Interior ministry and Tepak make co-operation official

Interior Minister Nicos Nouis on Friday signed a memorandum of cooperation with the rector of the Cyprus University of Technology (Tepak) Panayiotis Zaphiris, after the latter established a collaboration protocol with the department of lands and surveys.

Nouris said the deal “opens up new horizons of cooperation between the state and Tepak.”

“It is possibly the first time in which the state is making its own data and services available to a university institution,” he said. “Tepak will certainly make the best use of them”.

Nouris added that the collaboration between the government and Tepak has been ongoing for several years, but was only formalised on Friday.

“The cooperation between the public sector and higher education institutions is very important, especially during these challenging times, as it helps addressing new challenges and demands.

“The deal will strengthen our technological, scientific and educational know-how, which is a very crucial point for the government.”

According to the Nouris, thanks to the memorandum of cooperation, Tepak students will also have the possibility of applying for internships at the department of lands and surveys.

“The scientific background of the department, combined with the students’ academic knowledge will help us modernise our land registry,” he said.

At the same time, people working at the department will help students in their academic studies and research projects. A series of co-organised educational events and seminars will also be organised following the signing of the deal.

Zaphiris said the memorandum seals the long-standing cooperation between Tepak and the government “in the best possible way.”

“The deal represents a multi-level cooperation, which will aid the implementation of important projects for the public and for the country,” he said.