The Role of LCCI in the establishment of CUT

The Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) was one of the key driving forces behind the efforts to establish and secure the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) in Limassol.

The period 2003–2004 was the most critical phase in the “birth” of CUT, with LCCI playing a leading role both behind the scenes and in the public arena. Its involvement continues actively to this day, particularly in relation to the completion of the university’s infrastructure.

During this two-year period, crucial decisions were made regarding where and how Cyprus’s second public university would be established:

Adoption of the Law (December 2003): The government and the House of Representatives approved the founding Law 198(I)/2003, which established the legal basis for the university. Through strong advocacy and political pressure, LCCI helped ensure that the university would be based exclusively in Limassol, countering opposing proposals to distribute its faculties across other districts.

The Study Committee (2004): Following the adoption of the law, LCCI actively participated in consultations with the university’s Interim Governing Board in 2004. The Chamber insisted that academic programmes should be aligned with labour market needs, particularly in sectors such as shipping, tourism and applied engineering, helping shape CUT’s technological and applied orientation.

Location in the City Centre: In cooperation with Limassol Municipality, LCCI strongly supported the decision to avoid building an isolated campus outside the city. Instead, the aim was to revitalise Limassol’s historic centre through the restoration and reuse of listed public and municipal buildings, including the former court school, the library and other premises.