff ranked among the world’s leading scientists. The Faculty’s facilities can accommodate up to 1,500 individuals, including more than 65 academic members, 25 administrative staff, over 300 researchers, and more than 1,100 students.