President Nikos Christodoulides said Cyprus universities are increasingly meeting the needs of the labour market, telling a graduation ceremony that more than 82% of graduates find employment directly related to their field of study soon after finishing their studies.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the School of Business at the University of Nicosia, the president said the link between university studies and professional integration remains a central priority of government policy on higher education. He said efforts are focused on developing study programmes that respond to the real needs of the market, and that the employment figure confirms closer cooperation between universities and businesses is already paying off.
Next step
The government is seeking to strengthen this link further, not only through the continuous upgrading of study programmes but also through new initiatives to boost the international presence of Cypriot higher education.
President Christodoulides announced that, from the next academic year, the state will also honour graduates of private universities, in recognition of the contribution of all institutions to the development of tertiary education. He also said planning is at an advanced stage for the creation of a new organisation involving the government and all of Cyprus's universities. The new body, modelled on the British Council, will be tasked with promoting Cypriot higher education internationally and attracting more quality foreign students, further strengthening the country's position as a regional education hub.
New skills
The government's strategy is also directly linked to changes taking place in the labour market. Digital transition, artificial intelligence, green growth and the adoption of sustainable business models are creating new realities for graduates, and new requirements for universities.
The president said societies now need scientists with a strong academic background, but also skills in adaptability, innovation and social awareness. He also called on young people to make use of the opportunities Cyprus offers, stressing that the country needs people willing to invest in knowledge, research and entrepreneurship.
The link between universities and the labour market is thus emerging as one of the central pillars of education policy. The challenge for the coming years, he said, is not only increasing the number of graduates, but building a university system capable of producing scientists ready to meet the needs of the economy, while keeping Cyprus on the map of quality international destinations for higher studies.
