European University Cyprus and the Greek National Centre for Social Research (EKKE)

In a move that substantively strengthens its policy of inter-university collaboration, European University Cyprus has signed a significant agreement (renewal) with the Greek National Centre for Social Research (EKKE). The agreement was signed between Rector of European University Cyprus Professor Kostas Gouliamos , and the President of EKKE, professor Nikos Demertzis. It includes provisions that enhance research and teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate, development and organization of actions pertaining to the elaboration of research, joint supervision of doctoral students, internship of students at the EKKE, writing of scientific works and/or articles, joint conferences-workshops etc. 

The agreement is bound to foster research, monitoring and the recording of social trends and processes for the development of infrastructures, theoretical tools, methods and techniques required by policy makers and policy implementers in their respective area of responsibility. At the same time, through this agreement, both Institutions will promote and co-ordinate collaboration with various bodies, in both Greece and Cyprus, that either pursue social research or use its results in policy-making (i.e. Higher Education Institutions, local authorities, the public and private sector etc.), particularly at a time when the study of the labour market, social cohesion and social exclusion constitute a priority axis.

The National Centre for Social Research (EKKE) was founded in 1959 under the auspices of UNESCO. It is the only public institution in Greece dedicated to the social sciences. The Centre boasts one of the largest libraries of social sciences, which, since 1959, has been providing support to its own research activities but also to the wider field of social sciences and research in Greece. It publishes print and free access digital works related to the research on and analysis of aspects of contemporary Greek society. A significant number of EKKE’s publications are included in the syllabi of Greek universities. It also publishes the Greek Review of Social Research, the country’s longest-running journal on social sciences.

In a relevant statement, Rector Kostas Gouliamos pointed out that “the fact that the European University Cyprus has been chosen by the Greek National Centre for Social Research to be its academic partner, demonstrates among other things that “our Organization is preferred and trusted by innovative research institutions”. The Rector assured that “European University Cyprus is on a dynamic route, redesigning both its internal operations as well as inter-university/international actions that aim on the one hand at excellence and innovation and, on the other, at launching and establishing a public image that awards the Organization a leading position in the field of knowledge”.