University of Nicosia becomes Scientific Partner of the Cyprus Scouts Association

MoU signed at UNIC in the presence of David McKee, Regional Director – European Scout Region

The University of Nicosia (UNIC) and the Cyprus Scouts Association have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote volunteerism and strengthen their scientific cooperation across common objectives, encompassing training, internships, research, and scholarship opportunities. With the signing, UNIC becomes a Scientific Partner to the Association, the first university in Cyprus to collaborate officially in this way with the island’s growing scout movement.

The MoU was signed at the University of Nicosia, in the presence of David McKee, Regional Director – European Scout Region, visiting the island to celebrate the year-on-year remarkable percentage growth in scout membership in Cyprus. “Scouting is a global Movement that continually increases its impact and presence in all corners of our planet. There are already over 50 million members worldwide, and we aspire to exceed 100 million over the next few years”, said Mckee at the signing ceremony. Referring to the case of Cyprus, he remarked that “scouting is constantly gaining ground on the island, and we are very happy that our growing family is signing this memorandum with such an important educational institution as the University of Nicosia”.

Marios Christou, Chief Commissioner of the Cyprus Scouts Association, spoke extensively about the Scouting activities in the Republic of Cyprus, focusing among other things on its vital contribution to volunteerism. More generally, participants at the signing ceremony placed particular emphasis on the power of volunteerism, pinpointing it as the driving force behind the decision of millions of people around the globe to join the Scouting movement.

“In addition to providing quality education, UNIC plays an important ongoing role in Cypriot society. In that context, volunteerism falls squarely within the scope of our activity,” said Professor Nicos Kartoukoullis, President of the Council of the University of Nicosia, who signed the MoU on behalf of the University. On their part, the Cyprus Scouts Association was represented by George Krassas, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, who touched upon two key components of the collaboration: namely, internship opportunities that the Association will develop and offer to UNIC students; and scholarship opportunities that the University of Nicosia will extend to scouts.