UNIC Rector to 2019 graduates: “Think disruptively, be impactful to the society”

A total of 2,345 degrees were awarded to this year undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students of the University of Nicosia, during the graduation ceremonies for the academic year 2018-2019

Like every year, the ceremony was attended by a number of state and other officials, Rectors and Vice Rectors of Greek and Cypriot universities, scholars, as well as parents, relatives and friends of graduates from Cyprus, Greece and from over seventy other foreign countries.

Honorary guests of the University of Nicosia this year were the President of the House of Representatives, Mr. Demetris Syllouris, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nikos Christodoulides, Deputy Minister of Shipping, Mrs. Natasa Pilides, Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate General “Education, Youth, Sport and Culture” (EAC), Mrs. Themis Christofidou, and the European Anti-trafficking coordinator Dr Myria Vassiliadou.

It is worth mentioning that at the graduation ceremony held on Tuesday, 25 June (Undergraduate level), a minute’s silence was held in memory of the former President of the Republic of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias.

In his speech to the graduates, the Rector, Professor Philippos Pouyioutas, referred to the competitive advantages of the University, which add significant value to the awarded degrees. The Rector also referred to the existing and new collaborations with prestigious universities for the provision of joint degrees, which have placed Cyprus on the world map of higher education. Regarding the field of research, Mr. Pouyioutas noted, UNIC is distinguished for its performance, participating in a significant number of research projects. He mentioned as example the Institute for the Future, which focuses on the applications of the emerging, disruptive technologies of Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and Virtual and Enhanced Reality.

He also referred to the University’s osmosis with the society through various actions. Some of these actions include the provision of free diagnostic tests to sensitive population groups, the provision of scholarships and free vocational training to refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as the support of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) by providing scholarships to its researchers and the wider provision of scholarships and financial support to students.

All the competitive advantages of the University of Nicosia, he concluded, are reflected in a number of significant, global rankings that highlight the University as an internationally recognized, high-quality academic institution. In particular, Rector Pouyioutas referred to the QS World University Rankings, which place UNIC among the top 100 countries in the Emerging Europe and Central Asia (EECA) Region for 2019. This is notable in a region comprised of more than 26 countries, including Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Croatia, Romania, Estonia, Lithuania, Turkey and Ukraine.

He also mentioned the latest ranking from Times Higher Education (THE) World University Impact Rankings, which rank UNIC among the 201-300 universities in the world in Quality Education, evaluating the success of universities worldwide in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Concluding, Rector Pouyioutas asked all students, as digital citizens of the Millennium Generation, to remain concentrated on challenging everything and being innovative and creative, as well as to focus on entrepreneurship, utilizing the resources they acquired during their studies, and the tools and capabilities provided by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

During his speech, the President of the House of Representatives, Mr. Demetris Syllouris, expressed his enthusiasm and pride for attending the ceremony, adding:

“This day will be another bright day in the history of the institution that already owns a prominent place among the universities of our country and globally. The effort to make our country an international and regional centre of education, research and innovation is a common goal and vision we are working on to materialize”.

Concluding, he congratulated the academic staff of the University for “the dedication to the continuous improvement and upgrading of the higher education in Cyprus, as well as to the research activity they develop, which upgrade Cyprus as an international hub for education”.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nikos Christodoulides, congratulated the graduates and stated:

“Today, we can boast of a higher education institution with a significant contribution to the internationalization of higher education in Cyprus and the wider region. A university that brings our little island closer to the realization of a great vision: to transform Cyprus into a regional education centre”

Addressing the students, the Deputy Minister of Shipping, Mrs. Natasa Pilides urged graduates not to be overwhelmed by the expectations of others for their future.

“There are no good and bad careers; there are no exclusive careers for men and women or careers for seemingly capable and seemingly incapable people. Do what you want, as long as you are willing to work hard to get there” she noted.

Following, the Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Education and Culture, Mrs. Themis Christofidou, congratulated the graduates on their achievement and invited them to respond responsibly and with an open mind to the challenges of their generation. Mrs. Christofidou stressed to students that “learning is a key component of support and empowerment throughout their career” and focused on the opportunities offered by European Union programs to students and graduates both at academic level and in terms of vocational training.

The European Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, Dr Myria Vassiliadou, made extensive reference to the memories of her career at the University of Nicosia and urged students to have the courage of expressing their opinion and to live with conscience and meaning, to contribute to society and to improve their lives and the environment.

“We have to be annoyed with what’s happening around us, but also be annoying and disturbing, so we can change it,she concluded.”

As part of the graduation ceremonies, the University of Nicosia honoured the Therapeutic Community “Agia Skepi” and the Greek charitable, non-profit organization “Ark of the World” which provides special care and protection to mothers and children, for their contribution to society.

At the graduation ceremonies speeches were given by the top graduating students Andria Kyrkini, Christos Pafilas and Thomas Antoniou, who were awarded prizes. The ceremonies were completed with the Validation of the Degree Titles by the Rector of the University and the Academic Secretary, Mrs. Maria Panagiotou.