Breaking news

€50m Jewish Education Hub to Break Ground in Limassol

A private education project worth over €50 million is advancing in Polemidia, Limassol, with construction preparations underway for a new school funded by the Yael Foundation.

Work is expected to begin in September, as the final architectural designs are now being completed in parallel with the school’s licensing application to the Ministry of Education.

International Education Standards

According to information from the Yael foundation, the response from the Ministry has so far been positive, with the school set to follow international education standards.

As stated on the foundation’s official website, the project aspires to create a flagship Jewish school in Limassol, a point of reference for Jewish education both in Cyprus and abroad.

A Beacon of Excellence

The institution will combine Jewish values with modern pedagogical methods in a high-standard academic environment, with the Foundation describing it as a future “beacon of excellence.”

The school is expected to open in 2027 and will host up to 1,500 students from Cyprus and overseas.

Facilities and Leadership

Its facilities will include modern classrooms, science laboratories, creative studios, a library, sports infrastructure, and places of worship, forming a fully integrated learning and development space across primary, middle, and secondary levels.

Leading the new institution will be Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler, originally from Israel, who brings experience from similar educational projects in Australia.

In his statement, the Rabbi said that “The school will be the cornerstone of the Jewish community of Cyprus, making it an even more attractive place to live.”

He frequently travels between Israel and Cyprus to oversee the project and is widely known for his commitment to academic excellence and Jewish education.

The Yael Foundation

Founded in 2020 by Uri and Yael Poliavich, a Jewish couple who have settled permanently in Cyprus, the Yael foundation is dedicated to strengthening Jewish identity through accessible, high-quality education.

The foundation is currently active in 35 countries, supporting around 13,000 Jewish students worldwide.

According to the organisation, it provides funding to 55 day schools, 18 catechism schools, 10 kindergartens, and 17 after-school programmes.

Cyprus Ranks Among EU Leaders In Tertiary-Educated ICT Workforce

High Educational Attainment Sets Cyprus Apart

Recent data from Eurostat showed that Cyprus is expected to rank among the leading European countries for tertiary-educated ICT professionals in 2025. According to the figures, 96.4% of ICT professionals in Cyprus are projected to hold tertiary education qualifications, placing the country among the highest-ranked members of the European Union.

Gender Disparity Remains A Critical Challenge

Despite the high level of educational attainment, the ICT workforce in Cyprus continues to show a significant gender imbalance. Men are projected to account for 85.1% of ICT employees in 2025, while women are expected to represent 14.9% of the sector. In 2024, the split stood at 70.9% for men and 29.1% for women. The figures highlighted a widening gender gap within the country’s ICT workforce.

European Union Trends And Comparative Analysis

Across the European Union, the number of ICT professionals is projected to increase to 3.4 million in 2025 from 3.2 million in 2024, representing annual growth of 5.1%. Men are expected to account for 83.4% of ICT employment across the bloc, equivalent to approximately 2.8 million workers, while women are projected to represent 16.6%.

National Performance Variability In Gender Representation

Countries within the EU show a varied landscape: the highest percentages of male ICT professionals are reported in the Czech Republic (92.9%), Slovenia (89.1%), Latvia (89.0%), Lithuania (88.9%), and Slovakia (88.4%). On the contrary, nations such as Denmark (30.0%), Sweden (29.8%), Romania (28.6%), Bulgaria (25.6%), and Croatia (25.2%) lead in female participation in the ICT arena.

Educational Background Across The European ICT Sector

Eurostat data also showed that most ICT professionals across the EU hold tertiary education qualifications. By 2025, 74.8% of ICT workers in the bloc are projected to have university-level education, while 25.2% are expected to hold secondary or post-secondary qualifications. Denmark recorded the highest share of tertiary-educated ICT professionals at 97.7%, followed by France at 96.6% and Cyprus at 96.4%. Other countries with high levels of tertiary-educated ICT workers included Ireland at 92.3%, Bulgaria at 91.1%, and Croatia at 90.9%. At the lower end of the ranking, Italy recorded 69.2%, while Portugal stood at 58.8%.

Conclusion

The data perfectly encapsulates the dual narrative in the ICT sector: while countries like Cyprus and Denmark achieve remarkable educational standards among ICT workers, persistent gender disparities remind us that diversity remains an ongoing challenge. As the ICT landscape continues to evolve, strategic policy formation and corporate governance will be pivotal in balancing excellence with inclusivity.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties
eCredo
Uol
Aretilaw firm

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter