The accelerating impact of artificial intelligence on education, employment and long-term career prospects took centre stage this week at a Bank of Cyprus event that brought students face-to-face with experts examining how technology is redefining the workplace.

Organised under the bank’s Young People Ask initiative, the discussion gave pupils the chance to raise concerns about AI, challenge its growing influence on traditional professions and consider how they can prepare for a labour market that is becoming increasingly technology-driven.

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A Corporate Platform For Student Dialogue

The initiative is part of the bank’s broader corporate social responsibility programme, designed to create direct dialogue between young people and specialists on issues shaping education, employment and future career paths.

That objective is increasingly relevant. As AI moves from experimental tool to mainstream business infrastructure, the question is no longer whether it will affect careers, but which roles it will reshape first and what capabilities will matter most in the years ahead.

What Employers And Educators Need To Consider

Leading the discussion was Elpidoforos Anastasiou, head of educational innovation for STEAM and emerging technologies at Globeducate and head of innovation at Pascal. Anastasiou, who also founded the Cyprus Space Foundation and is pursuing a doctorate at the Cyprus University of Technology, outlined the growing role of AI in education and the implications for the labour market.

Drawing on experience in educational technology and innovation, he examined how established professions are likely to evolve, which skills will gain value and how schools and universities can better prepare students for disruption that is already underway. His perspective reflected a broader reality across industries: technology rarely eliminates the need for human capability, but it does force a rethink of which capabilities are most valuable.

Anastasiou is also the creator of Tefkros, the first interactive AI museum guide developed for the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation.

The Employer Perspective On A Changing Labour Market

The discussion also included an employer’s viewpoint from Marilena Ioannidou, the bank’s manager of rewards and organisational effectiveness. She addressed the changing demands of the labour market and the opportunities available within large organisations in Cyprus as technology continues to alter how businesses operate.

Her remarks focused on the skills employers are increasingly seeking in a fast-changing environment, as well as the need for adaptability as new working practices become the norm. In practical terms, that means students must think beyond academic credentials alone and pay closer attention to digital literacy, problem-solving, critical thinking and the ability to learn continuously.

Why The Conversation Matters For Students

For the students in attendance, the event offered a chance to explore several pressing questions: How will AI affect established jobs? Which new professional opportunities may emerge? And will traditional education pathways be sufficient to meet future demands?

These are not abstract concerns. In sectors ranging from finance to healthcare, retail to engineering, AI is already changing workflows, accelerating decision-making and redefining entry-level expectations. Young people entering the workforce in the coming years will likely compete in an environment where technical competence and human judgment must work together.

Part Of A Broader Education Agenda

The event also formed part of the activities surrounding SPOUDA-ZO, an education exhibition organised by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth on October 17 with the support of Bank of Cyprus.

Through Young People Ask, the bank aims to give younger generations a stronger voice in discussions about the issues shaping their lives while helping students make better-informed decisions about their studies, skills and future employment.

As AI continues to advance, that kind of dialogue is becoming less optional and more necessary. The organisations that help young people understand the shift early will be better placed to prepare the talent pipeline for the demands of tomorrow’s economy.