Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-09-08

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY CEREMONY

[01] CYPRUS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY CEREMONY

Speaking at a press conference in the southern coastal town of Limassol, where the University is based, the Minister said it is high time Cyprus had this to offer in tertiary education; human resources are a wealth for the country and now students can complete their education here, instead of having two thirds of our school graduates study abroad.

Kleanthous thanked the Interim Governing Board for the work it has carried out and said that in the past two years the government has granted 62 million pounds to set up the University.

There are plans for the University of Cyprus to increase its intake of students by two thousand, the Minister said, adding that the Open University, which began operating in 2006, also intends to accept more students in the future. Last year, the number of students at the Open University stood at 450.

The Cyprus University of Technology is part of the overall government plan to reform and improve its educational system, he noted.

Limassol Mayor Andreas Christou said hosting the University in his town was a great achievement of immense significance, especially taking into account the fact that it is situated in the centre of the city.

It is important for us because Limassol, with its great tradition in commerce, industry, shipping and services, is now entering the field of education, he said, adding that the University of Technology will give Limassol new dynamism that would extend its frontiers beyond Cyprus and Europe.

Christou also pledged that the Municipality will stand by the University students in every way possible.

Chairman of the Interim Governing Board, Professor Andreas Demetriou said he was delighted with the opening of the University, pointing out that it was a collective effort to establish a new University where experts from many faculties are invited to contribute.

Cyprus, having the University of Technology, the University of Cyprus as well as other educational institutions, can be turned into a society of knowledge, he added.

According to its website, the Cyprus University of Technology aspires to become a modern and pioneering University capable of offering high level training and research in popular fields, which today offer great economic, technical, and scientific output.

Five faculties are operating in the new university, namely Geotechnical Sciences and Environmental Management, Economics and Management, Applied Arts and Communications, Engineering and Technology and Health Sciences. These five faculties are divided into eight departments one of which includes 200 students who are studying in the Nursing School which is based in Nicosia. The remaining 250 students will be studying in Limassol in the other seven departments.

According to Demetriou, the first stage of the new University will last five to six years and the second stage provides for the construction of new premises throughout Limassol which will gradually be handed over to the University.

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos will inaugurate officially the University at a special ceremony on Saturday.

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