Open University of Cyprus

To obtain the MBA, you must successfully complete the academic requirements of the following four (4) year-long thematic modules (i.e., Organisation Management, Accounting and Finance, Leadership and Decision-Making, and Marketing) and successfully submit a Master’s thesis. The programme offers flexibility in the number of modules selected for each year of study to allow you to set your own pace and study at your own time.

The programme offers an opportunity to undertake any of its thematic modules as stand-alone independent modules, so that interested candidates can enhance their professional development or re-experience learning and see how it fits their wider commitments without the need to register for the programme.

The currently offered modules are the following:

• MBA50 – Organisation and Management
• MBA51 – Accounting and Finance
• MBA60 – Leadership and Decision-Making
• MBA61 – Marketing

For the successful completion of each module, you are required to submit up to four written assignments per module under the guidance of your module tutors. At the end of the academic year, there are final written exams for each module.

Year 1

• Organisation Management
• Accounting and Finance
• Master Thesis Ι

Year 2

• Master Thesis ΙI
• Leadership and Decision-Making
• Marketing

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) of the Open University of Cyprus is designed to prepare and support professionals working in the private or public sector by providing specialised knowledge and practical training, to improve skills in managing organisations and effectively addressing the new realities and challenges of today's global markets. This is achieved through the interplay of theory and practice, with learning supported through a combination of management theory, cutting-edge research, exercises, and applied examples. Our thematic modules though cover different areas, are connected in meaningful ways, allowing you to cross-pollinate ideas and apply tools from across the wider MBA experience.

Specifically, as MBA students you will be able to:

• Build on and enhance your understanding of the nature of management, organisation and business;
• Advance your career through the provision of knowledge, improvement of skills, and development of connections;
• Master knowledge and skills in a flexible and self-reliant way;
• Increase your understanding of the business environment;
• Develop your analytical, decision-making and communication competencies;
• Undertake research-based approaches to address business challenges; and
• Develop your capacity to think critically and communicate effectively and creatively.

WHY THE OUC MBA?

• It offers the possibility of acquiring current knowledge and skills related to organisation and management of businesses and organisations in a flexible way. At your own place and pace.
• It helps advance your career through the provision of academic and personal skills needed to make a positive contribution to a challenging working environment, whatever sector that may be in.
• It contributes to the creation of executives who combine a detailed and complex way of thinking for effective planning and implementation of business goals.
• It helps improve the ability to formulate a business strategy for the development and implementation of innovative solutions in companies and organisations.

WHY THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS?

• For the opportunity to study in a European public University, offering exclusive open and distance education.
• For its distance learning, affordable, high-quality study, which meet the needs of the business world, upskill graduates and enable students to fulfil their personal and professional aspirations.
• For its flexibility, which allows students to fit their studies around personal and professional commitments.
• For its integrated, state-of-the-art, and user-friendly eLearning Platform, which supports real-time and asynchronous tutor-students interaction, combined with the multi-format educational material used, all of which allow a seamless learning experience.
• For the academic support and study guidance provided by experienced and influential teaching staff (faculty and adjunct tutors), making effective use of OUC’s synchronous and asynchronous communication tools, online lectures and tutorials.
• For the opportunity to interact with fellow students, peers and academics located anywhere in the world through university forums and the social community.

CAREERS

The Open University of Cyprus (OUC), through its participation in the European project "Liaison Offices with the Labour Market", offers to students of all its programmes of study, the optional and free of charge thematic module entitled "Industry Placement". This module provides students opportunities for a placement to gain professional experience in their particular field of study, and the hosting institution can be any public or private organisation operating in the Republic of Cyprus. Each student has the right to participate in this offering once or twice during his / her studies, provided that s/he meets the required conditions. More information about this feature can be obtained from the OUC Liaison Office here. We also offer careers information, advice, and guidance to all students whilst studying with us.

As graduates of The OUC MBA programme you can:

• Secure employment in many and diversified areas in business administration as advisors, consultants or managers.
• Advance your career and secure a higher-level managerial post within your current employment or professional area.
• Set up your own business, become self-employed, change career direction either into a related professional area or into a new sector/profession.

The Program consists of 120 ECTS units taught over four semesters of full time study. Each course in the Program is 10 ECTS units, while an optional thesis (taken in the place of three courses) is 30 ECTS units.

