The House Plenum has approved the bill and regulations for the School of Marine Sciences, Technology and Sustainable Development, a new faculty of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) that will be built in Larnaca.
CUT Rector Panayiotis Zaphiris, who has long advocated for the School, was present during the plenary vote.
CUT’s 2026 budget includes a provision of €2.4 million for work to begin on the School, which is expected to be located near Larnaca International Airport and the wider area. According to figures submitted to Parliament, the cost of implementing the project is estimated at €21.7m for the first three years (construction of the building, equipment, operating expenses), and an average of €3.5m for subsequent years (equipment, operating expenses).
Larnaca MP Andreas Apostolou, in his remarks, said this was an important day for Larnaca and that further steps are expected. He thanked the President of the Republic for fulfilling his pre-election commitment, as well as all other public agencies, academic institutions and local stakeholders in Larnaca for their work. “A vision of many years is becoming reality,” he said.
AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtides noted that the people of Larnaca had “rebelled against the backtracking of the (Nicos) Anastasiades government”, and praised CUT and its Rector, as well as local authorities for “embracing our vision”. He said he hoped the next steps will follow just as quickly, stressing that there is still a long way to go until the first students are seen in the building.
Sotiris Ioannou, ELAM MP, said a major strategic goal for Larnaca is being fulfilled, but the road remains long; although “we are on the right track”. He also pointed to the need for preparations and planning for student dormitories and public transport, so as not to cause a public inconvenience.
DISY’s Prodromos Alampritis said the project will upgrade the quality of tertiary education with benefits for society and the economy, while his fellow party member Giorgos Karoullas said the creation of a school in Larnaca is welcome; but it cannot be overlooked that free Famagusta is the only district without a public educational institution, raising equal treatment issues.
From DIKO, MP Chrysanthos Savvidis highlighted the role of the House Education Committee, which succeeded in passing bills “that had been sitting in drawers for decades”. Fellow DIKO deputy Christos Orphanides praised the work of CUT’s Rector, recalling how the overall effort began during the ministerial term of the late Akis Kleanthous.
Christos Christofias, AKEL MP, offered his congratulations for the development, but stressed that at some point the issue of treating tertiary education as a “golden goose” must be confronted. He said the matter of scattered establishment of schools should also be discussed, as it may involve structural problems, and that oversight should be introduced “so we don’t end up with new bubbles”.
The Chair of the Education Committee, DIKO MP Pavlos Mylonas, referred to student housing and agreed that strategic planning is required so that schools are not created in an uncontrolled manner.
