Graduates of our universities are the most powerful weapon in our effort to build a modern, digital, and competitive state, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy Nicodemοs Damianou said on Monday, addressing the graduation ceremony of Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) doctoral students.

Damianou noted that the graduates are "part of the evolving Cypriot research and innovation ecosystem, an ecosystem that is small but maturing, and expanding continuously, ranking among the Strong Innovators of Europe."

He stressed that the government's priority is to create conditions and opportunities allowing graduates to stay in the country, transforming innovative ideas into practical applications that significantly impact the economy and society.

Referring to CUT, the Deputy Minister described it as a modern and efficient institution with a strong emphasis on both academic and research excellence. "In just a few years, it has achieved commendable growth and progress, ranking as one of the most rapidly developing universities in Europe and internationally," he said.

Damianou highlighted that the University is "closely linked with the productive sector of the country, with a mission to supply the public and private sectors with suitably qualified human resources, which are much needed by the local economy."

This, he continued, is particularly significant given the radical changes in the global labor market in recent years. According to the World Economic Forum, more than 40% of the skills once considered necessary for employment are changing, with digital skills and so-called soft skills, such as creativity, flexibility, and analytical thinking, now essential for finding a job in every sector.

At the same time, the Deputy Minister stressed that the widespread shortage of skilled personnel is emerging as a major challenge for employers, both nationally and internationally, indicating that "we are still far from the target set in the Digital Decade for Europe of at least 20 million ICT specialists by 2030."

"It is therefore clear that we need to prioritize skills and training to create a strong workforce capable of keeping up with the rapid pace of technological developments and being the driving force behind the digital transition," he added.

In a CUT press release, the University's Rector, Professor Panayiotis Zafiris, expressed pride in the current PhD graduates and alumni. "Their achievement required not only exceptional intelligence but also resilience, perseverance, and a thirst for knowledge," he said.

The Vice-Chairman of the CUT Board, Andreas Karakatsanis, remarked that the ceremony "marks the reward for the great effort undertaken by our students," making special reference to the "dedication and commitment of our academics to teaching and curriculum design."

Assuring that CUT is dynamically and outwardly moving towards achieving its goals, Karakatsanis noted that "the University is proceeding with its development plans in a structured and reasoned manner" and stressed that "the support of the state is a necessary precondition to strengthen our privately owned facilities and fully disengage from rented buildings."

The graduation ceremony for the undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Faculty of Geotechnical Sciences and Environmental Management and the Faculty of Engineering and Technology will take place on Tuesday at the Limassol Municipal Garden Theatre "Marios Tokas," in the presence of the Minister of Education, Sport, and Youth, Athena Michailidou.