*Press Release
The new School of Marine Sciences, Technology, and Sustainable Development at the Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAK) in Larnaca, with the launch of the Sustainable Development program.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Speaking at today’s ceremony to lay the cornerstone of the School’s building, in the presence of the President of the Republic, the Rector of CUT, Professor Panagiotis Zafeiris, announced that the University’s branch in the city of Zeno will be evaluated on November 12 by an international committee of the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (DIPAE), as part of its accreditation process.
The goal, the Rector emphasized, is “to welcome our first male and female students to the Sustainable Development program in facilities temporarily provided to us by the Municipality of Larnaca in September 2027,” thereby fulfilling the initial announcement made by the President of the Republic.
The new School consists of two Departments: the Department of Sustainable Development and the Department of Marine Sciences and Technology, whose curricula were developed with the input of an International Academic Advisory Committee, which included academics from leading universities such as Cambridge and Oxford.
Panagiotis Zafeiris described the new School as “a significant investment by the State in higher education, research, and the country’s future,” noting that “our ambition as CUT is to develop into an international academic and research hub and a key point of meaningful connection between the University, industry, and society.”
The Rector also referred to the signing of the first eight Memoranda of Cooperation between the new School and industrial and economic entities in Cyprus, emphasizing the importance of linking university education and research to the needs of the economy.
Concluding his speech, he emphasized the importance of continued government support for realizing the vision of the new School and establishing Cyprus as a major center for education, research, and innovation in the Mediterranean.
For his part, the Chairman of the CUT Council, Andreas Karakatsanis, described the groundbreaking ceremony for the new School as a significant milestone for the University, Larnaca, and Cypriot higher education, noting that it marks the realization of a project that has been the subject of discussions, planning, and government commitments for many years.
Referring to the new School’s infrastructure, he noted that the building to be constructed in the Mackenzie area will feature modern teaching spaces, specialized laboratories, research facilities, and collaboration spaces for students and scientists.
He placed particular emphasis on the opportunities the new School creates for the development of the blue economy, in sectors such as shipping, maritime technologies, the protection of marine ecosystems, renewable energy sources, and the fight against climate change.
Mr. Karakatsanis emphasized that the establishment of the School represents an investment in the next generation, offering educational and career opportunities in emerging scientific fields, while it can help retain Cyprus’s scientific talent and create conditions for the return of young scientists from abroad.
At the same time, he highlighted the importance of collaboration with the Cyprus Institute for the Sea and Shipping (CMMI), expressing the view that it can contribute to the creation of a strong research and innovation ecosystem in Larnaca.
In closing, he thanked the Government and, personally, the President of the Republic, the authorities of Larnaca—and especially the city’s mayor—as well as the European Investment Bank for financing the project.
In his remarks, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, praised CUT’s pioneering role in linking university education to the needs of society and the economy.
He made special mention of the importance of the new School’s academic programs and research activities, noting that they are aligned with the real needs of the labor market and the growth prospects of the blue economy, while also creating new opportunities for research and innovation.
The President of the Republic also emphasized that with the establishment of the new School, Larnaca is gaining, for the first time, a permanent public university presence, a development he described as a significant milestone in the city’s educational, social, and economic life.
For his part, the Mayor of Larnaca, Andreas Vyras, stated that the new School will be built on a site of approximately 4,960 square meters, with the construction contract valued at 10,934,000 euros, plus VAT, and the goal of completing the project by August 2028. As noted, once fully operational, the School is expected to accommodate approximately 500 undergraduate and graduate students, while the Marine Sciences program is scheduled to begin in 2028 at the new facilities in the Mackenzie area.
At the same time, he announced that the Municipality of Larnaca is moving forward with plans to build student housing near the new School, while also exploring additional options to meet future student housing needs. He emphasized that the goal is for students to actively participate in the city’s social and economic life, contributing to the gradual transformation of Larnaca into a university town.
