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Dear Rector Mr. Panagiotis Zafiris
Dear members of the academic community,
Distinguished guests,
It is with great pleasure that I accepted the invitation of the Rector of the Cyprus University of Technology Dr. Panagiotis Zafiris to visit the facilities of the University for the first time since I took over the portfolio of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy. Today's meeting inaugurates a new era in the relations between the University and the Deputy Ministry, with even closer cooperation between us to achieve common goals and objectives.
The Cyprus University of Technology is an institution that has demonstrated brilliant work in its relatively short life since its establishment in 2004, and has contributed to the upgrading of higher education in our country thanks to its distinguished academic staff and its international standard curricula.
Undoubtedly, high-quality public higher education in a state plays a catalytic role in the modernization of the country and through the results of the research work carried out in higher education institutions, the production and transmission of scientific knowledge, the foundations are laid for building a better world, a greener, more sustainable, human-centred world.
Although humanity has relatively recently entered the 4th Industrial Revolution, which focuses on digital connectivity, the 5th Industrial Revolution, which is about sustainability, has already begun. Huge amounts are being invested globally to reduce our carbon footprint, which is now our main concern. Of course, digital transformation is the driving force for sustainability since the optimal management of alternative energy sources requires the assistance of smart systems.
The Covid-19 pandemic had a catalytic effect on the spread of the use of new digital technologies and accelerated the adaptation of society to the new data. Recognizing the urgent need to develop the digital skills of the entire population, the State Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy has designed special educational programmes and is developing a Digital Skills Platform with educational material to which everyone, without exception, will have free access. At the same time, efforts are being made to promote scientific and technological studies, foster an entrepreneurial culture and encourage creativity and innovation, taking into account the needs of the country's economy and business sector. In particular, the Deputy Ministry in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and other bodies is considering the following. [*]Strengthening the national vocational training and lifelong learning system, with a focus on the development of digital skills and entrepreneurship, in cooperation with academic institutions. [*]Take measures to increase the number of PhD holders and PhDs with post-doctoral research experience, focusing on STEM fields and priority areas of the economy, with the contribution of business. [*]Review the promotion framework for academic/research staff of public universities and research institutions to take into account criteria related to knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship, where possible. In addition, consideration will be given to measures to facilitate researchers' careers, such as incentives for work-life balance and intersectoral mobility of researchers. [*]Increasing the English-language curricula of Cypriot universities to attract students from abroad. [/LIST]
All these changes require common will and cooperation with stakeholders, and primarily with the Universities, in order to promote the structural interventions needed in our educational system and to achieve a change of culture.
Furthermore, one of the key priorities of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy is the promotion of research and the commercial exploitation of its results as a driver of economic growth.
In this direction, the Deputy Ministry has launched the following measures. The proposed amendments will be forwarded to the Legal Service in the near future and then submitted to the Parliament (expected to be completed within the year).
- The Central Knowledge Transfer Office has been set up to provide knowledge transfer and commercialisation services for research results. Universities are invited to participate in the collaborative network with their own Knowledge Transfer Offices and to make use of the free services provided.
The Research and Innovation Foundation provides funding through the Co-Develop Programme to support basic and applied research and to encourage collaboration between academia and business to identify challenges and jointly implement collaborative research and development projects to address them.
I am pleased to note that a significant part of Cyprus University of Technology's expenditure for the year 2022 was related to research projects and that it has absorbed significant funds from the European Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes.
Furthermore, a study we have conducted with Ernst & Young to diagnose the needs of our businesses, both in skills and expertise, shows the need to cultivate soft skills. Therefore, I invite you to target this area as well, so that your graduates can contribute accordingly to the country's development.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate the importance we attach to joining forces and cooperation for the success of our efforts, and I can assure you from my side that there is a willingness for dialogue and an appetite for work. The spirit of teamwork, as you know, is particularly beneficial and duly appreciated in both the business and academic worlds. In all areas of human activity, strength is always found in unity.
Thank you very much.
(MH)
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