Countdown begins for the opening of American University of Beirut in Paphos

The American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo in Paphos will be welcoming its first students in September, with work on the first phase of its facilities at an advanced stage, according to Mayor of Paphos Phedon Phedonos.

Phedonos also mentioned that the foundation stone of the new AUB-Mediterraneo Campus will be laid by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis, on Wednesday, 7 June, at 11am.

Phedonos, together with the President of the University, Fadlo Khuri, recently visited the construction site of the new University Campus, which is being built in the former ‘Haroupolymos’ building complex in Paphos.

In his statements to the press during the visit, Phedonos said that the works have been carried out for eight months and were now at an advanced stage.

The project, he said, progressed at a very fast pace, expressing his satisfaction and adding that it is expected that, by next October, the facilities of Phase A of the University will essentially be completed.

The Mayor of Paphos stated that the University will operate temporarily for a few months in the facilities that the Municipality granted to the Pafos Innovation Institute and will welcome the first students there in September. Soon after, he added, "students will move into the very promising buildings that are designed to function as university facilities." He also revealed that the facilities of the American University of Beirut (AUB) - Mediterraneo, will be expanded in the future.

Dignitaries in attendance

Having announced that the foundation stone of the new Campus of the American University of Beirut (AUB) - Mediterraneo, will be laid by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis, on Wednesday, 7 June at 11am, Phedonos said a number of dignitaries will be attending the event.

According to Phedonos these will include former President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, the President of the Board of Commissioners of AUB Philip. S. Khoury and other members of the Council, the President of the University Fadlo R. Khuri, Ministers of the Government of Cyprus, himself, Members of Parliament, other mayors of the Paphos district, the Rector of AUB – Mediterraneo Dr. Wassim El Hajj, senior members of the teaching and administrative staff of AUB, and many other officials.

The ceremony will also be attended, as he said, by the members of the delegations of the universities and local authorities of the region who will be hosted in our city by the Municipality of Paphos as part of the first founding meeting of the RUN Network (Regional Universities Network).

According to Phedonos, the programme of the groundbreaking ceremony will include greetings from the President of AUB, the President of the Board of Commissioners of AUB Philip Khoury and himself, as well as a speech from President Christodoulides. An open reception will follow the laying of the foundation stone.

Phedonos invited the citizens to participate in the laying of the foundation stone, "because it is a very important event for our country".

"For the first time an internationally recognised prestigious University with 160 years of history and history is being established in our country," he said.

Phedonos mentioned that there are eight other universities of significant contribution operating in Cyprus, adding that "this particular one, however, is the first of its kind to be established in our country having operated somewhere else for more than 160 years".

The total cost of its construction, he continued, amounts to 32 million euros for Phase I, while when all facilities and three phases are completed, it is expected to exceed 100 million euros and provide services to 3,000 students.

Schools, degrees, scholarships

The President of AUB also expressed his satisfaction with the progress

of the work, speaking through an interpreter.

He added that AUB-Mediterraneo will start operating in September this year.

As he mentioned, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences will offer degrees in Political Science, Philosophy and Economics (Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Philosophy and Economics), Information Technology (Bachelor of Science in Computer Science) and Psychology (Bachelor of Science in Psychology).

The School of Engineering and Architecture, he said, will offer a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and a Master Degree in Engineering Management.

He added that the School of Business will offer a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Business Analytics.

As Khuri mentioned, registration for the new academic year 2023-2024 has started and is continuing.

He added that as a non-profit Academic Foundation, AUB-Mediterraneo is offering a wide range of scholarships and financial assistance to students, especially for the first year of its operation, which cover up to 70% of the annual tuition fees. The language of instruction is English. Those interested can find all relevant information on the University's website aubmediterraneo.cy

Finally, he pointed out that AUB was founded in 1866 and is the oldest University in the region. According to the international evaluation of Universities, it is among the best in the world, ranking 1st in the region and 72nd worldwide in terms of direct access of its graduates to the labour market.

(Source: InBusinessNews)