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Strengthening Education and Employment Ties In Cyprus

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Program Overview

Cyprus is set to renew its commitment to bridging the gap between education and the labor market with a reintroduced work-week initiative. Employers have until January 16, 2026, to express their interest in hosting second-year lyceum students for a structured job-shadowing experience during the 2025–2026 school year.

Government Initiative And Strategic Vision

Announced by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, the program is part of the directorate of secondary general education’s efforts under the government’s Governance 2025 planning and the ministry’s Annual Action Plan for 2025–2026. This initiative falls under Strategic Objective 1, which prioritizes student-centered educational policies, reinforcing the role of hands-on learning in modern education.

Real-World Work Experience

The initiative revives the institution of the work week, allowing students to engage directly with professional environments. Through short-term placements that span approximately six and a half weeks—from February 18 to April 3, 2026—students will gain firsthand insights into workplace setups, daily routines, and responsibilities. This exposure is designed to assist students in making informed decisions regarding their academic and career trajectories.

Aligning With National Recovery And Resilience

The project plays a pivotal role in Cyprus’ Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), specifically addressing the reform required to tackle skills mismatches between education and employment in secondary and tertiary education. The structured job-shadowing experience is a crucial component in the realization of a comprehensive national program aimed at enhancing career readiness among students.

Participation And Implementation Details

Both public and private sector organizations have the opportunity to participate. Employers and institutions interested in hosting students must submit their details electronically by January 16, 2026, via the official Employer-Host Organisation Declaration Form. The form requires basic organizational data, a designated contact person, relevant sector information, and a brief outline of the expected workplace exposure for the students.

Access To Official Documentation

All official announcements, supporting documents, and related forms, including Annexes 1 and 2 along with Forms 1–4 (designed for students, parents, schools, and host organisations), are available on the Education Ministry’s Website. Organisations operating across multiple districts and intending to host students in various areas are required to complete separate forms for each location.

Bank of Cyprus Upgrade Signals Fresh Optimism For Greek And Cypriot Banks

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Regional Banks Enter A More Favorable Cycle

Bank of Cyprus and Eurobank are well positioned to benefit from a renewed re-rating of Greek and Cypriot bank stocks, according to Cyprus-based investment firm Roemer Capital, which upgraded Bank of Cyprus to a buy rating and reaffirmed its positive view on Eurobank.

The firm cited easing geopolitical tensions, resilient economic growth in Greece and Cyprus, lower funding costs and Greece’s expected transition to developed-market status as the main factors supporting the sector.

Roemer Capital also lowered its cost of equity assumptions, updated its forecasts following first-quarter 2026 results and extended its valuation horizon to the end of 2027, raising target prices across its banking coverage.

Bank Of Cyprus Gets The Largest Upgrade

Bank of Cyprus received the biggest revision, with Roemer Capital upgrading the stock from hold to buy and setting a target price of €11.10, implying potential total upside of 27%.

The firm highlighted the bank’s strong capital generation, profitability and projected 100% dividend payout, describing it as the strongest capital-return story among the banks under coverage. Roemer Capital maintained its buy rating on Eurobank, assigning a target price of €4.90 and forecasting potential upside of 28%. The report said the bank is well placed to benefit from loan growth, improving operating performance and merger-and-acquisition synergies.

National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank also retained buy ratings, with expected returns ranging from 25% to 36%. Optima Bank was upgraded to buy, while Alpha Bank remained at hold on valuation grounds.

Why Growth Still Sets The Region Apart

According to Roemer Capital, Greek and Cypriot banks continue to benefit from stronger economic fundamentals than many western European peers. The report pointed to faster economic growth, healthier balance sheets, low levels of non-performing exposures, capital ratios approaching 20% and strong customer deposit bases.

Analysts expect performing loans across the sector to grow at a compound annual rate of 6% to 8% through 2028, supported by private investment, digitalisation, green manufacturing, supply-chain expansion and a gradual recovery in household lending.

The report also said the conclusion of lending under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility is unlikely to materially affect credit growth, as banks have already shifted back towards traditional commercial lending. Roemer Capital expects Euribor to remain between 2.2% and 2.5%, a level it believes should support both lending activity and net interest margins.

Geopolitics, Valuation And Market Structure Support The Case

The report said improving geopolitical conditions have strengthened the investment outlook, noting that Brent crude prices have largely returned to pre-war levels while Greek government bond yields have stabilised at around 3.5%. Although geopolitical risks remain, Roemer Capital believes the likelihood of a major inflationary shock or significant pressure on bank profitability has eased.

Another important catalyst identified by the firm is Greece’s expected promotion to developed-market status by FTSE Russell, STOXX and MSCI over the coming months.

According to the report, the reclassification should improve liquidity and attract a broader base of international investors. Roemer Capital also said Euronext’s acquisition of the Athens Exchange is expected to strengthen market infrastructure and increase international visibility, particularly for Bank of Cyprus and Optima Bank.

The firm noted that Bank of Cyprus has already benefited from its Athens listing, with average daily trading value increasing from less than €400,000 before its September 2024 move to nearly €6 million afterwards.

Economic Momentum Remains A Core Tailwind

Roemer Capital said both Greece and Cyprus have moved beyond post-crisis recovery and are now supported by private-sector-led growth. For Cyprus, the report highlighted recent tax reform and efforts to simplify the legal and regulatory framework, while also noting that limited foreign banking competition continues to support domestic lenders.

Overall, Roemer Capital expects Greek and Cypriot banks to remain well-positioned for profitable loan growth over the coming years.

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