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- Ελληνικά
The outcome of the debate on the legal regulation of the establishment and operation of branches of foreign universities, member states of the European Union or third countries, within the Republic of Cyprus, in the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Culture, and the decision of the Committee to continue the debate in September 2024, is surprising.
This is a clear issue, which is not open to unnecessary debate, since the aim of the Bill is to normalise the establishment of branches of foreign universities, so that this is done within the framework of legislation, criteria and strict evaluation. It is recalled that the establishment and operation of foreign universities in the Republic of Cyprus is already provided for by the Legislation of the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Body for Higher Education, which was passed in 2015.
Apart from being legally permissible, the establishment of branches is also required by EU legislation and case law, on the basis of the principles of free establishment and free movement of services within the single European Higher Education Area. In this context, moreover, Cypriot universities are already able to establish branches in other countries. The bill under consideration is linked to the Government's strategy of upgrading the quality of higher education by attracting branches of foreign quality universities to our country. The Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth is ready to present this strategy to all, as it has already announced, to discuss the bill again and provide all clarifications, since its passage will be an essential part of the upgrading of Higher Education.
The Government's effort to further upgrade Higher Education in our country cannot be halted on the altar of petty political expediency. The establishment of branches of foreign quality university institutions in Cyprus should be a common goal of all.
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