Students are required to take the three first courses under the Foundations theme (COS511, COS512, COS513), where at least the two introductory courses (COS511, COS512) are expected to be taken during the first semester. The remaining program comprises electives among all the other courses, as long as at least one third of the courses come from Cognitive Psychology (CP), and one third of the courses come from Computer Science (CS). It is advisable that at least one course is taken from each theme, to guarantee breadth of coverage.

Indicative Structure for full time study, with emphasis on Cognitive Psychology:

Semester 1

• COS511 Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
• COS512 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
• COS513 Computational Intelligent Systems

Semester 2

• COS521 Cognitive Knowledge Acquisition
• COS522 Learning and Memory in Humans
• COS523 Human Perception and Attention

Semester 3

• COS611 Cognitive Modelling
• COS612 Mental Representations and Reasoning
• COS613 Cognitive Agents and Reasoning OR Thesis

Semester 4

• COS621 Experimental Psychology
• COS622 Cognitive Neuroscience OR Thesis
• COS623 Cognitive System Design OR Thesis

Indicative Structure for full time study, with emphasis on Computer Science:

Semester 1

• COS511 Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
• COS512 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
• COS513 Computational Intelligent Systems

Semester 2

• COS521 Cognitive Knowledge Acquisition
• COS522 Learning and Memory in Humans
• COS524 Natural Language Processing

Semester 3

• COS611 Cognitive Modelling
• COS613 Cognitive Agents and Reasoning
• COS614 Adaptive and Interactive Systems OR Thesis

Semester 4

• COS621 Experimental Psychology OR Thesis
• COS623 Cognitive System Design
• COS624 Topics in Data Science OR Thesis

Other course combinations are possible, subject to the offering of the courses each semester. It is expected that courses will be offered as follows, with the possibility of repeating some course offerings in both semesters: Fall Semester: Foundations, Reasoning; Spring Semester: Perception, Learning, Systems.

All elective courses, including the above ones and any others that may be offered in the future, are offered subject to sufficient demand.

Students wishing to register for certain courses and obtain a certificate of completion, without an interest in gaining the full degree, can opt to do so, with pro rata tuition fees on the number of courses for which they choose to register.

Method of Instruction

Courses are taught in English using a blended distance learning methodology. Students have live online weekly meetings with their course instructors, which are recorded and available for offline viewing as well. Course forums are used to interact with the instructors asynchronously, and all relevant educational activities, course assignments and submissions, etc., are done online via the course’s educational platform. Coursework includes biweekly assignments and class projects. Final exams are taken in-class at the student’s country of residence or in designated exam centers in Cyprus and abroad (subject to factors and conditions determined by the University). Students also have the option of attending a summer camp in Cyprus.

Joint degree by: Open University of Cyprus, School of Pure and Applied Sciences and University of Cyprus, Department of Psychology and Department of Computer Science.

 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Since the inception of the computing paradigm, the prevalent metaphor for a computer has been that of a multi-purpose tool, as exemplified by the use of “command lines” and “desktops” at the interface between humans and computers. The unparalleled prevalence of computing-enabled devices in our everyday lives, and the widespread access to information over the Web, suggests a more apt metaphor for a modern computer, that of an assistant. Humans no longer use, but rather collaborate with their devices to solve a cognitive task, with each party learning and adapting to the capabilities of the other. Communication and decision-making happens at a level that is transparent to, and cognitively-compatible with, human abilities and limitations. One no longer speaks of human-computer interaction, but of human-computer symbiosis.

To teach the new paradigm of cognitive computing, the M.Sc. Program in Cognitive Systems brings together two main scientific areas: Cognitive Psychology, and Artificial Intelligence in Computer Science. Aiming, on the one hand, for the prospective students to understand the basis for human cognition, the Program is strongly influenced by Cognitive Psychology and includes learning modules that explore the fundamentals of perception, learning, mental representation, and reasoning in humans. Aiming, on the other hand, for the prospective students to be able to design cognitive systems, the Program places its emphasis on the investigation of computational methods and tools for understanding and designing cognitive systems, and includes learning modules from Connectionist and Symbolic Artificial Intelligence, from Machine Learning, and learning modules on recent developments in Cognitive Computing.

Courses are offered from both Cognitive Psychology (CP) and Computer Science (CS), organized in five main themes: Foundations, Perception, Learning, Reasoning, Systems.

