The issue of the evolution of the Department into a Faculty was discussed at a Special Meeting of the Council of the Department of Social and Political Sciences.
After discussions and consultations, it became clear that this prospect was difficult, but there might be a prospect for separation into two Departments in the same Faculty, the Chair of the Department Lambrianou told Voice International.
He said that “the Department of Social and Political Sciences included in its Strategic Planning a goal for the evolution of the Department into a Faculty with three Departments: Department of Sociology, Department of Political Science and Department of Journalism. Various discussions and consultations took place at various levels in the University regarding this objective. It became clear that this prospect was difficult, but there might be a prospect for separation into two Departments in the same Faculty (instead of a new Faculty). On September 27, 2023, this matter was discussed in a Special Meeting and a wording was decided stating that in the current conditions of implementation of the Department’s Strategic Planning, it cannot accept, without further study, the separation of the Department into two Departments within the existing Faculty. It was also pointed out that the Department remains committed to the development strategy of the three Scientific Fields it treats. In the wording that was voted, it is also stated that the Department will study the possibility of splitting into two Departments within the Faculty and will come back as soon as the implementation process of the Strategic Program allows it.
As Chairman, I obviously support all institutional decisions of the Department and remain focused on the development of the Department, strengthening all our Programs and offering the best educational opportunities to our students.”
Students are taking matters into their own hands!
At the same time, the representatives of the Department’s students took an initiative to collect signatures with the aim of holding a General Assembly of the department’s students, after an open gathering had preceded it.
Specifically, the student faction of the left, Proodeftiki K.F., with a publication in the Social Media on November 30 2023, announced that they gathered the signatures of more than 1/3 of the students of the Department, who have signed in favor of the proclamation for holding a General Assembly, and be in favor of the evolution of the department into independent departments.
Maria Georgiou, representative of the students, stated to Voice International that since this discussion was opened 7 years ago, the student representatives have taken the lead with initiatives to help the Department’s development process.
Regarding the Department’s decision, she said that “as representatives of the students of Proodeftiki K.F., after the department’s decision to freeze the discussions on the evolution of the department, we came in contact with the authorities to convey to us the reasons why the Department’s evolution was wrecked for the time being. The reasons given to us were not satisfactory since they were not academic, but some issues which can be solved. That’s when we said we have to take matters into our own hands and show the department that the students want the department to evolve. Not even a week later we collected the signatures. More than 1/3 of our students proved that we are doing the right thing and conveying the voice of the students to the competent bodies.
From the beginning we respected the department’s decision to freeze discussions, but as the side that would be called upon to live with any decision of the department, we had to prove that our department needed to be separated. If we do not manage to reach the desired result, it goes without saying that we will not stop there. We will attend every session of the council to remind the academic staff that as students we need degrees that are recognized by society and we will try to see how else we can bring the discussions back to the table.”
Kallis Antounas-Voice International 2023
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