Institutions of Higher Education Institutions in Cyprus rejected by the Agency
| Institution Type | Institution | District | Ref. Number | Date of Application | Summit | Comments | External Ev/tion Report | Inst/tion Cmnts | CYQAA Final Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4. Private Institution of Higher Education | Fresh Art | Pafos | 07.14.441 | 17-01-2018 | S35-15 and 16 October 2018 (Accredited by the Agency on the 54th summit-1 June 2020) |  | | | |
| 4. Private Institution of Higher Education | Ikaros Aviation Training Center | Nicosia | 07.14.431 | 29-11-2017 | S34-10 and 11 September 2018 | | | ||
| 4. Private Institution of Higher Education | Mediterranean Maritime Training Centre / Mediterranean Maritime Academy | Lemesos | 07.14.701 | 29-06-2022 | S107-20 May 2024 | | | | |
| 4. Private Institution of Higher Education | School of Automotive Engineering | Nicosia | 07.14.461 | 26-03-2018 | S34-10 and 11 September 2018 | | |
Avramis Despotis is an Education Officer at CYQAA, managing HEIs' applications for programmatic, departmental, and institutional evaluations.
He is a graduate of the Electrical Engineering Department of Southern Illinois University in USA and holds a Master Degree in Electrical Engineering from the same university, specializing in Telecommunications.
He worked for a number of years as an Electrical Engineer in telecommunications companies, and for the last ten years he worked as a teacher of Design and Technology in Secondary Education Schools in Cyprus. He also served as a Consultant Officer of Design and Technology for 3 consecutive years (2016-2019) and he also worked as an Education Officer in the department of Private Education of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth.
Dr Lefkios Neophytou is an Education Officer at CYQAA, managing HEIs' applications for programmatic, departmental and institutional evaluations. He attended undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Cyprus (B.A. in Educational Sciences, 1999; M.A. in Educational Administration and Curriculum Development, 2004; PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, 2009).
He worked as faculty member in various higher education institutions such as the University of Cyprus, the Cyprus International Institute of Management, the Open University of Cyprus and the University of Nicosia. He has also worked as an officer at the the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute and the Office of the Commissioner for Children's Rights. Further to his duties at CYQAA, he is a board member in academic/research organisations and he has participated in various ad hoc scientific committees in Cyprus [i.e Committee for the development of tests for the selection of pre-primary, primary and secondary teachers for employment in public schools in the Republic of Cyprus, Committee for the development of Attainment Targets/Indicators for the curriculum of Environmental Education/Education for Sustainable Development, Committee for the development of the strategic plan for student evaluation in elementary schools]. He is actively involved in research projects funded by the EU or the government of Cyprus. His recent research interests focus on effective differentiated instruction examining various factors pertaining to its success such as instructional leadership, curriculum development and teacher training/professional development. He has over 100 scientific publications published in peer reviewed journals, edited books and conference proceedings.
He worked as faculty member in various higher education institutions such as the University of Cyprus, the Cyprus International Institute of Management, the Open University of Cyprus and the University of Nicosia. He has also worked as an officer at the the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute and the Office of the Commissioner for Children's Rights. Further to his duties at CYQAA, he is a board member in academic/research organisations and he has participated in various ad hoc scientific committees in Cyprus [i.e Committee for the development of tests for the selection of pre-primary, primary and secondary teachers for employment in public schools in the Republic of Cyprus, Committee for the development of Attainment Targets/Indicators for the curriculum of Environmental Education/Education for Sustainable Development, Committee for the development of the strategic plan for student evaluation in elementary schools]. He is actively involved in research projects funded by the EU or the government of Cyprus. His recent research interests focus on effective differentiated instruction examining various factors pertaining to its success such as instructional leadership, curriculum development and teacher training/professional development. He has over 100 scientific publications published in peer reviewed journals, edited books and conference proceedings.
On February 12th 2024, during its 103rd Summit following up on the ENQA Panel of Experts recommendations, the CYQAA Council decided to adopt the following procedure for the submission and examination of appeals, on the basis of Section (20)(2)(f)(i) of the "Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education and the Establishment and Operation of an Agency on Related Matters Laws” and in compliance with the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG-2015):
A higher education institution may submit, in writing, a reasoned appeal to the CYQAA Council, as to the outcome of its external evaluation, solely on procedural grounds, within one month from the day of receiving the Agency’s decision and provided that it’s in a position to substantiate that the Agency’s decision is not supported by appropriate evidence, that the standards were not applied correctly, or that the processes had not been implemented consistently.
- The institution may request to exercise the right of an oral hearing, informing the CYQAA Council of its intention to that effect at the time of the submission of the written appeal.
- The CYQAA Council shall decide either to accept or reject the appeal. The decision is based on the evidence provided by the institution, which substantiate that the appeal is related only to problems/omissions in the course of the external evaluation processes and the CYQAA Council’s decision-making.
- The examination of the appeal is based exclusively on the information included in the institution/programme's administrative file and the decision of the Agency, as recorded in the minutes and in the the Final Report communicated to the institution.
- In any case, the CYQAA Council appoints an independent ad-hoc committee to examine the appeal in order to make a prima facie opinion on whether the process had been infringed.
- Within two months of receiving the appeal, the Agency decides on the final acceptance or rejection of the appeal and fully justifies its decision. The institution does not have the right to submit a new appeal.
Minutes of the 2nd Council’s Summit, January, 2016
The President and the Members of the Agency’s Council:
- Declare that will operate objectively within the scope of improving the quality of Higher Education and will abstain, in any way, from promoting the interests of any institution, organisation, body or service.
- Declare that will apply the principles of non- discrimination during the carrying out of their duties.
- Should not participate in the discussion and decision making process of any programmatic/departmental/institutional accreditation of their University. Their voluntarily withdrawal of the room must be recorded in the minutes of the Council’s meeting.
- Should not participate in the discussion and decision making process of subjects which refer to their Universities or/and may create conflict of interest. Their voluntarily withdrawal of the room must be recorded in the minutes of the Council’s meeting.
- Should not try to diminish the value and characteristics of programmes/departments/administration and operation of the institutions of Higher Education.
- Should not be associated with affairs which may create conditions of conflict of interest during the assignments of the duties they have undertaken.
- Should treat all information, regarding the discussions during the Council’s meetings, as confidential.