It is with great pleasure that I address this evening the graduation ceremony of the students of the School of Engineering and Technology of the Cyprus University of Technology. This is a special day, both for the University and its graduates and for Cyprus, as from today the human resources of our country are enriched with young, qualified and skilled scientists.
Since the beginning of its operation in 2007, the Cyprus University of Technology has set as its strategic goal the development of an international academic centre, through the offer of a comprehensive, multidimensional and high quality education, which responds to the latest technological and industrial developments and attracts students from all over the world. Despite its few years of operation, the University has already established itself as a renowned institution in the field of higher education in our country, responding to the expectations and aspirations of the State, but also to the strategic objective it had set itself. Proof of this is the fact that, in 15 years of operation, it has managed to be included in the three most important and world-renowned university ranking lists, occupying high positions. The CUT is now a dynamic organization that interacts with the local community, listens to its needs and contributes decisively to the creation of the "knowledge society".
The academic offer of CUT, with six different faculties, dozens of study programmes at all levels and thousands of students and graduates, is multidimensional and significant. At the same time, the University has achieved significant research successes through the implementation of high quality research projects, for which it has secured funding in a highly competitive environment. The University has also developed very valuable collaborations with prestigious international organisations. The location of the University in the heart of the city has made it a protagonist in the effort to revitalize its historic centre. At the same time, its presence in Limassol has broadened the intellectual and developmental horizons of the city. At the same time, it shares its objectives for the establishment of new faculties, departments and programmes of study and contributes in every possible way to their implementation.
Dear friends,
For the Government, the university development of Cyprus is an integral part of its policy aimed at the economic, social and cultural development of our country. The upgrading of higher education supplies the productive forces with qualified human resources and limits the leakage of valuable Cypriot scientists abroad. At the same time, university development attracts European and other funding for research and innovation purposes, strengthens the educational and cultural background of our people and makes Cyprus an active member and equal partner in the European and international environment. For all these reasons, the Government, since the beginning of its assumption of government in 2013, has emphasized the upgrading of higher education in Cyprus and adopted a series of measures aimed at making our country a regional and international educational and research centre. The internationalisation of higher education is today not just a slogan, but a policy that is already being implemented, with obvious benefits for our country. The first step was to ensure the quality of our country's higher education institutions and the programmes they offer, which is why we proceeded with the creation of the Quality Assurance and Certification Body for Higher Education. Through legislation, we expanded the ability of public universities to offer programmes of study in languages other than Greek. We have proceeded to sign a series of Educational Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding and Mutual Recognition Agreements with other countries, which on the one hand are a clear indication of the recognition of the quality of education provided in Cyprus and on the other hand create great prospects for developing partnerships and attracting students to Cyprus. Our Universities make use of the above positive developments for the benefit of themselves and their students, as well as of higher education and the society of our country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At this point, allow me to address the protagonists of this evening, the graduates of the School of Engineering and Technology of the Technological University of Cyprus. The School, which includes three Departments, annually delivers to the society of our country dozens of qualified scientists, well-trained Electrical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers and Civil Engineers, ready to offer their valuable services to the labour market.
Dear graduates of the School of Engineering and Technology of TEPAK,
Today's ceremony marks the successful completion of your studies. As graduates of the Cyprus University of Technology, you are now the best ambassadors of your University, and this fact gives you both prestige and increased responsibilities. Your future professional and personal success and your contribution to shaping a better society requires, in addition to the knowledge you have acquired, hard work, diligence, utilization of your experience, skills and abilities, continuous upgrading of your knowledge, training in new areas and, above all, ethics.
With the uniqueness and specificity of each of you, self-awareness and self-confidence, responsibility and conscientiousness, you will be able to achieve your goals. Your parents and teachers, who are watching you tonight with great pride, have supported and guided you, so that you can now chart your own course, pursuing your dreams. I wish you from the bottom of my heart to make the most of this precious time of life and enjoy it creatively with health, joy and many successes.
In closing, I warmly congratulate the administrative and academic staff of the Cyprus University of Technology for their scientific and intellectual work. The University can boast that it has achieved many of the goals it has set since its foundation and that it has managed to establish itself in the consciousness of society and the scientific community.
I wish our graduates and the Cyprus University of Technology good luck and good progress.
(BG/EXP)
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