Professor Stavros Stavrou assumed the leadership of the Open University of Cyprus (OUC) on September 1, 2024, following his election as Rector for the next four-year term. Professor Stavrou succeeds Professor Petros Pashiardis, who retired after 17 years of service to OUC, having completed his term as Rector. On behalf of the University, Professor Stavrou warmly thanked Professor Pashiardis for his significant contribution to the development of the University.
The election of Professor Stavrou to the highest academic office marks the beginning of a new era for the University, which, since its establishment in 2002, has been firmly established in the Greek-speaking higher education sphere as a university synonymous with open and distance learning and lifelong education.
"It is with great honor and a sense of responsibility that I assume the leadership of the Open University of Cyprus, with a vision to establish it internationally as an innovative, flexible, and inclusive university, closely aligned with the needs of society, the sciences, and the productive sector", stated Professor Stavrou. "The University defined by its people, and together with the entire staff, we will, based on academic principles and values, set a new strategic development plan. Our goal is to enhance the Open University of Cyprus’s role both within and beyond national borders, with research, outreach, and internationalization among our top priorities", he added.
The Open University of Cyprus extends a warm welcome to Professor Stavros Stavrou in his new role and wishes him every success in his endeavors.
Brief bio of the new Rector of OUC, Professor Stavros Stavrou
Professor Stavros Stavrou is a member of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences at the Open University of Cyprus, where he founded and directs the Cybersecurity and Telecommunications Research Laboratory. He is also the elected Chair
man of the Cybersecurity formation at the European Security and Defence College, based in Brussels, with the mission of coordinating European educational activities in cybersecurity. Professor Stavrou is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy and a member of the Council of the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA). His areas of academic, research, and practical expertise include cybersecurity, telecommunications engineering, networks, electronic warfare, and asymmetric technological threats. He holds a patent for the design of a wireless communications jamming system and has designed and developed both operational and research platforms in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure security. Between 1997 and 2009, he was a member of the academic staff at the University of Surrey (United Kingdom).
Since joining the Open University of Cyprus in 2009, he has developed and directed postgraduate programmes in his areas of specialization and served on the Governing Board (2014-2018) until the University gained autonomy in 2018. He was subsequently elected as the first Dean of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences and also served as a member of the University’s Council.
Professor Stavrou has coordinated more than 50 national and European research projects and has an extensive publication record in his fields of expertise. He has also authored numerous technical reports for national, European, and international organizations
Originally from the occupied village of Pano Zodia, Professor Stavrou is married to Dr. Olga Alexandrou, and they have two children, Alexandra and Christos.