Cypriot universities have been choosing more and more Cypriot students for most of the years, overturning the phenomenon that prevailed for several years, during which foreign universities were high in their preferences.
This is shown by the annual report of the Ministry of Education for 2015, which states that the expansion of Higher and Higher Education in Cyprus contributed to the above event, both in the number of universities (public and private) and in the number of scientific subjects and disciplines. studies. As it is mentioned, "important steps have been taken in the development of Higher Education in Cyprus and in particular of university education with the aim of developing Higher Education and transforming Cyprus into a regional educational and research center".
According to the official data of the Statistical Service, from the academic year 2009-2010 the number of Cypriots who choose our country for studies exceeds the number of those who choose to study at universities abroad. Also, after the academic year 2009-2010, there was a decrease in the number of foreign students who choose Cyprus for their studies. This number stabilized during the years 2012-2013 while between 2013 and 2014 it shows an upward trend again.
According to the latest data of the Statistical Service, during the academic year 2013-2014, the number of Cypriot students in Cyprus was 23.864. The number of foreign students studying in Cyprus increased during 2013-2014 and amounted to 9.810.
The number of Cypriot students who studied in Cyprus but also in universities abroad from the academic year 1996-1997 until 2013-2014 is shown below:
(* The first number concerns Cypriot students abroad and the second the Cypriot students abroad).
>> 1996-97: 8.307 9.813
>> 1997-98: 8.786 10.815
>> 1998-99: 8.982 12.488
>> 1999-2000: 8.389 12.147
>> 2000-01: 9.462 13.650
>> 2001-02: 10.836 14.882
>> 2002-03: 12.990 16.374
>> 2003-04: 14.170 17.631
>> 2004-05: 15.177 19.400
>> 2005-06: 14.957 20.969
>> 2006-07: 16.266 21.188
>> 2007-08: 17.936 22.530
>> 2008-09: 20.221 21.473
>> 2009-10: 21.095 20.051
>> 2010-11: 22.092 19.199
>> 2011-12: 23.232 19.199
>> 2012-13: 23.597 19.199
>> 2013-14: 23.864 19.199
Foreign students
Regarding the numbers of foreign students who choose Cyprus for their studies, as can be seen from the content of the annual report of the competent ministry for 2015, in recent years there has been an increasing trend. Despite the fact that the academic years 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 were the years when the number was even higher.
Specifically, the numbers of foreign students in Cyprus are as follows:
>> 1996-97: 1.675
>> 1997-98: 1.741
>> 1998-99: 1.860
>> 1999-00: 2.025
>> 2000-01: 2.472
>> 2001-02: 3.058
>> 2002-03: 5.282
>> 2003-04: 6.679
>> 2004-05: 4.901
>> 2005-06: 5.630
>> 2006-07: 5.961
>> 2007-08: 7.753
>> 2008-09: 10.765
>> 2009-10: 11.138
>> 2010-11: 10.026
>> 2011-12: 8.540
>> 2012-13: 8.368
>> 2013-14: 9.810
According to the Ministry of Education, it has taken several steps to expand the range and modernize the curricula offered, both by public and private universities and by private Higher Education schools, so that young people have the opportunity choice of different fields of study. In this context, in recent years the number of programs offered at all levels of study (undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral) and the range of options available to prospective students has increased. According to official data, the number of Cypriot and foreign students (in total in all university and non-university institutions, public and private) for the academic year 2013-2014 are as follows:
>> At the undergraduate level: 22.736
>> At postgraduate level: 10.009
>> At the doctoral level: 929
The most popular sections
The development of Cypriot Universities in recent years has taken place not only in terms of their infrastructure but also in their fields of study. They offer a wide range of scientific subjects that gradually began to serve prospective students and satisfy their wants and requirements. By doing a mapping in the undergraduate and postgraduate programs provided by the Cypriot Universities we can see which of them are the most popular, attracting and gathering the most students.
