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- Ελληνικά
Higher Education in Cyprus has developed at an extremely rapid pace over the last fifteen years. What was once a programmatic vision to make our country an international regional centre of university education has become a reality in recent years, as both foreign and Cypriot investors have chosen to invest in Cyprus' Higher Education. It is noteworthy that, currently in Cyprus we have 12 Universities registered in the Private University Register and over 40 Schools of Higher Education. According to the most recent data of the Mapping of the Higher Education Field in Cyprus, conducted by the Higher Education Directorate (HED) of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (MESY), the total number of students in Cyprus, in the academic year 2021-22, is more than 60,000. Of our total number of students, about 35% come from other EU countries and 18% from third countries.
Higher education plays an important role in realising the vision of Europe 2030 for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. It is precisely in this context, the preparation of citizens with a versatile and innovative education, who can contribute to the social, cultural and economic development of our country, that the strategic planning of the Ministry of Education and Science for our country's Higher Education is based.
Our main priority is to link Higher Education with the labour market. It is worth noting, in this context, that for the first time the scientifically documented interconnection of the offered Study Programmes of the Higher Education Institutions of Cyprus with the labour market is being attempted. In particular, AIA has received funding of EUR 1.5 million for the project "Development of a National Graduate Tracking Mechanism and Design and Implementation of an Employers' Skills Survey" as part of the wider 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, is very promising because it aims at creating a National Graduate Monitoring Mechanism and at the same time designing and conducting a National Employers' Skill Survey in relation to the labour market needs in terms of knowledge, skills and qualifications. At the same time, the participation of Cyprus in the European Graduate Follow-up Survey, "Eurograduate", is funded. These surveys will provide us with data over time on the labour market needs for knowledge, skills and qualifications, as well as on the professional and social pathways of our graduates. The results of these surveys will form the basis for decision-making and policy design in relation to the improvement and/or revision of existing curricula and the creation of new programmes in higher education institutions that respond to the needs of the labour market. Furthermore, these results will be used by the Directorates of Secondary Education for the revision of their Curricula.
Another objective that we have set as a Ministry is the internationalization of Higher Education in Cyprus in order to attract foreign students and young researchers. To this end, the Ministry organises information workshops in target countries and participates in International Education Exhibitions to promote Cyprus as an ideal study destination. In addition, there is cooperation with the Embassies of the Republic of Cyprus abroad for meetings between government officials, technocrats, and/or representatives of Higher Education Institutions, in Cyprus or abroad, so that through educational diplomacy we can achieve the signing of Memoranda of Understanding in the field of Higher Education and/or Mutual Recognition Agreements with other countries.
In addition, the Ministry of Education and Science attaches particular importance to the promotion of the institution of European University Networks, which are the future of Europe's universities. To this end, the State supports financially the Universities of Cyprus, both public and private, which secure through highly competitive procedures their participation as full Members of the European University Networks. Synergies, exchanges of professors, researchers, students and the joint development of university programmes in a European context are processes that will strengthen our country's university education and the contribution of universities to the development of knowledge, research and innovation.
Our main priority is also to ensure and improve the quality of higher education in Cyprus. The establishment and operation of the Body (DIPAE) is very important because now both Public and Private Universities, as well as Schools of Higher Education, submit all their curricula for quality assessment and certification of their quality, which is carried out by International Expert Committees of renowned experts on the basis of quality criteria that are harmonized with the criteria of International Higher Education Quality Certification Organizations. Therefore, both through the IHU and through the policies adopted by the Ministry of Education and Science, our country's Higher Education Institutions operate on the basis of European and international standards and specifications, offering high quality education to our students.
Another important parameter, which has been included in our priorities, is the modernization of the legal framework governing Higher Education in our country, where necessary, so that our institutions operate on the basis of modern, simple, flexible and decentralized procedures and, at the same time, to ensure their quality and accountability.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that Higher Education in Cyprus is a dynamic field that is constantly transforming, evolving and seeking to keep pace with modern social, economic and technological realities. I am confident that on the basis of our strategic planning, but also in cooperation with all stakeholders, the development of Higher Education in Cyprus will continue and our country will be a centre of academic excellence, research and innovation.
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