Marina Neophytou, the new Rector of the University of Cyprus, is taking over from outgoing Rector Tasos Christofides following yesterday’s elections. Speaking on the program “Alpha News,” Mr. Christofides reflected on his eight-year tenure, noting the successes, challenges, and unresolved issues he leaves behind.
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Regarding his review of his tenure, he stated that efforts to internationalize the university have been strengthened, noting that, since 2019, the University has been a member of an alliance of European universities. “I believe that the University of Cyprus is something of which society can be proud,” he said.
At the same time, he expressed his gratitude to society and to all the governments that have supported the educational institution since its founding.
He added, among other things, that to date the University of Cyprus has 30,000 graduates who hold positions in both public and private organizations.
When asked what had hurt him the most during his tenure, Mr. Christofides stated that in the early years he was quite troubled by the way the university was treated, adding that it did not receive the respect it deserved. However, as he noted, over time, “society came to understand what a university is, and the government found its footing in terms of its relationship with the university.”
When asked if there was any unfinished business he would like to see completed during his own term, Mr. Christofides referred to the issue of student housing. Specifically, he noted that from the beginning of his term, the housing issue had been among the university’s priorities. However, as he notes, a series of missteps led to a stalemate. Nevertheless, the green light was only recently given to move forward with the student housing project.
The major challenge, in his view, that the new Rector will face is the completion of the second phase of the student housing project, as well as the integration of artificial intelligence into both teaching and the university’s operations.
