The University of Cyprus finds itself at the centre of controversy as its proposed budget raised eyebrows in the House Education Committee.
With an initial figure of €188.4 million deemed unrealistic and a supplementary budget of €22 million anticipated, concerns mount over the university’s financial sustainability amid projected deficits of €31.2 million and €36.6 million for 2025 and 2026, respectively.
MPs across the political spectrum voice their unease, spotlighting issues ranging from excessive cleaning costs to the exploitation of student housing by external contractors, and the alleged politicisation within the academia.
Independent MP, Andreas Themistocleous, commented on the €2 million cleaning expenses, sarcastically asking, “Do you have samurais fighting snakes?”
DIKO MP, Alekos Tryfonides, noted that contractors are building apartment blocks around the institution to rent rooms to students at exorbitant rates, while allegedly using bribes to block the processes for the construction of dormitories.
AKEL MP, Christos Christofides, spoke of a professor’s repeated persecution due to political beliefs by the Philosophy department, highlighting that the professor was vindicated by the Senate a week ago. He also criticised the fact that the dormitories housing former students of the Higher Hotel Institute (AXIK) which has relocated to Paphos, remain unused.
There were also mentions of the university’s requests for €800,000 for travel expenses, €970,000 for rentals, the doubling of legal expenses from approximately €55,000 last year to €119,000 this year, and the annual €10 million for the Cyprus Cancer Research Institute.
The Vice-Rector for International Relations, Economics, and Administration, Ioannis Giapintzakis, responded to the accusations: “At the University of Cyprus, we do not all steal together, as it was said. We do not serve Turks. There are no political persecutions.”
Regarding the budget, he stated that there are external factors imposed on the institution’s finances. “The cost-of-living allowance is increasing, inflation and surcharges are increasing. The university is now required to pay €10 million for the special pension fund. These are external factors that did not arise from the university. The increase in operational expenses, such as electricity, cleaning, and others, is because new building facilities of several thousand square meters will become operational within 2024.
“We are trying to cover the university’s fixed needs. We aim to secure funding to pay the existing staff and cover operational expenses. We have reduced administrative expenses. In terms of capital expenses, apart from funds from loans, the institution has to make other constructions compared to previous years,” he added.
He mentioned that maintenance of building facilities is expected to be 3% of the construction cost per year. Millions have been spent on university buildings, but these expenses are kept very low. He expressed concern that this might cost them in the long run. The Medical School has cost over €25 million to date, but there was no provision for this in the budget over the years.
“There are no items in which we have put additional funding beyond what we really need to cover the basic needs of the university,” he said, adding: “The university’s own revenues are exhausted. Why? Because they have been utilised over the years in developments.”
