Highereducation Home and Away: the Next Step
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SUNDAY MAIL • July 26, 2020 special report Highereducation Home and away: the next step Going to university is a big step. This year the coronavirus pandemic has complicated the issue although it has highlighted Cyprus as a sound option By Becky Kammitsi ing back three years,” CEO of the University of Nicosia Antonis Po- OING to uni- lemitis said. “Cyprus versity is a big now boasts over 50,000 step. When the enrolled students, with Gtime comes to a roughly even split choose where to go a between Cypriot and list of criteria is checked overseas students”. off. Do they have the And local students course I want? What have a number of rea- is its ranking? Is it in a sons to stay on the is- safe area? Is it afford- land to study. able? City or village? “There is a series Cyprus or abroad? of good reasons why While the majority of someone should choose Cypriot students study to remain in Cyprus for experience – most uni- have been cancelled, study in Cyprus, but abroad, heading for his/her studies,” said versities have invested freshers weeks for this they will realise the Greece, Britain and a Vice President of Fred- ‘There is a heavily in establishing coming September high level of our uni- whole list of other coun- erick University Dr links with universities look like a washout at versities,” University of tries to a lesser degree, Christoforos Charalam- series of good abroad so that students best. And the fear fac- Nicosia Student Union a growing number pre- bous. “I would sum- can spend part of their tor of going overseas representative Panayi- fer to study in Cyprus. marise them in three reasons why studies overseas which has added another otis Marinous said. And universities on the key points: (a) quality will reward them with point in favour of opt- “Safety and stability island have evolved in – there are currently a significant gains, aca- ing for Cyprus. are definite factors in the past few years in re- number of high quality someone demic and otherwise.” “My opinion is that play,” Polemitis added. sponse to a growing in- options for most aca- But for the last four the coronavirus will af- “While a degree of fear terest among Cypriots demic disciplines that should choose months one item has fect students who want and anxiety is under- in studying in Cyprus. would allow the gradu- dominated the news: to study abroad and standable, particularly “The 5.6 overall per- ate to successfully com- to remain in coronavirus. It has im- especially in the UK. when discussing sever- centage increase in pete in the job market pacted almost every as- The number of cases in al overseas options, one enrolled students in (b) cost – studying in pect of the way we live, the UK is huge which can regard the level of universities during the your own country will Cyprus for his/ and education has not means that studying preparedness and pro- 2018-2019 academic invariably cost signifi- been any different. Les- abroad is a risk. It is a fessionalism exhibited year is indicative of cantly less than choos- her studies’ sons have gone online, big change for all Cyp- an upwards trend go- ing to study abroad (c) graduation ceremonies riot students that will TURN TO PAGE 2 2 Highereducation July 26, 2020 • SUNDAY MAIL Home and away: taking the next step continued from page one bers. At the University by the universities in of Nicosia, the major- Cyprus, as well as the ity of students come high-quality teaching from Europe and North and learning they pro- America. Over the last vide, as the ultimate ten years its student choice drivers for stu- base has evolved from dents and their parents over 90 per cent Cypriot sities in Greece, which in deciding to stay in to less than 35 per cent attracts “academically Cyprus”. Cypriot. excellent Greek stu- Building on this, the “There is a definite dents”, Polemitis said, Cyprus Agency of Qual- interest to study in Cy- while its world-leading ity Assurance and Ac- prus by overseas stu- blockchain/cryptocur- creditation in Higher dents, which can be rency programme (MSc Education (DIPAE) an- further tapped into and in Digital Currency) primarily attracts students from North America and western ‘The student-oriented philosophy Europe. Each student has dif- ferent needs and dif- that most universities adopt and ferent requirements from a university and the support services provided. if Cyprus is the first, or back-up choice it is of- The benefits of living in Cyprus ten an excellent one. The reasons for inter- est in Cyprus are many, including the safety, the good Charalambous said: “the quality of the pro- weather and the pleasant grammes on offer and the recognition that environment, and more’ comes with it, the pro- vision of programmes in English, the student- oriented philosophy