Building on 37 years of ties between UNIC, Cyprus and the USA
18 October 2017 marked the inauguration of The American Center at the University of Nicosia (UNIC), whose goal is to foster academic, cultural and professional collaboration between the United States and Cyprus. Speaking at the unveiling, the University of Nicosia’s CEO, Antonis Polemitis, highlighted the institution’s long-standing relationships with universities, students and faculty in the United States: “This is a long-term initiative that builds on the last 37 years of ties between our institution and the USA”. The Ambassador of the United States to Cyprus, Kathleen A. Doherty, echoed this sentiment, and expressed her commitment to “strengthening the ties between U.S. and Cypriot educational institutions.”
The University of Nicosia maintains the strongest ties to American academia in Cyprus, and some of the strongest in the Mediterranean region. In any given year, over 200 American students study at UNIC on a full-time basis, either at the University’s Medical School or on UNIC’s pioneering online MSc focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. The University of Nicosia maintains significant operations in the United States, including clinical partner hospitals in Chicago, New York and Boston, as well as an innovation lab in New York City focused on the finance and technology industries. On an individual basis, over 100 UNIC faculty have completed at least one degree in the United States. UNIC has also hosted thousands of American exchange students from over 700 US universities in the past 20 years.
The American Center at UNIC will further strengthen and enrich the above efforts. “Its activities will include, among others, further outreach to American universities for joint initiatives in the areas of teaching and research, cultural events open to the public at large, and various joint activities with the Embassy within Cyprus,” explained Mr. Polemitis, “all with the goal of strengthening ties between our two nations.” In particular, “we feel that Cyprus can benefit from the United States’ world-class expertise in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship,” he added.
Addressing the American students in the audience, Ambassador Doherty said, “I am pleased to see that more Americans are coming here to study. This is part of a much larger trend in global mobility, where students get the opportunity to benefit from an increasingly inter-connected world. As a result, your communities are enriched by your global experiences. Whatever field you end up in, I think you will be better professionals and citizens because of your experience overseas.”
“We at the Embassy want to do what we can to support your stay here. So, this year, we are pleased to announce that with the University of Nicosia, we will launch an inaugural student engagement program funded by the State Department’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. This program aims to support American students who are here on the island and the institutions that host them.” She noted that this was a “collaborative initiative” where students and faculty can “come together to present ideas and innovations”. She also highlighted that the Embassy and University of Nicosia will offer opportunities for visiting U.S. students to be part of an “American Roadshow” that will travel throughout the island to meet young Cypriots and talk about their U.S. education and culture.
Observing that Cyprus is a beautiful country with an impressive 10,000-year history, the Ambassador added that it is important for Cyprus to become better known among the American public, which could lead to increased business, academic and tourism-related opportunities between the two nations.
