Three students entering the University of Cyprus MBA programme will receive full-tuition scholarships for the 2026–2027 academic year, following a €30,000 award from entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.
The scholarships, awarded for the fourth consecutive year, were granted after an assessment based on academic and socioeconomic criteria. The recipients are George Solomonides, Kartik Rautela and Loizos Georgiades.
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Scholarships Expand Access To Education
The awards were presented Thursday at the University of Cyprus by Rena Rouvitha Panou, a member of the board of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, on Haji-Ioannou’s behalf.
Haji-Ioannou, founder and chairman of the foundation and creator of the easy brand family, has made education and equal opportunity for young people central to his philanthropic work.
Speaking at the ceremony, Rouvitha Panou said education remains a priority for Haji-Ioannou and the foundation. She described the scholarship initiative as an expression of confidence in young people and of the belief that knowledge is an essential asset for the future.
She also noted the significance of including the University of Cyprus in the foundation’s international scholarship programme, giving Haji-Ioannou’s home country a distinct place in the initiative. Congratulating the recipients, she encouraged them to pursue ambitious goals, apply their abilities in service of society and embrace the principle of giving back without expecting anything in return.
University Leaders Emphasize Opportunity And Responsibility
University of Cyprus Rector Professor Tasos Christofides thanked the foundation, describing the ceremony as a celebration of academic achievement and the impact of its vision and generosity.
Christofides urged the recipients to recognize the responsibility that comes with studying in an MBA programme of international standing. He added that Haji-Ioannou’s sustained support for philanthropy, education and youth empowerment was changing lives.
Professor Sofronis Clerides, dean of the university’s School of Economics and Management, said the ceremony marked the continuation of a partnership established four years ago. He said the university was particularly honoured to be the only institution supported by Haji-Ioannou at which he had not studied.
“We believe that Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s confidence in the University of Cyprus, and particularly in the School of Economics and Management, reflects the significant progress the university has made since its establishment,”
Clerides said.
An Internationally Accredited MBA Programme
The University of Cyprus MBA programme holds international quality accreditations from EFMD and AACSB and is regarded as one of the leading business administration programmes in Cyprus and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.
Its curriculum focuses on management and finance, combining high-quality teaching with modern, innovative and practical approaches.
