The 18^th International education Fair-the largest to be held so far-begins in Nicosia today giving prospective students and their parents the opportunity to find out about study options at 135 universities and 32 colleges from  16 countries. Visitors to the Friday, Saturday and Sunday event at the State Fairgrounds will also be able to learn about other educational services and related products.

There will be 253 exhibitors, covering a space 2,200 sq.m, making it the largest ever in terms of both exhibitors and exhibition space, Cyprus state Fairs Authority Chairman Loizos Constantinou told reporters.

Apart from Cyprus, there will also be participants from Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.

Participating universities include 67 from Great Britain including a group participation of 12 Scottish universities. Also noteworthy is the participation of medical schools from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, the 14 universities being showcased at the Dutch stand and the stands representing France, Germany , Spain and the USA which will provide information on tertiary education in their countries, he said.

Other exhibitors include the French Cultural Centre, the Goethe Institute, the Fulbright Commission, the Bulgarian Cultural Centre and the Cervantes Institute, the Education Ministries of Cyprus and Greece, the Labour Ministry’s  , Cyprus Productivity Centre and Euroguidance Department, educational advisers, professional bodies, publishing houses, housing and other services, telecommunication providers, computer equipment retailers, and the Cooperative  Central Bank.

Also speaking to the press, Education Minister Andreas demetriou said this year’s Fair, titled `Educational reform-from theory to  practice`, was dedicated to his ministry’s efforts and those of society in general to upgrade and modernize Cyprus’ educational system.

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NEPOMAK has now opened applications for its new distance learning programme –the young community leaders programme.  Participants will study for the programme between October 2011-july 2012.  The programme is an initiative of NEPOMAK , the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs and tne Open University of  Cyprus.  successful participants will receive a full scholarship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs covering their course fees as well as the majority of expenses for the visit to Cyprus.

The programme offers participants the opportunity to study all aspects of Cypriot history from the antiquity  period through to the Annan Plan in 2004. Participants will follow their studies using the latest distance learning technology and upon completion participants will take part in a one week tour of Cyprus, attending lectures and visit the island’s major cultural sites .further information on the programme and application information, can be found on the NEPOMAK website (www.NEPOMAK.org) , our facebook group (NEPOMAK Young Community Leaders Programme) or by emailing INFO@NEPOMAK.org

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The Cyprus College of Art has launched a generous student bursary scheme in Cyprus . from September students applying for  the College’s Foundation Course in Art and Design will be entitled to a bursary worth euro2.500 off their course  fees. This reduces the cost of the College’s Foundation Course to euro1.000 .

The bursary scheme has been made possible through the assistance of the Herbert Read Trust, named after the distinguished art critic Sir Herbert Read. The College has a long association with Herbert Read, who spoke up in defence of the founder of the Cyprus College of Art, Dr Stass Paraskos, at a famous court case held in Leeds, England, in 1966, when Stass was accused of displaying obscene paintings. The College library is also named after Sir Herbert.

Anyone interested in applying for a bursary should contact the College on 25341387.

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Conctantinos Christofides has officially become the new Rector of the University of Cyprus, following a handover ceremony in Nicosia.

Formerly Rector of Academic Affairs and  a Physics Professor, Christofides was elected in November 2010. He took over formally from Stavros Zenios at last Thursday’s ceremony attended by dignitaries including the Suffragan Bishop of Mesaoria representing  Archbishop Chrysostomos II, political party representatives , government ministers, ambassadors, MP’s , academics and others.

In his acceptance speech, Christofides  expressed his appreciation for all those who had served the University over the years and particularly those who were stepping down, former Rector  Zenios and Vice-Rector Antonis Kakas.

He said that the University had to become the country’s spiritual and scientific workshop. Christofides said that the University was working towards becoming  “ a creative outward looking , dynamic place that was not afraid of challenges, instead turing them into opportunities.”

Education minister Andreas Demetriou, representing President Demetris Christofias, congratulated the new Rector and his deans, adding: “We expect the University of Cyprus to continue to develop as the top university in our land… and contribute to the maturation of our society and more effective solutions to its problems.”

Mathematics professor Athanasios Gagatsis is the new vice-Rector of Academic Affairs and Professor  Marios Mavronicolas  the new Vice-Rector of International Relations , Finance and Administration.

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Information Day Aimed At Prospective Students

Paphos is taking its first steps towards becoming a university town with a public information day for Neapolis University ahead of its opening this autumn.

The information day is taking place on Saturday with a view to advising prospective students about available programmes, resources and facilities at what will be the first private campus-university in Cyprus.

“Young people will be able to have a look around the premises and speak to faculty staff about their education,” Director of Administration, Georgios Economou said.

Ten years in the making, Neapolis University will offer graduate and postgraduate degree programme under the umbrellas of Business Studies, Humanities and Health Sciences and Architecture, Land and Environmental Sciences.

An impressive faculty of internationally-educated professors on the Neapolis staff and former Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd, is a Governor of the university.

The university is presently housed in the former converted Theofano Hotel in Kato Paphos having been fitted over the last six months with classrooms, lecture halls, a library, study rooms and administration offices.

Ultimately, it will be located in the Leptos Group Neapolis development in Yeroskipou, where a custom-built campus is being designed.

“The university will start operating this autumn so that when the premises are ready in Neapolis, we will already be up and running.

The eventual transfer of facilities there will be smooth.” Financial and administration consultand, Nicos Bakis,said.

Bakis assisted in overseeing  the establishment of the University of  Cyprus and had brought his expertise and experience to the setting up of Neapolis

.

The impact of a university on the Paphos economy is expected to be considerable. Paphos has one of the highest numbers of degree-educated young people in Cyprus but with few opportunities for their skills, they are forced to find employment elsewhere on the island or aboard.

“Neapolis will provide employment opportunities for highly-educated people in Paphos outside the traditional tourism and construction sector. The university will bring education into the economy,” Rector,Professor Elias Dinenis said.

“And the student body will complement the pattern of the local economy which goes into hibernation during the winter.”

Dinenis was instrumental in deciding on the types of programmes to be offered at Neapilis.

“We took three factors into consideration. The first was to consider the needs of Cyprus,” he explained.

“It is necessary to have expertise in areas of growing activity.

“For example, we are experiencing a temporary blip in construction and development, but this will be a strong sector for many years to come.

“Additionally, we have kept in mind what sectors and industries are key in the international market and tailored programmes which are credible for Paphos. The Environmental Science programmes are a natural fit for local growing environmental opportunities and issues.”

Dinenis has extensive academic experience with spells at the London School of Economics, the London Business School and time as  Associate Dean at the Cass Business School at London’s city university.

“People are naturally reserved about private universities but unlike other private higher education institutes in Cyprus which developed from college status, Neapolis started from scratch with a university philosophy and approach in terms of the high quality of its staff and programmes.”

The university has the capacity for 3,000 students. Dinenis expects that its first intake in September will consist of 500. Marketing is underway in Cyprus, Greece, Asia, the Middle east, Eastern Europe and North Africa.

Contact with the local community will also be key with a programme of classes in Greek language and lectures on Greek philosophy on offer.

The Neapolis information day takes place on Saturday, April 17^th from 11am-5pm at its premises at 2, Danais Ave in Kato Paphos. Information:26 843 300

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