Dr Marios Americanos: We have an excess of academic institutions based on the number of university students

When Education Minister Athena Michaelidou presented an amended version of the bill regulating the opening of foreign university branches in Cyprus this week, representatives of private and public universities expressed concern about the assessment criteria and conditions for these new branches.

Michaelidou said the ultimate aim was to ensure quality of education with the introduction of stricter criteria. However, the representatives felt like the criteria wasn’t as strict as what applies for the existing universities, and warned this would lead to unfair competition.

Among the attendees of the House Education Committee meeting was Dr Marios Americanos, President of the Cyprus Association of Private Tertiary Education Institutions, who also questioned aspects of the bill.

CBN reached out to Dr Americanos to explain what the reactions are about and suggest ways of improving the bill.

Education Minister Athena Michaelidou has presented an amended version of the bill regulating foreign universities that want to open branches in Cyprus. During the House discussion, representatives of private and public universities expressed concern about the assessment criteria and conditions for these new branches. Can you explain these concerns?

The assessment criteria regulating the opening and operation of branches of foreign universities in Cyprus are much less than the assessment criteria regulating the opening and operation of private universities in Cyprus according to the Private Universities (Establishment, Operation and Control) Law. Therefore, this raises concerns as to the quality of education these branches will offer.

Why are they concerned about their viability and unfair competition?

Already a number of new universities have started operating in Cyprus while the number of potential students, Cypriots and International, has remained stable. Moreover, recent developments in Greece’s higher education may mean that less Greek students will study in universities in Cyprus. If the number of academic institutions is not aligned with the number of students, then this will affect the viability of the current and new academic institutions and/or the quality of the education offered by such institutions.

Since the assessment criteria for branches of foreign universities to open and operate in Cyprus are much less compared to those required for private universities in Cyprus, one can easily understand that this may lead to unfair competition.

What is the current situation with the country’s Tertiary Education sector? Do you believe there is room for more universities?

I think we have an excess of academic institutions based on the number of students. As things stand now I do not believe that there is room for more universities unless we see more international students coming to Cyprus.

What suggestions would you make to improve the bill and achieve more consensus?

The bill should include many more assessment criteria similar to those found in the Private Universities (Establishment, Operation and Control) Law. For example, the bill has no article in relation to the infrastructure required by the branches of foreign universities.

• Also read: Education Minister submits bill regulating arrival of foreign university branches