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It is indeed with great pleasure that I attend today the graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Education of the University of Cyprus, honoring the students who are receiving their degrees tonight, as well as all those who completed their studies this year.
This special moment, for each and every one of you, but also for your family, friends and the University, marks the beginning of a new path that you are ready to follow, guided by the knowledge and skills you have acquired as qualified scientists.
The internationally recognised qualification offered to you by the University of Cyprus, which you have managed to hold in your hands from today after your persistent effort, is a strong additional advantage for you.
And this is because your University, in more than 30 years of operation, has managed to establish itself on the international map of Higher Education and research, while it is among the prestigious and valid International University Ranking Systems.
This is the goal that the first Public University of our country has always set as the purpose of its mission: To upgrade and evolve for the benefit of its students and humanity, with the maximization of its scientific work and continuous excellence as its guiding principles.
And indeed, through the programmes of study offered and the dedication shown by its qualified academic and administrative staff, the University of Cyprus has welcomed thousands of young people over the years, whom it has subsequently handed over to society as worthy and capable scientists, ready to work for its progress and prosperity.
The University's participation in the CoARA coalition for the reform of the way research output is evaluated and its participation as a full member of the European Alliance of Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE Alliance) is a confirmation of the University's pursuit and continuous effort to be part of European and international developments in academia.
The University's active and dynamic presence in the European research field is noteworthy. The University of Cyprus, developing intense research activity in a wide range of disciplines, has succeeded, through highly competitive procedures, in securing a total of 27 grants from the European Research Council (ERC).
Equally important is the operation of Centres of Excellence at the University of Cyprus, with funding from the European Commission, the State and other external sources. These Centres contribute to the greatest extent to the goal of upgrading vital sectors of the economy, society and the environment.
At the same time, this research activity of the University of Cyprus is an important source of own income for the University, which allows both the employment of young scientists and the implementation of projects in the institution.
During the last three years alone, the external funding received by the University of Cyprus for research amounted to almost 70 million euros, while during this academic year, the University of Cyprus has received a significant amount of external funding. Of particular importance is the continuous networking, international synergies and collaborations developed by the University.
I would like to emphasize that, as a State, appreciating the activity of the University of Cyprus and the beneficial impact of its achievements on the progress and well-being of Cypriot society, we as a government will assist the University of Cyprus in its efforts to achieve its goals for further development and excellence.
As, of course, we will equally support the aspirations of all Public and Private Institutions of Higher Education in our country. [*]To promote transnational agreements for mutual recognition of qualifications, aiming at the internationalisation of our higher education. [*]To support, by granting special scholarships, students who choose study programmes with high demand and a strong social impact or a strong impact on the development of high-tech services and companies. [*]To make systematic use of the scientific potential available in the Universities of Cyprus for the formulation of policies for the development of the country. [*]To promote the linking of the research activities of the Universities with the diverse challenges facing Cyprus. [*]To promote partnerships and synergies between the Universities. [*]To strengthen the effective link between the education system and the labour market through the involvement of all the productive forces of the country in order to develop the necessary skills of tomorrow. [/LIST]
Our priority is also to link university education with the labour market, with the aim of creating employment prospects for our young people.
To this end, it is worth mentioning that the Higher Education Directorate of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth has received funding of €1.5 million, for the project 'Development of a National Graduate Tracking Mechanism and Design and Implementation of an Employers' Skills Survey' within the broader project 'Addressing the skills mismatch between education and the labour market', which is part of the Republic of Cyprus' proposal in the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
This project, which is being implemented for the first time in Cyprus, aims at the creation of a National Graduate Monitoring Mechanism and the design and implementation of a National Employers' Skill Survey in relation to the needs of the labour market in terms of knowledge, skills and qualifications.
At the same time, Cyprus' participation in the European Graduate Monitoring Survey "Eurograduate" is funded.
At the same time, Cyprus' participation in the European Graduate Monitoring Survey "Eurograduate" is funded.
What I have indicated is only part of the policy we are promoting in order to further highlight the high level of its Academic Institutions as centres of scientific excellence and a source of intellectual wealth.
I want you to be sure that, together with all stakeholders, we will work with perseverance and dedication to implement this policy, making our country, just like our common vision, an educational and research hub.
I would like to congratulate you warmly, once again, for completing your studies and obtaining your degree.
Tonight, your sacrifices and efforts are rewarded.
Both the students of the University of Cyprus, who achieved the highest scores, to whom honorary prizes are awarded as a minimum recognition of their excellence and effort, and all of you, have worked with dedication to achieve the goals you have set.
As I mentioned at the beginning, your graduation is a special moment, not only for you, but also for your family, the University and our country as a whole.
We are proud of you. We are confident in you, our young men and women, in whom we invest our hopes for the prosperity of our country.
In the new page you are now called upon to record in your lives, continue to work with the same dedication, zeal and ethics, with each new success being guided by its positive impact on the progress of humanity.
In closing, I would like to congratulate both the President and the Members of the Council, the Rector, the Vice Rectors and the Senate of the University of Cyprus, as well as the academic, research and administrative staff of the University.
The University's acclaim is the result of your dedicated efforts.
Continuing with the same dedication in carrying out the mission that governs the operation of the University of Cyprus, I am absolutely certain that its future course is even more brilliant.
(AF/EXP)
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