Διακοινοτικές Επαφές και Ανταλλαγές στα Ιδρύματα Ανώτερης και Ανώτατης Εκπαίδευσης της Κύπρου: Το δυναμικό τους για οικοδόμηση εμπιστοσύνης και συνεργασίας

The report examines the state of higher education in divided Cyprus, finding that while universities have grown rapidly on both sides, intercommunal academic cooperation remains negligible. It identifies the lack of official recognition of Turkish Cypriot universities by the Republic of Cyprus as a primary structural barrier, alongside political pressures and the risk of being labeled a 'traitor'. The authors argue that while individual academics may be willing to collaborate, institutional cooperation is blocked by state policies. The report suggests several policy interventions, including the creation of a shared digital database of researchers, funding for joint research in non-political fields, and the establishment of a technical committee for higher education to signal political approval for cooperation.

• Intercommunal contacts and exchanges within higher education institutions and between those of the two communities in Cyprus remain negligible, despite the rapid growth of universities on both sides of the dividing line.
• The Republic of Cyprus (RoC) maintains a strict policy of non-recognition toward Turkish Cypriot universities, arguing they operate illegally, are built on displaced Greek Cypriot property, and do not comply with RoC laws.
• The lack of official recognition creates significant professional hurdles for Turkish Cypriot academics, who are often asked to omit their university affiliation when participating in conferences in the south to avoid 'indirect recognition'.
• Greek Cypriot academics face social and professional risks for collaborating with the north, including being viewed as recognizing the TRNC or being labeled as traitors by colleagues.
• Turkish Cypriot universities have adopted a strategy of internationalization to bypass isolation, using English as the primary medium of instruction to attract foreign students, particularly from Turkey.
• There is a perceived academic benefit to cooperation, particularly in fields like genetics, medicine, and epidemiology, where data from the entire island population is necessary for accurate research.
• The report proposes the creation of a technical committee for higher education, modeled after a similar successful initiative in primary and secondary education, to provide the necessary political cover for institutional cooperation.

APA

Ιωάννου, Γ., & Sonan, S. (2019). Διακοινοτικές Επαφές και Ανταλλαγές στα Ιδρύματα Ανώτερης και Ανώτατης Εκπαίδευσης της Κύπρου: Το δυναμικό τους για οικοδόμηση εμπιστοσύνης και συνεργασίας. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f8754479-c6aa-4ed0-9e72-8866f35c348d/8 2019 Education GRKW.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Ιωάννου, Γρηγόρης, and Sertac Sonan. Διακοινοτικές Επαφές και Ανταλλαγές στα Ιδρύματα Ανώτερης και Ανώτατης Εκπαίδευσης της Κύπρου: Το δυναμικό τους για οικοδόμηση εμπιστοσύνης και συνεργασίας. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2019. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f8754479-c6aa-4ed0-9e72-8866f35c348d/8 2019 Education GRKW.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ιωάννου |first1=Γρηγόρης |last2=Sonan |first2=Sertac |title=Διακοινοτικές Επαφές και Ανταλλαγές στα Ιδρύματα Ανώτερης και Ανώτατης Εκπαίδευσης της Κύπρου: Το δυναμικό τους για οικοδόμηση εμπιστοσύνης και συνεργασίας |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2019 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f8754479-c6aa-4ed0-9e72-8866f35c348d/8 2019 Education GRKW.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{2019, author = {Ιωάννου, Γρηγόρης and Sonan, Sertac}, title = {{Διακοινοτικές Επαφές και Ανταλλαγές στα Ιδρύματα Ανώτερης και Ανώτατης Εκπαίδευσης της Κύπρου: Το δυναμικό τους για οικοδόμηση εμπιστοσύνης και συνεργασίας}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2019}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f8754479-c6aa-4ed0-9e72-8866f35c348d/8 2019 Education GRKW.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }