To boost academic collaboration with SPbU: Consul General of Cyprus Demetris Assos
Consul General of Cyprus Demetris Assos has visited St Petersburg University.
He met Deputy Rector for International Affairs Sergei Andrushin to discuss how we could expand exchange with Cyprus, develop the councils of the undergraduate educational programmes in Modern Greek Language, Byzantine and Modern Greek Philology and graduate programme in Classical, Byzantine, and Modern Greek Philology, and to cement our cultural ties.
The event was also visited by Olga Nikolaenkova, a lecturer, Department of General Linguistics, SPbU, and Elena Menshchikova, Deputy Director of the Office for Educational Programme.
They mostly focuses on international mobility for staff and students. Our dynamics with the Cyprus’s university is not very high: few people have exchange programmes in the universities of Cyprus, said Sergei Andrushin. “We would be glad to improve the situation”, — said Sergei Andrushin.
Each semester, the University holds an academic exchange competition to the universities of Europe and any students can take part. Also, the students can get a financial support from the ERASMUS+.
Deputy Rector for International Affairs Sergei Andrushin
An internship in another university or a country can increase global competitiveness on the labour market, says Demetris Assos. When he was a student who studied French, he spent a year in France. Olga Nikolaenkova, who is an expert in Modern Greek and Byzantine Philology, told us through how she had a summer internship in the University of Cyprus. Such experience would be very much beneficial for every students or a young lecturer, she said.
The Rector of the University of Cyprus is interested in signing the agreement on collaboration with SPbU, said Consul General of Cyprus Demetris Assos. The University of Cyprus can accept students from Russia to get internship for a semester or even longer periods. The Government of Cyprus is ready to discuss how we can minimise the living costs for students. The University will hold a videoconference with the University of Cyprus to discuss the details of the agreement on collaboration.
Founded in 1989 and located in Nicosia, the University of Cyprus is a leading university of the Republic of Cyprus. It offers courses in Greek and Turkish and has six faculties that mostly focus on the humanities and social sciences.
The young people in Cyprus know little about Russia and opt for the universities in Greece or UK, says Demetris Assos. “Your University is among the leading universities in Europe. We would like to get more information about the benefits you offer”, — said Demetris Assos.
Although Russia-Cyprus relations are on the rise, the universities in Cyprus nevertheless don’t teach Russian, says Demetris Assos. Sergei Andrushin therefore suggested opening a joint educational programme that would focus on linguistics or another subject field. He also mentioned that SPbU was actively engaged in opening its Representative Offices worldwide: in China and South Korea, for example.
In 2018, SPbU offers a graduate programme in Classical, Byzantine, and Modern Greek Philology, with nine places on government-funded basis and six places on contractual basis. The entrance competition is submitting you portfolio.
Among other issues discussed is a council of the educational programme in Modern Greek Language, Byzantine and Modern Greek Philology and graduate programme in Classical, Byzantine, and Modern Greek Philology, that is chaired by Costas Kadis. When he was appointed as a chairperson of the council, he served as Minister of Education and Culture of Cyprus. Now he has been appointed as Minister of Agriculture of Cyprus. Can Costas Kadis serve as chairperson of the council, asked Demetris Assos. The councils primarily focus on expert evaluation of education by professional and global communities, said Sergei Andrushin and Elena Menshchikova. Yet SPbU is ready to bring changes in the council, as we reach an agreement with the Government of Cyprus and Rector of the University.
In the end, Sergei Andrushin suggested having joint events on the Russia-Cyprus relationships. Such events will enables the students in Greek language and culture to gain insight into Cyprus.