nounced in June that harnessed by universi- that most universities students on undergrad- ties, decision-makers adopt and the support uate university pro- and stakeholders in services provided. The grammes abroad could promoting Cyprus as a a plan for the promo- reputation as a uni- versities.” benefits of living in Cy- continue their studies global, university-level tion of Cypriot universi- versity hub. A signifi- “A lot needs to be prus including the safe- in Cyprus. study destination,” Po- ties both overseas and cant number of foreign done for achieving our ty, the good weather Students, it said, can lemitis stated. at home. students are already full potential as a sec- and the pleasant envi- complete their studies A sentiment that “We are moving at a studying in Cyprus and tor and I am convinced ronment, and more”. and earn a degree from has been greeted with fast pace so that before we believe that our that we are far from “Cyprus has tremen- a Cypriot university broad agreement. Ear- the end of this year we country could serve as capacity in terms of dous potential as a after having attended lier this month a meet- will already have estab- an important point of what can be achieved,” destination for high courses corresponding ing between the House lished a specific plan, reference for the entire Charalambous said. quality, university-level to at least 60 ECTS (i.e. President Demetris Syl- which will promote this Mediterranean region,” The universities them- education, with strong one year of study). louris, the Education great project created Prodromou added. selves are not waiting. and rapidly improving But the increased in- Minister Prodromos by private and state ini- “Through the plan, The University of Nico- universities and an ap- terest is not just from Prodromou and several tiatives,” Syllouris said we are also looking to sia already offers joint pealing, safe environ- local students as those deans of Cypriot uni- afterwards. promote the creation degree programmes ment for students in from overseas are also versities was held with “In recent years, Cy- of foreign language pro- in collaboration with which English is widely showing growing num- the aim of establishing prus has gained a solid grammes in state uni- leading public univer- spoken,” Polemitis said. UCy students experience virus graduation with online ceremony By Jean Christou history completely differently” achieve them with determina- than those who graduated in tion”. “It is up to you to create A scene from the previous years. and seize opportunities.” ceremony LIKE many other universities “It was how you experienced Anastasiades also paid tribute around the world this year, the the last few months of your stu- to the university for its timely University of Cyprus (UCy) on dent life, adapting, like all of us, and targeted decisions at the Wednesday held its graduation your plans to the new reality,” start of the pandemic to take ceremony online. he said. studies online thus promoting In a recorded message, Presi- the safety and health of all mem- dent Nicos Anastasiades, who EXTRAORDINARY bers of the university community. left for Paris earlier on Wednes- “On the basis of the per- day said the online ceremony “Each and every one of you has fect technological and digital was special due to the coro- managed in a time of extraordi- organisation of the university, navirus pandemic and would nary effort and great sacrifice, its smooth operation and the “remain indelibly engraved in to successfully complete your completion of the academic the memory of all of us”. studies,” he added. year was achieved, primarily He said the 2020 generation of He told the graduates the maintaining the same high- graduates were forced to experi- future of the country was now quality level of education,” the ence “this unique moment in up to them, to “set goals and president said. 3 SUNDAY MAIL • July 26, 2020 Highereducation Study the Culinary Arts Study at the Best Culinary School in southern Europe and become a professional chef l 2-Year Diploma in Culinary Scope of the programme Arts l Specialisations in Cooking, The scope is to enable stu- Pastry, Bakery and Waiting dents to achieve their career (Food and Beverage Service) goals, and to undertake re- l Secured and Remunerated sponsible roles in the dynam- internship in renowned Hotels ic Hospitality, Culinary Arts/ and Restaurants in Cyprus Catering industry. Students and abroad for the 2 years of are exposed to both theoreti- Website: www.intercollege.ac.cy study cal and experimental appli- l Scholarships based on aca- cations to develop the skills, Email: [email protected] demic performance and finan- competencies and confidence reer in the industry. Address: 8 Markou Drakou Street, Engomi, 2409 cial criteria necessary for a successful ca- The foundation is laid for Nicosia.