In September 2027, the Sustainable Development program of the new School of Marine Sciences, Technology and Sustainable Development at CUT in Larnaca is expected to admit its first students in September 2027, provided that the evaluation and accreditation processes are completed, as reported at a meeting between the Municipality of Larnaca and CUT with media representatives.
The Marine Biology program is scheduled to begin in September 2028 at the new facilities in Mackenzie. At the same time, the Municipality of Larnaca is moving forward with plans for student housing next to the School’s building, while it is close to finalizing a solution for the permanent housing of the CMMI.
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The meeting took place in anticipation of the upcoming cornerstone-laying ceremony for the School of Marine Sciences, Technology, and Sustainable Development building in Larnaca.
Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras stated that the goal of the initiative is to inform the media and the public about the implementation timelines, the operation of the new School, the programs it will offer, and enrollment options.
For his part, the rector of CUT, Panagiotis Zafeiris, noted that efforts to establish the School began three years ago and will continue in the coming years until a strong academic unit is established in Larnaca.
As he explained, staffing procedures are currently underway, along with the finalization of the curricula and the examination of issues related to infrastructure, student services, and housing. He also noted that two more faculty members were hired in the last two days, who are expected to begin working in January 2027.
Regarding the timelines, Mr. Zafeiris stated that an evaluation by the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (DIPAE) is scheduled for November 12. The evaluation covers the School, the Department of Sustainable Development, and the corresponding degree program, with the goal of admitting the first students in September 2027, provided that the necessary certification procedures are completed.
For the Marine Biology program, the evaluation will take place at a later date, with the goal of admitting students in September 2028 at the new facilities in Mackenzie.
The Rector noted that the curricula were developed in collaboration with an international scientific team, which included academics from Cambridge, Oxford, France, and Israel.
He also described Sustainable Development as a new field of study for Cyprus, expressing her belief that demand for it will increase in the coming years as it becomes increasingly integrated into industry and organizations.
As she noted, CUT programs typically have 35 to 40 students per year, and the new School is expected to follow a similar enrollment pattern. She added that emphasis will be placed on practical application, with out-of-classroom activities that take advantage of the sea and the Larnaca Salt Flats. The plan also includes educational trips abroad, including trips to Northern Europe for Marine Biology and to Japan and China for Sustainable Development, as well as the organization of summer schools with the participation of students from Asia.
Until the new building in Makenzy is completed, classes will be held at the Larnaca Municipality Multipurpose Center, whose facilities have been temporarily made available to the University.
Mr. Zafeiris also noted that the School’s operation is expected to strengthen cooperation with the Cyprus Maritime and Marine Institute (CMMI). As he explained, certain areas of focus of the two organizations complement one another, while others—such as Sustainable Development—broaden their scope of activities.
Student Housing
Mr. Vyras addressed the issue of student housing, revealing that the Municipality intends to build student dormitories next to the CUT building in Makenzis.
As he stated, the Municipality is close to awarding the contract to a team from ETEK to launch an architectural design competition.
Mr. Vyras noted that the initial plan called for TEPAC to occupy one half of the lot and CMMI the other half. However, since alternative solutions have been identified for CMMI, the Municipality is very close to securing a permanent location for it. The relevant announcement, he said, will be made once the matter is approved by the City Council.
The mayor expressed the view that initiatives for student housing and green development could secure funding from the European Union’s new cohesion policy cycle,, which he estimated would begin around 2028.
He added that, in addition to this specific site, other large plots in residential areas have been transferred to the municipality’s ownership, which are earmarked for the development of affordable rental housing for families. At the same time, the possibility of using them for student housing will also be explored.
According to Mr. Vyras, studies will be commissioned to advance the projects so that funding can be sought from the structural funds for the next programming period.
For the School’s first few years of operation, when the number of students is expected to range between 30 and 40, the Municipality intends to approach the private sector and seek agreements to meet the housing needs. The mayor noted that CUT has incentive programs that cover part of the rent.
He concluded that the Municipality aims to develop the necessary infrastructure in a timely manner, as it is estimated that in three to four years the number of students will have increased, and by then, plans for student housing will also be well underway.
Source: KYPE
