Historic Graduation Ceremony for the First Graduates of the Joint BSc in Civil Engineering Program of Neapolis University Pafos and Baoding University of Technology, China

A historic milestone for Neapolis University Pafos, as well as for the international presence of Cypriot higher education, was marked by the Graduation Ceremony of the first graduates of the Joint Undergraduate Program in Civil Engineering, offered in collaboration with Baoding University of Technology of the People’s Republic of China.

The ceremony took place on Saturday, June 13, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to China, Ms. Koula Sofianou, the Rector of Neapolis University Pafos, Professor Pantelis Sklias, the Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, Professor Yiannis Bellos, and the Program Coordinator, Professor João Mendes.

The graduation of the first cohort of students represents a landmark achievement, serving as tangible proof of the success of an innovative international academic partnership that brings together two countries, two educational systems, and two dynamic academic communities through a shared vision of excellence, innovation, and global engagement.

The program serves as a model of modern university cooperation and highlights the role of universities as institutions that generate knowledge, promote scientific progress, and build international bridges of collaboration. At the same time, it significantly strengthens the presence of the Republic of Cyprus on the global academic map and confirms the growing recognition of the quality and credibility of Cypriot higher education.

Furthermore, the partnership creates a strong framework for the development of joint research initiatives in the fields of infrastructure, sustainable construction, urban resilience, advanced materials, and cutting-edge technologies. Academic mobility, the exchange of scholars, and joint participation in international research networks and programs contribute to the creation of a dynamic knowledge ecosystem with global reach.

The program’s first graduates are now pioneers of a new generation of internationally oriented professionals, called upon to contribute actively to technological advancement, sustainable development, and the building of a future founded on knowledge, innovation, and international cooperation.

Neapolis University Pafos remains committed to its strategy of strengthening its international presence, developing high-profile partnerships, and promoting academic and research excellence, consistently fulfilling its role as a modern European university with a global outlook.

Statement by the Rector of Neapolis University Pafos, Professor Pantelis Sklias

“ The graduation of the first students from the Joint Civil Engineering Program with Baoding University of Technology is an event of special symbolism and strategic importance. It does not merely mark the successful completion of an academic course of study; it confirms the power of knowledge to transcend borders, connect cultures, and create new horizons for cooperation.

We are particularly proud that Neapolis University Pafos is playing a leading role in a partnership that strengthens the international standing of Cypriot higher education, creates new opportunities for research and innovation, and invests in the development of professionals with a global perspective and a strong sense of responsibility toward the challenges of the future. In doing so, we also reinforce the Republic of Cyprus’s soft-power presence on the international stage.

Our graduates are the strongest evidence of the success of this initiative and the finest ambassadors of the values upheld by Neapolis University Pafos: excellence, international engagement, academic integrity, collaboration, and the creative synthesis of knowledge and cultures.”