Based on the data available for the academic year 2014 - 2015, the most popular study programs of the Cypriot Universities at the undergraduate level were:
>> Public Administration and Business Administration / Administration with 2.160 students
>> Law with 1.736 students
>> Accounting and Finance / Banking and Finance with 1.109 students
The following are the programs of Nursing with 823 students, of Informatics with 702, of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies / Studies in Greek Culture with 627, of Psychology with 593, of Mechanical Engineer / Mechanical Engineering and Science and Technology of Materials Engineering / Engineering566 with Engineering562 students, of Primary Education with 555 and of Architecture and Architecture and Environmental Design with XNUMX students.
The lowest in demand study programs, based on the same data are: Philology and Literature with 16 students, Fashion Design with 15 students and Public Relations and Advertising with 8 students.
Postgraduate level
Regarding the popular postgraduate study programs for the same academic year were:
>> Special and Unified Education with 1.875 students
>> Educational Sciences: Powerful Learning Environments with 1.392 students.
They are followed by the Department of Health Units / Public Health with 585 students, the Department of Modern Greek Philology / Modern Greek Language and Literature with 283, the Department of Educational Administration and Assessment / Public Leadership with 263 students and the Faculty with 262 students.
The lowest number of students for the academic year 2014 - 2015 attended the following study programs:
Environmenal Health nine students, Fine Arts nine students, Greek Culture nine students, Medical Genetics with six students, Epidemiology and Biostatistics with six students, Marketing Management with four students, Materials Science and Technology with four students, Economics with three students, Economics they also had Intelligent Systems.
Programs with… 0 students
Some study programs may be in very low demand by the student world, but there are others that do not have a single student. Based on the data of the Annual Report of the Ministry of Education and Culture for 2015, these programs at postgraduate level are:
Interdepartmental Program Financial Economics, Energy Auditors, Food Chemistry, Construction Management, European Governance, Advanced Nursing and Mental Health Care, Advanced Emergency and Intensive Care, Advanced Emergency and Cardiac Nursing, Business Administration, Rural and Agricultural, Agricultural and Agricultural.
But what do all the above numbers and so many others say in several more study programs at the Ministry of Education? How does it use this information and how does it "meet" the needs of the labor market?
For its part, the ministry points out that its goal is to provide comprehensive information to all stakeholders (parents, pupils, students, etc.), and to conduct a fruitful dialogue with the social partners, so that, if possible, it can be discussed. implement a strategic curriculum delivery framework. To this end, the next step in this process is the qualitative analysis of the data that have emerged in relation to the labor market.
MIEEK: Not only studies but also training
Apart from Higher Education and the choice for studies in the higher and higher institutions of Cyprus, those who wish to be trained in post-secondary public schools have the opportunity to do so through their studies at the Post-Secondary Institutes of Vocational Education and Training (MIEEK).
MIEEK started its operation in November 2012 with the aim of offering specialized vocational education and post-secondary education to high school graduates. According to the competent ministry, the objectives of MIEEK are the following:
>> The offer of vocational education and training programs aimed at graduates of Secondary Education, in fields that are not offered at post-secondary level by other public schools or related organizations,
>> The offer of programs to facilitate access and integration in the labor market of secondary education graduates and people who have difficulties in integrating / reintegrating into employment,
>> Offering programs for further promotion of Lifelong Learning emphasizing the support of the ability of the workforce to adapt to the use of new technologies, as well as modern production processes,
>> More effective promotion and implementation of actions supported by the EU Structural Funds.
MIEEK, from the day of their operation, were established in the existing Technical Schools in the provinces of Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Famagusta and Paphos, under the responsibility and supervision of the Directorate of Secondary Technical and Vocational Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Regarding the programs offered by MIEEK, as stated by the ministry, they have been specially designed to be relevant to the needs of the labor market. During the academic year 2014–2015, for which the Annual Report records the data, the following programs were offered:
>> Natural Gas Management Technician for Industrial and Domestic Installations
>> Technician for Welding Pipelines for Gas and Industrial Structures
>> Special Baker and Confectioner
>> Computer and Communications Networks Technician
>> Electromechanical Refrigeration Installation Technician in Industry
>> Photovoltaic Systems and Wind Turbine Installation and Maintenance Technician
>> Industrial and Home Automation Technician
>> Organic Horticultural Technician
>> Building Maintenance and Energy Upgrade Technician
>> Ship Purchasing and Procurement Management Technician.
Source: Liberal