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The arrival of a Hellenic University in the Famagusta Region is at an advanced stage

Massive efforts by organized bodies

The need to create and operate a university institution in the free province of Famagusta was discussed by the Education Committee of the Parliament on the morning of Wednesday 22/01/25. The President of the Famagusta Regional Educational Service, Yiannis Karousos, the Mayors of Paralimni-Dheryneia and Ayia Napa, the Deputy Mayors of the municipal districts, as well as representatives of the Youth, attended the Parliament.

The organized bodies presented the benefits that the province will have with the creation of a University.

As was also reported to the Committee, one of the items on the agenda of the President of the Republic's visit to the free province of Famagusta around mid-February will also concern this issue.

The Committee initiated a discussion on the need to create and operate a university institution in the free province of Famagusta, an issue submitted by the 11 Members of Parliament of the Famagusta province.

In his initial comments, DISY MP Giorgos Karoulas, who is one of the rapporteurs, noted that the Government has been informed “about the fair request” for the creation and operation of a university institution in the Famagusta district but has not received a response. He noted that it is a request of the local community for future generations and that in addition to contributing to the spiritual upgrading of the district, they are demanding equal educational opportunities for the district. He said that it is “a matter of equal treatment, equality and justice.”

He referred to the operation of the TEPAK schools in Paphos and Larnaca, and said that Famagusta is the only province in which there is no university institution. He added that the province has the population for the establishment of a university institution and that the operation of such an institution would contribute to sustainable local development and to addressing seasonality.

AKEL MP, Giannakis Gavriil, reminded that Famagusta is the last province to claim a university.

Michalis Giakoumis, MP of the DIPA, referring to the presence at the session of representatives from all over the Famagusta province, with a strong presence of youth, noted that in this way pressure is being exerted on the state by the Parliament but that they want answers from the Government. He said that "it is also a national duty" to develop the province.

DIKO MP, Zacharias Koulias, expressed his belief that the effort will be successful and said that they support it as a party.

The Director General of the Ministry of Education, George Pantelis, stated that they received a letter from the youth of the province and that in its response the Ministry stated that the establishment of a university in the province requires high budgetary resources and is not feasible to promote at this stage. Furthermore, the Ministry will support the request of the province regarding the creation of branches of foreign universities in Cyprus, he noted.

Andreas Kasoulides, responsible for education issues at the Secretariat for Coordination and Support of the Government Project at the Presidency, stated that the priority is the establishment of a Greek university in free Famagusta, something that the Minister of Education also mentioned, as he said, and also informed that a visit by the President of the Republic to Famagusta is planned in mid-February where this specific issue will also be discussed.

Yannis Karousos, president of the Famagusta District Organization (FMO), noted that for the first time he has seen the entire Famagusta district claiming something “and that says a lot.” He mentioned that they sent a letter to establish a university in Famagusta and that they did not receive any response. Mr. Karousos said that this concerns a political decision and that there are places everywhere in the district for the establishment of a university institution.

The Mayor of Paralimni, George Nikolettos, noted that the district has the highest youth index in Cyprus and “one of the most dynamic youth population profiles”, as well as “top tourist destinations” that can be exploited for student employment, and have infrastructure. He said that as the Municipality of Paralimni-Dheryneia, they are in open consultation with two higher education institutions from Greece which are awaiting the green light from the Government to proceed. He also noted the close distance of the area from Larnaca airport and that they are self-sufficient in state services.

Mr. Nikolettos also said that he considers it a "crime" that TEPAK-AXIK did not go to their area, given that it has 50% of the beds nationwide.

The Mayor of Ayia Napa, Christos Zannetou, noting that it is a province with 85% of the territory occupied, said that the youth of the province are leaving for studies and work and that "it is imperative that a school be brought to the province" and education and the youth of the place be supported. He also said that the cost of accommodation for students is double that of other cities.

The President of PASYXE Famagusta, Panagiotis Konstantinou, told the Committee that it is an issue that has been of concern to the local community and stakeholders for many years, and that such development in the province will have significant benefits, most importantly employment and access to higher education for young people, but also in terms of subsequent professional rehabilitation. “It is clearly an injustice for the province,” said Mr. Konstantinou, adding that this injustice should be remedied “immediately,” since young people are leaving the province for education and work.

Speaking on behalf of all the youth of the province, the press representative of the Paralimni youth, Martinos Kyriakou, referred to the effort they have launched to attract a university to the region, which, as he said, will provide an answer to “the scourge of seasonality” and oxygen to local businesses. “We are not lagging behind the other provinces,” he said, noting that the province “will be a great student destination.”

The Rector of the University of Applied Sciences, Panagiotis Zafeiris, noted that a university must be close to society and that this can be done in various ways and not necessarily by creating a school. He also said that the university does not plan to operate a school in the province in the immediate future.

The Rector of the University of Cyprus, Tasos Christofides, noted that universities are not established because a city and a region need to develop, but because there are educational needs, and that this is done through study. He expressed concern that Cyprus, a country with a population of less than one million, has so many universities and referred to studies that a university needs a population of one million. He also said that in Greece, where there are universities everywhere, schools are being closed because there are no people.

Mr. Christofides also said that there is a great need for the reopening of the Higher Institute of Technology (HIT), noting, "why not if conditions are favorable" for this to happen in the Famagusta area.

Representatives of the Famagusta EVEL, OEB, and the Famagusta Metropolis expressed their support for this initiative.

The Chairman of the Committee, Pavlos Mylonas, said that there is a commitment from the executive branch that one of the schools in Metsovion will go to the Famagusta district, noting that there should also be rationalization.

AKEL MP Andreas Kafkalias pointed out the position that universities and schools are created to serve the development needs of universities.

AKEL MP Christos Christofias said that his perception as AKEL is that the priority should be the quality of the education provided and ensuring the student experience.

DIPA MP Alekos Tryfonidis welcomed the effort and said that his party is supportive of it. He welcomed the fact that the presidency has a strategy for the development of higher education and that a foreign school will be located in Famagusta.

In his statements after the session, Mr. Karousos, referring to the announcement by the Presidency, as he said, that one of the two Greek universities that will come to Cyprus will be in the Famagusta district, said that they expect that during the upcoming visit of the President of the Republic to the Famagusta district "he will give us the details about this university" as well as the implementation of this political decision.

Mr. Mylonas noted that beyond the discussion about the creation of a university school and the economic reasons "which are very rightly" of interest to the residents of the area and the factors and institutions of the free province of Famagusta, "there is the most important thing, which is the elevation of spiritual life in the province of Famagusta, as in the other cities."

"What is important," he said, is that very soon the President will announce the creation of a school in free Famagusta, as well as in Larnaca, noting that "the news is good, it is not bad."

Mr. Karoulas, in his own statements, said that they will await the Government's complete and documented proposal "on the intention to establish a branch of a Greek university in the Famagusta district."

Mr. Kafkalias noted that the creation of university schools must take into account the needs of the development of higher education itself and that where it serves both the economic and other development of a region, “even better.” He noted that within this framework, they are also approaching the request of the institutions and the local community of Famagusta for the creation of a university school.

Mr. Giakoumis welcomed this development, noting that it constitutes an important step for the Famagusta region, "which deserves and is entitled to support both at an educational and developmental level."

Read also: The Municipality of Paralimni - Deryneia claims the creation of a University

The Municipality of Paralimni - Deryneia is already in consultation with two well-known University Institutions in Greece which have expressed their interest in creating a branch in the Municipality. Nevertheless, the contribution and assistance of the Government towards this end is important for the realization of this interest, since the Famagusta district is the only district without a University Institution.

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