Planning policy

There is no information on any planning policy (supply and demand) for academic staff at the higher education level.

Entry to the profession

Academic staff positions at the public universities of Cyprus are open to any applicant who has the necessary qualifications for the post. Academic staff positions are those of the Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor and Lecturer. In addition, there also exist the following posts: Professor Emeritus, Visiting Professors, Postgraduate Research Associates and Specialist Teaching Staff. Ten percent of the number of posts for academic staff are held for the purpose of inviting Visiting Professors or recalling Professors.

The posts of Professor and Associate Professor are filled either by advertisement, call or upgrading. The post of Assistant Professor is recruited by means of advertisement or upgrading and Lecturer posts are filled by advertisement.

Vacancies for positions are announced in the Official Gazette of the Republic, in local newspapers and the overseas press. A special five-member committee has the responsibility of screening the applicants. In the case of permanent positions the committee consists of three external members, which must be professors from at least two different foreign universities, and two members from the concerned university, one of whom is appointed president of the committee. In the case of contractual posts the committee consists of two external and three internal members.

Within six weeks of the deadline for applications, applicants are shortlisted for interview by the committee. Interviews are held within twelve weeks of the deadline and, two weeks after completion of the interview, the committee prepares a confidential report with its recommendations, which is then submitted to the recruiting department. The Dean calls a meeting of the electoral body and, within three weeks, a final selection is made, and the results sent to all applicants who were called for interview. 

In the case of private universities, Law 109(I)/2005 provides that the manner of selection of academic staff shall be prescribed in the Charter of each private university and shall correspond to international standards and anything applicable at the University of Cyprus. The teaching-research staff shall be graded hierarchically as professors, associate professors, assistant professors and lecturers. Professors emeriti, visiting professors and postgraduate associates may also serve at the university. In each university department, specialist teaching staff may serve to a percentage not exceeding that of 30% of the Faculty's teaching research staff.  

Teaching posts at public non-university institutions are filled either by appointment after vacancies have been announced publicly or by promotion, according to conditions provided by the regulations. Once a vacant position has been announced, any qualified individual who is a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus or the European Union may apply. The procedure followed for appointment may either be based on the provisions made by the laws governing the Civil Service, or on special legislation passed for a specific institution. Some applicants may be appointed to the permanent staff of the institution and others on a contractual basis, according to needs.

Professional status

Academic staff at the university level are accountable to the governing bodies of the universities. Teaching personnel at public non-university institutions are public servants with a permanent, temporary or on probation position. Teachers in the private non-university sector are accountable to the governing bodies of the institutions.

Salaries

Academic and special educational staff at the public universities are placed on salary scales that are approved by the University Council. They receive a Cost of Living Allowance and any other benefits which are approved by the Council. The salary scales are as follows: ● Specialist educational staff: Monthly gross salary ● Lecturers: A12 to A13 (€3619.71- €5639.68) ● Assistant professors: A13 to A14 (€4226.15 - €6176.37) ● Associate professors: A14 to A15 (€4953.44 - €6262.39) ● Professors: A15 to A16 (€5208.24 - €6769.96)

Salaries for academic staff at non-university public institutions are determined on the basis of the scales relating to the job. Usually Directors are placed at A15, heads of department at A13, senior lecturers at A12 and lecturers at A8-A10-A12 combined scales. Previous experience is taken into consideration when placing an individual on a particular salary scale. Benefits for teachers in this sector include an annual salary increase of basic salary, a thirteenth monthly salary and free medical care. 

Salaries for academic staff at the private universities are prescribed in the Charter of each institution. Salaries at the non-university level private institutions are set by the owners of the institutions. 

Working time and holidays

Public universities

The academic staff at the three public universities have not set working hours. Instead, the universities regulate the courses to be taught and the academic activities according to the needs at the time. The academic staff take the public service holidays. Sick leave, maternity leave and other types of leave are governed by the regulations proposed by the Senate and approved by the University Council of each university. Academic staff are entitled to paid sabbatical leave of one semester for three years of service, and a year’s sabbatical for every six years of service. It is also possible for members of the academic staff to be granted unpaid leave for one year in order to conduct research or work at another university, subject to the recommendation of the Senate and after approval by the University Council.

Public non-university level institutions

The academic year in public non-university institutions begins on 1 September and ends on 30 June. Each institution decides its own weekly work schedule, which varies from that followed by the Civil Service. The weekly teaching load depends on the teaching position. For staff at higher levels, this may mean teaching only seven periods per week.

Permanent members of the academic staff are public servants and are, therefore, entitled to all public holidays as well as a holiday period that ranges from four to six weeks, depending on the number of years of service. There may also be additional special arrangements in individual institutions at the discretion of the Director. Leave is granted in accordance with the rules and regulations in effect for public servants.

Private institutions

Teaching time and holidays of the academic staff at the private universities are prescribed in the Charter of the university, while at the non-university level they are set by the owners of the institutions.

Promotion, advancement

Academic staff in public universities may be promoted to the positions of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor. In order to gain promotion, one must apply when there is a vacancy provided that he/she satisfies the minimum criteria set for the position. Academic staff in public universities may also be elected to the position of Rector, Vice Rector, Faculty Dean and the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of a Department.

Academic staff employed on a contractual basis cannot be promoted to a permanent position. A specific procedure is followed for the renewal of contracts, as follows: ● Nine months prior to the expiry of the contract, the Senate appoints a committee made up of two external and three internal advisors. ● One of the internal advisors is appointed president of the committee. ● The two external advisors submit a detailed, confidential report to the department concerning the teaching and research work undertaken by the individual whose contract is due for renewal. ● The final decision on the renewal of the contract is announced to the employee six months before its expiry.

Promotion and advancement procedures of the academic staff at the private universities shall be prescribed in the Charter of each university and shall correspond to international standards and anything applicable at the University of Cyprus.  

At the public non-university level institutions of higher education there are appointment and promotion positions indicated in the schemes of service applying to each institution. When there is a vacant position, usually there is open recruitment and the post is advertised in the press.

Retirement and pensions

Academic staff of all three state universities are required to retire at the end of the academic year in which they become sixty-seven years of age. Permanent staff with three or more years of service are entitled to an annual pension and gratuity, which are calculated according to the number of years of service they have completed. Permanent staff with fewer than three years of service retire with an annuity which amounts to half of the monthly salary for each year of service. Academic staff who are on contracts are also entitled to receive an annuity on the same terms, with no minimum period of service required.

Permanent staff in non-university public institutions retire at the age of sixty-three, as all other public servants. The retirement pension for permanent academic staff is structured along the same lines as for teachers at school level.

Retirement ages of men and women are, in all cases, the same.