Establishment of Troodos University just around the corner

Cyprus is a step away from acquiring another university, as the efforts of the Troodos Network and the Mesoyios Education Group have reached the final stage for the establishment of the Troodos University, a non-profit institution with an emphasis on fields of study related to Tourism and Hospitality.

As the President of the Troodos Network and Platres Community Leader, Panagiotis Papadopoulos, told CNA, there have already been contacts between him and the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Athena Michaelidou, who has requested a financial viability study for the project in order to forward the matter to the Council of Ministers.

As Papadopoulos explained, the only assistance requested from the state is the concession of existing building infrastructure belonging to the Ministry of the Interior.

He said that the financial viability study has already been submitted to the Ministry of Education and that it was expected that after the summer holidays a new meeting will be set between the parties involved with the final goal of the official announcement of the establishment of the Troodos University to be made within the autumn by the President of the Republic himself, who, according to Papadopoulos, seems to "view this development very positively."

The Mayor of Platres noted that the reaction of European banking institutions in conection to the financing of the University's establishment and operation was also very positive. The operational costs will also be covered by foreign universities which, among other things, will also pay registration fees for their schools, which will also be faculties of the University of Troodos.

He added that following a study carried out, the model followed for Troodos University, would be a "mosaic" consisting of successful faculties from various other universities, something new and innovative and unique, perhaps, in the academic world of the EU.

As Papadopoulos said, the strategic plan for the establishment of the University includes the creation of four university campuses in the communities of Pedoulas, Galata, Kyperounda and Pano and Kato Platres, and Moniati, contributing substantially and decisively towards the implementation of the National Strategy Development of Troodos Mountain Communities.

It will, he continued, be a University that will meet the academic and professional needs of the young people of Troodos and beyond, with its schools being in full harmony with the Technical High Schools that already operate in Troodos, with the High Schools of Omodos, Lemythos, Evrychou and Agros".

As stated by the Mayor of Platres, the Rectorate of the Universitywill be located in the Community of Pano Platres, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management in the Communities of Kato Platres and Moniatis, the School of Economics, Accounting and Finance in the Community of Pedoulas, the School of Agricultural Business Management, of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the School of Digital Sciences and Artificial Intelligence in the Community of Pedoulas, the School of Applied Sciences in Rural Development in the Community of Galata and the School of Humanities and Mediterranean Studies in the Community of Kyperounta.

The research center is planned to operate in the Pedoulas Community with its activities including all communities and the wider Troodos region.

Asked about the foreign universities that have expressed interest in participating in the new university based in Troodos, Papadopoulos said that it is the Mediterranean Education Group in collaboration with the Swiss schools Glion, Les Roches, and Swiss Hotel Management School for the operation of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management.

Also, the University of Western Macedonia from Greece has taken over the operation of the School of Economics, Accounting and Finance, the Catholic University Pope John II from Poland has taken over the operation of the School of Humanities and Mediterranean Studies, the University of Life Sciences from Poland has taken over the School of Applied Sciences in Rural Development, the Arab Academy of Science, Technology & Maritime Transport University from Egypt has taken over the School of Agricultural Business Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the European ECCC Foundation has taken over the operation of the School of Digital Sciences and Artificial Intelligence.

Regarding the financial viability of the project, Papadopoulos said that a financial study has been prepared, "the results of which prove that our effort can be financially viable on the condition of granting the use of the closed schools in the Communities, Kato Platron, Pedoulas, Galata and Kyperountas, which will be upgraded at the expense of the university in order to be able to operate in university context."

He added that community resources will be tapped, soft loans will be sought, and sponsorships will be sought from people who are interested in and want to see their mountain community prosper again.

Papadopoulos said that with the operation of the university, an important dynamic will be created to attract other investors and investments and for new forms of development in the area, while the developments will increase the demand for construction, renovation, and maintenance supplies in the area.

Finally, the University of Troodos, "with its operation and continued development, will create new jobs, a significant number of which will be offered to residents of the wider area", said in closing the Mayor of Platres and President of the Troodos Network.

(Sources: CNA/ InBusinessNews)