Open University rector lambasts budget – ‘It keeps us on life support’

Open University of Cyprus rector Stavros Stavrou on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction at the budget allocated to his university.

“The budget simply keeps the Open University on life support. The reason we agreed to submit the budget is so that we can operate,” he told the House education committee.

He added that he had “received assurances” from Education Minister Athena Michaelidou “that the budget for 2027 and 2028 will be reviewed”, but said that for this year, “we have frozen the filling of new academic positions”.

His frustrations were shared by Akel MP Christos Christofides, who said that “the education ministry’s lack of strategy has led to these terrible impasses which we face today”.

“We are in a boat and we are sailing wherever the wind blows. The Open University is the runt of the litter of higher education in the eyes of those in power,” he said.

Disy MP Giorgos Karoullas, meanwhile, said that “it is a shame to leave the Open University stranded without a budget for its development”, and described the budget as “unacceptable”.

“We propose that there be a proportional, equal distribution of resources for the development of public universities, so that the Open University of Cyprus proportionally can have its own share in development,” he said,

Next to speak was Dipa MP Alekos Tryfonides, who said that “when you have a rector make the dramatic confession that the Open University is on life support, if this pleases the state and the education ministry, it is tragic”.

He called for there to be a “balanced development in all universities” on the island.

The Open University of Cyprus has historically been allocated a much smaller budget than other public universities on the island.

Its budget for 2025 foresaw total expenses of just shy of €19 million – a figure dwarfed by the almost €226m worth of expenses foreseen in the University of Cyprus’ budget.