Inauguration of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch: A Landmark Event for Higher Education in Greece and Cyprus

The official opening of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) took place with great ceremony, marking a historic milestone for Higher Education in both Greece and Cyprus.

In attendance were: Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus; Georgios, Archbishop of Cyprus; Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the University of Athens; and Charalambos Prountzos, Mayor of Nicosia. Representing the Greek Government was Professor Kostas Vlasis, Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports.

Gracing the event with their presence were: the former President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou; the Minister of Education, Athena Michaelidou; the Minister of Defence, Vasilis Palmas; the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Marios Hartsiotis; the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection, Nicholas Ioannides; the Ambassador of Greece to Cyprus, Konstantinos Kollias; the Parliamentary Representative of the Progressive Party of Working People, Christos Christofides; the Leader of the Democratic Party, Nikolas Papadopoulos; the representative of the National People’s Front, Andreas Papacharalambous; the representative of the Movement for Social Democracy, Morfakis Solomonides; and the member of the House Standing Committee on Educational Affairs and Culture, MP Andreas Apostolou.

Also joining from Local Government were: the President of the Nicosia District Local Government Organization, Konstantinos Yiorkatzis; the Mayor of Larnaca, Andreas Vyras; the Mayor of Athienou, Kyriakos Kareklas; the Mayor of Aradippou, Christodoulos Partou; the Mayor of Kyrenia, Joseph Violaris; and representatives from other Municipalities across the island. Further notable attendees included: the President of the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education, Professor Emeritus Mary Koutselini; the Chairman of the Nicosia Greek Schools Board of Governors, Nicolaos Megalemos, and members of the Board; the President of Cyprus Medical Association, Petros Agathangelou; the President of the Cyprus Bar Association, Michalis Vorkas; the President of the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber, Constantinos Constanti; the President of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus, Odysseas Christodoulou; the Vice-President and Member of the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education, Professors Diofantos Hadjimitsis and Christos Ioannou; the Chief of Police, Themistos Arnaoutis; the Cyprus Fire Service Chief Fire Officer, Andreas Christofi; the Deputy Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Neophytos Pachoulides; the Commander of the Hellenic Force in Cyprus, Colonel Asterios Despoudis; as well as representatives of parliamentary parties, security forces, institutional bodies, educational and scientific organizations, and the banking sector.

Also part of the University delegation were the Vice-Rectors, Professors Efstathios Efstathopoulos, Aristeidis Samitas, and Christos Karagiannis; the Alternate Chair of the Administration Council, Nikolaos Thomaidis, and the Members of the Council, Professors Spyros Vlachopoulos, Dimitris Kenourgios, and Athanasia Smirniotou; the Executive Director, Dr Eleni Vasilopoulou; the Deans of the University’s Schools: Professors Pagona Lagiou (Health Sciences), Nikolaos Eriotis (Economics and Political Sciences), and Dimitrios Drosos (Philosophy); the Chairs of the University’s Departments: Professors Nikolaos Arkadopoulos (Medicine), Pavlos Myrianthefs (Nursing), Georgios Dotsis (Economics), Thomas Babalis (Paedagogy and Primary Education), Theodoros Syriopoulos (Ports Management and Shipping), and Spyridon Tantaros (Psychology); the Director of the English-taught BA Programme in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece, Professor Dimitrios Plantzos; the Vice-Chair of the School of Medicine, Professor Konstantinos Tsioufis; the Heads of the Sections at the School of Medicine: Professors Nikolaos Tentolouris (Internal Medicine), Christos Klonaris (Surgery), Nikolaos Kavantzas (Clinical-Laboratory Studies), Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein (Mother’s-Child’s Health), and Effie Basdra (Basic Medical Sciences); and the Director of the Clinical Department of Biology, Professor Aristides Eliopoulos.

The official opening marked the beginning of a new era of internationalization and academic growth for the oldest and largest University of the Greek World. At the end of the ceremony, the dignitaries were given a guided tour of the state-of-the-art facilities where the medical students have already begun their studies, donning their first white coats. Later in the day, an inauguration was also held for the new halls of residence of the Municipality of Nicosia, which will provide accommodation for the University’s students.

The Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, speaking on behalf of the Rectory Authorities, the Members of the Administration Council, and the University Senate, welcomed the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Archbishop. In his address, he described the establishment of the University’s Branch in Cyprus as the most historic step in its internationalization. As he noted: ‘Since its foundation in 1837, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has served, in the words of its first Rector, Konstantinos Schinas, as “the amphictyonic bond that unites Greek scholars, and all Greeks who revere knowledge, throughout the world”. Today, a new and significant chapter is being written in the University’s long history. The University of Athens is launching the operation of its Branch in Cyprus, comprising four Schools and eight Departments in two cities, Nicosia and Larnaca. In doing so, it becomes the first and only Greek Higher Educational Institution to establish a Branch outside Greece, choosing Cyprus for this historic step’.

Professor Siasos referred to the unbreakable ties that have linked the University of Athens with Cyprus for nearly two centuries, highlighting the thousands of the University’s graduates who returned to the island and played a decisive role in its intellectual and economic development. He underscored the importance of establishing the Branch, stressing that: ‘Academic cooperation between Greece and Cyprus will continue to be a powerful driving force for progress and development in education and innovative research for both countries’. The Rector expressed his sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to the establishment and successful operation of the University’s Branch in Cyprus. Concluding his address, he spoke with deep emotion about the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides; the Archbishop of Cyprus, Georgios; and the Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Prountzos, thanking them for the pivotal role they played from the very beginning through to the founding and inauguration of the Cyprus Branch.

The inauguration ceremony and the launch of the Cyprus Branch send a clear message: the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the leading University in South-Eastern Europe, continues to set the standard by strengthening its international presence and promoting academic excellence in education and research. This marks a new chapter in the University’s history, as it becomes the first and only Greek Higher Educational Institution to establish a branch campus outside Greece.

The opening of a Branch of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Cyprus marks a milestone in Higher Education and academic cooperation between the two countries. The operation of this Branch will further strengthen national ties, offer fresh opportunities for students and academics alike, and serve as a beacon of education, scientific research, and innovation on the island and in the broader region of South-Eastern Europe. Moreover, it will create opportunities for academic and research collaborations with the existing top-tier Cypriot Institutions of Higher Education.

In its initial phase, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch will comprise four Schools and eight Departments, located in two cities: Nicosia and Larnaca.

More specifically, the Schools and Departments are as follows:

i) School of Health Sciences (Nicosia):

–Department of Medicine

–Department of Nursing

ii) School of Economics and Political Sciences:

–Department of Economics (Nicosia)

–Department of Business Administration (Nicosia)

–Department of Ports Management and Shipping (Larnaca)

iii) School of Philosophy:

–Department of Psychology (Larnaca)

–English-taught BA Programme in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece (Nicosia)

iv) School of Education (Nicosia):

–Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education

Classes at the Medical School of the Cyprus Branch started on Monday, 3 November 2025, following the inauguration ceremony.

Seven new Departments to admit students in 2026

As for the other Departments, including Nursing (Nicosia), Economics (Nicosia), Business Administration (Nicosia), Ports Management and Shipping (Larnaca), Psychology (Larnaca), the English-taught BA Programme in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece (Nicosia), and Paedagogy & Primary Education (Nicosia), they will be launching academic activities in Cyprus during the current academic year, with student admissions starting in 2026.

For further information, contact details are attached:

–Department of Medicine (Nicosia): cyprusmed@med.uoa.gr

–Department of Nursing (Nicosia): cyprusnurs@nurs.uoa.gr

–Department of Economics (Nicosia): cyprusecon@econ.uoa.gr

–Department of Business Administration (Nicosia): cyprusba@ba.uoa.gr

–Department of Ports Management and Shipping (Larnaca): cypruspms@pms.uoa.gr

–Department of Psychology (Larnaca): cypruspsych@psych.uoa.gr

–English-taught BA Programme in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece (Nicosia): baag_cyprus@uoa.gr

–Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education (Nicosia): cyprusprimedu@primedu.uoa.gr