Cyprus House of Representatives approves the 2026 budget for the Open University of Cyprus

On Thursday evening, the plenary session of the House of Representatives of Cyprus approved the 2026 budget for the Open University of Cyprus (OUC) with 31 votes in favor. The budget is balanced, totaling €19,470,000 in both revenue and expenditures. Revenue sources include a state grant of €12.6 million, €4.99 million from tuition and administrative fees, and €1.88 million from other income. Expenditures are allocated for operational needs, administrative costs, capital expenditures, and reserves. During the debate, deputies expressed concerns regarding the institution's funding and development trajectory. AKEL MP Christos Christofides criticized the government for alleged underfunding, the lack of strategic planning, and potential competition from other universities offering distance learning programs. DISY MP Georgios Karoullas described the budget as stagnant, noting that while other public universities have seen resource increases, the OUC faces stability or decline. Consequently, AKEL supported the budget under protest.