Challenges of Higher Education in Cyprus

Efstathios MichaelSenior Education OfficerDepartment of Higher and Tertiary EducationMinistry of education and Culture1434 Nicosia Cyprus

Tel: +357 22800966Fax: +357 22427560E-mail: emichael@moec.gov.cyWeb: moec.gov.cy

Outline• The European Policy Papers– Mobilising the Brainpower of Europe: Enabling

Universities to make full contribution to Lisbon Strategy

– Modernising Universities of Europe• The Education System of Cyprus• The Higher Education Sector• Challenges• Areas of collaboration of the small States

The European Policy Papers

• Mobilising the Brainpower of Europe: Enabling Universities to make full contribution to Lisbon Strategy– Improving access to Higher Education– Improving Quality of Higher Education – Increasing total investment in Higher Education

Modernising Universities of Europe• Bringing together the university role in education, research and innovation• Increasing LLL• Mobility of Students, academics, researchers and other university staff• Sufficient autonomy, better governance and accountability• Quality Assurance for quality education• Role of Universities in transferring knowledge to the economy and society• Promote excellence by developing institutions and networks able to

compete internationally• Promote internationalisation of HE (Quality Assurance, Joint degrees,

recognition of qualifications etc)• Develop partnerships with private sector, research institutions and other

regional and local authorities• Enhancement of the attractiveness of the European HE.

Higher and Tertiary Education in Cyprus

•HE in Cyprus is offered by public and private institutions•Aim of Cyprus is to become a regional educational and research centre•Strong background for a significant growth of the higher education sector

Historical development

•Technical and financial assistance from ILO, UNDP and UNESCO to establish Public HE schools•The Private Schools of Higher Education Started to develop during the 1980’s and the 1990’s •The University of Cyprus started operation in 1992• The period 2006/2007 presents dramatic developments with the establishment of two new public universities and the operation of three Private Universities

The University of Cyprus• Is an autonomous educational institution established by a Law• Five faculties:

– Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences – Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences– Faculty of Economics and Management– Faculty of Engineering – Faculty of Letters– Faculty of Medicine (under preparation)

• Number of students (2007-2008): 5.324 (including 871 at Masters and 348 Doctoral degrees).

• The programme structure: – 4 years for degree or Ptychio – 1,5 years for the Masters degree – Further 3 years of study and research for PhD degree

• Future courses in Law, Middle East Studies and Medicine

The Open University of Cyprus• Operation of the University in January 2006 • Faculties:– Human and Social Sciences– Economics and Management– Pure and Applied Sciences

• Current programmes:– Degree program in Greek Civilisation– Postgraduate program in Health Services– Postgraduate program in Education– Postgraduate program in Information Systems

• Life long learning modules

The Technological University of Cyprus

• The aim is to upgrade the programmes of study of the Public Schools of HE to a university level.

• Faculties:– Technological Applications– Health Services– Economics and Management– Geotechnical Sciences– Applied Arts and Communication

• Among the aims is the provision of courses to graduates of the public schools to upgrade their qualifications

Private Universities• On 12 September 2007, the Council of Ministers announced

the names of the first private universities in Cyprus introducing a new era for private tertiary education in Cyprus. These are:– Frederick University– European University - Cyprus (E.U.C.)– Panepistimio Lefkosias (University of Nicosia)

• The private universities offer 4-year undergraduate courses that lead to the award of Bachelors qualifications (i.e. BA, BSc) and 1-year to 2-year postgraduate programmes of study that lead to the award of Masters qualifications (i.e. MA, MSc).

Public Schools of Higher Education• They operate under the jurisdiction of the respective

Ministries of the Republic and provide professional courses 1-3 years

• They are the following:– (a) Higher Technical Institute – (b) Higher Hotel Institute – (c) School of Nursing – (d) Cyprus Forestry College – (e) Mediterranean Institute of Management – (g) Police Academy – (h) Tourist Guides School – (i) Health Inspectors School

Private Schools of Higher Education• The relevant Law and the corresponding Regulations

describe the requirements for their registration, operation and accreditation

• They offer a wide variety of programmes of study in professional and academic levels such as Business Studies, Engineering, Social Sciences, Languages, Education, Hotel and Tourism, Administration, Management, Graphic Design, Computer Science and others.

• At present, there are twenty four private schools• They offer 1 to 4 years programmes of study in various fields

together with a number of courses at Masters level.

The Cyprus Educational Evaluation and Accreditation Board (SEKAP).• First programmes of study have been accredited by

the Cyprus Educational Evaluation and Accreditation Board (SEKAP) in January 2000

• In total 157 programs of study have been accredited • The accreditation is granted for a period of four years• Some programmes of study are now under the

process of re-accredidation

Evaluation Committee of the Private Universities

• International participation in the Committee • Committees of Experts appointed for the evaluation

of the applications• Institutional and programme evaluation procedures• Follow up and final evaluation within 5 years

The Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education

Qualifications (KYSATS).• Is the NARIC of the country• It gives recognition for the corresponding degrees of:– Higher Diploma– University degree or Ptychio– Masters Degree– PhD Degree

• The reference diplomas are those of the public institutions

Future Developments• The growth of the public Universities of Cyprus and

their expansion by adding new schools and departments.

• Establishment and expansion of the private universities in Cyprus

• Development of Cyprus into a regional education and research centre linking EU to Middle East, Asia and Africa

• Increase research budget from 0,3% to 1% of GDP by 2010

• Research centers established in Cyprus which through synergies with the HE sector will contribute to improvements in education and research

Challenges

• Expand the HE capacity to satisfy the demand for university studies

• Increase research activities and more importantly involve the private sector and other authorities

• Compete internationally by establishing centers of excellence

• Improve the attractiveness of HE by improving quality of education and quality of international students

• Unify and Reform the legal system aiming at enhancing QA, autonomy and accountability

Areas of collaboration with the small States

• Accreditation of private colleges and Universities• Attraction of International students• Mobility of staff, students and researchers• Linking small states to the Eastern Mediterranean

countries

Cyprus EU20-24 Years old % Completed secondary education 80.7% 77.3%30-64 Years old% Completed Higher Education in 2004 26.4% 19.6%15-64 Years old% Employment in 2005 68.5% 63.8%15-64 Years old% Employment in 2006 69.6% 64.7%25-64 Years old% Participation in Training activities in2005 5.6% 11%

STUDENT STATISTICS

1996-971997-98

1998-991999-00

2000-012001-02

2002-032003-04

2004-05

2005-2006Γενικός τύπος

Γενικός τύπος

Γενικός τύπος

PublicPrivateForeignAbroad

Greece

UK

USA

Total

Country

1985/86 1996/97 1999/00 2002/03

Academic Year

5000

10000

15000

20000

STUDENTS ABROAD

Thank you