The members of the Cyprus Rectors’ Conference held an urgent online meeting on Thursday 19.03.2020, which resulted in the following unanimous ruling:

1) The Conference welcomes the full compliance of the Higher Education Institutions with all the emergency measures decided upon and directed by the Republic of Cyprus to address the dangers posed by the coronavirus pandemic to society and the economy.

2) It is the unwavering intention of the Universities to complete, without delay, the current spring semester 2020, according to the academic calendar 2019-2020 of each university, as it was announced to students at the beginning of the academic year. The Universities, through the Rectors' Conference, reassure their students once more, that their academic path and professional rehabilitation, along with ensuring their health and safety, are their highest priority.

3) At the same time, Universities have responded to the need to continue providing reliable and quality undergraduate and postgraduate Higher Education, implementing the distance learning process for each Programme of Study, utilizing online and digital tools and techniques. The high quality of education at Cypriot Universities continues to be assured, with the active support and constructive contribution of the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA).

4) The investments that the Universities have made in recent years in their digital infrastructures, in new innovative technologies, as well as in the development of the excellent educational and administrative staff’s know-how, provide them with the capability to continue their educational mission, while also supporting and empowering the social and economic activity at this difficult time for our country.

5) The Universities offer at the disposal of the Republic of Cyprus, in addition to maintaining their operational capacity, all available human (academics, technicians and administrative staff), intangible, and material resources, in support of any further measures taken to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the Cypriot people.

FOR FOR THE UNIVERSITIES (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):

Kostas Gouliamos, European University, Rector

George Demosthenous, Frederick University, Rector

Panayiotis Zaphiris, Cyprus University of Technology, Rector (Vice-President of the Rectors’ Conference)

Sokratis Katsikas, Open University of Cyprus, Rector

Philippos Pouyioutas, University of Nicosia, Rector

Panikkos Poutziouris, UCLAN, Rector (Secretary of the Rectors’ Conference)

Pantelis Sklias, Neapolis University Pafos, Rector (President of the Rectors’ Conference)

Tasos Christofides, University of Cyprus, Rector