Philenews

How Higher Education in Cyprus Connects with Technology, Innovation, and the Job Market

Published January 11, 2026, 05:05
How Higher Education in Cyprus Connects with Technology, Innovation, and the Job Market

Cypriot universities, both public and private, are undergoing a transformative phase in 2024-2025, redefining their role in relation to technology, innovation, and the job market. Through upgraded curricula, research infrastructure, and institutional reforms, they aim to become active hubs for skills and knowledge production, responding to the needs of a digitally transforming economy. Higher education is a significant sector of the Cypriot economy, with over 50,000 students, half of whom come from abroad. This internationalization is the result of a strategy to establish Cyprus as a regional educational and research center. The sector contributes approximately 6% to GDP. The period 2024-2025 is characterized by reforms aimed at creating a modern and attractive educational environment, with an emphasis on academic production, the application of knowledge to the economy and innovation, and the connection between studies, skills, and employability. The government has approved a new Strategic Plan for the improvement and upgrading of higher education. The Strategic Plan focuses on four key pillars: quality and excellence, connection with the job market, internationalization, and incentives for foreign students. The goal is to maintain the competitiveness of Cypriot universities, address skills mismatch, and strengthen research activity.