GRADUATES CAN BE EMPLOYED – CAREER PROSPECTS

With a Master’s in Cognitive Systems, graduates have employment opportunities in the two traditional areas of Cognitive Psychology and Computer Science, but also in the new emerging area of Cognitive Systems. Generally speaking, graduates of the program will be qualified to contribute to basic and applied research aiming at the optimization of human-computer interaction and/or the application of computational tools in the understanding of cognition (research, research and development, and research and innovation at public and private centers/companies). In particular, students will be able to work in organizations in the areas of intelligent systems, machine learning, human-computer interaction, and cognitive system development, with large companies such as IBM, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and Apple actively seeking, and offering lucrative salaries for, employees in the emerging areas that are covered by the program of study. Their ability to design and develop systems also offers the opportunity to graduates to work as developers in large software companies, with the ability to incorporate in the traditional software development cycle novel and cutting-edge techniques that are inspired by human cognition. The graduates’ knowledge of cognitive psychology theories and methodologies will further allow them the choice of working in treatment and health facilities, helping people with cognitive disabilities, while exploiting their expertise in the development of cognitive systems to develop novel solutions for patients. Irrespectively of the focus of their studies, graduates will be well-versed in an exciting new area of research that can lead them to pursue a Ph.D. program at Open University of Cyprus, University of Cyprus, or at other competitive Ph.D. programs across the world.

ACCREDITED - Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education

The Open University of Cyprus (OUC), through its participation in the European project "Liaison Offices with the Labour Market", offers to students of all its programmes of study, the optional and free of charge Thematic Unit (i.e. Module) entitled "Industry Placement". This module provides students opportunities for a placement to gain professional experience in their particular field of study, and the hosting institution can be any public or private organisation operating in the Republic of Cyprus.

Each student has the right to participate in this offering once or twice during his / her studies, provided that s/he meets the required conditions.

To acquire a Master's degree, students should follow the following programme structures:

Option A: follow the course of studies and successfully pass examinations in four (4) Modules and complete a Master thesis.

Option B: follow the course of studies and successfully pass examinations in six (6) Modules.

Semester 1

• ELP511: Introduction to Organization and Management of Education
• ELP512: Applied Educational Research: Quantitative Methods

Semester 2

• ELP521: Evaluation of Teaching and Teachers
• ELP522: Management of Change, School Effectiveness and School Improvement

Semester 3

• ELP621: Strategic Planning in Education *
• ELP622: Program Evaluation in Education *

OR

• ELP701A: Master’s Thesis I* and
• ELP701B: Master’s Thesis II *

 *Electives

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Τhe Postgraduate Programme in “Educational Leadership and Policy” aims a) to create the foundations for more effective organization and administration of schools and other educational organizations, and b) to provide students with a theoretical as well as applied understanding of the relationship between context variables of the educational system and their relationships with the roles, responsibilities and actions of educational leaders. It is deeply anchored in theory and research on educational leadership, management, administration and policy issues, as well as on contextual factors (e.g. culture, social structures, economic conditions, etc.) that influence educational institutions and leadership, teaching and learning principles.

The Programme’s main goals are to:

• prepare educational leaders who are aware of the complex educational context in which they operate, and who can act creatively and productively in a variety of professional and educational settings,
• conduct and facilitate research on leadership, management, administration and policy issues, and
• offer services to the wider educational community in organizational, management, evaluation and leadership issues.

Τhe programme is accredited by the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education. 

GRADUATES CAN BE EMPLOYED – CAREER PROSPECTS

The Programme aims for its students and graduates to develop knowledge and skills that will support their professional development in various educational organisations, such as Ministries of Education, Educational regional offices, schools and other educational institutions (school principals, teachers, administrators, school inspectors, educational policy officers/advisers, etc.).

The Open University of Cyprus (OUC), through its participation in the European project "Liaison Offices with the Labour Market", offers to students of all its programmes of study, the optional and free of charge Thematic Unit (i.e. Module) entitled "Industry Placement". This module provides students opportunities for a placement to gain professional experience in their particular field of study, and the hosting institution can be any public or private organisation operating in the Republic of Cyprus.

Each student has the right to participate in this offering once or twice during his / her studies, provided that s/he meets the required conditions.

For the successful completion of the Master programme, students must follow and successfully pass examinations infour (4) compulsory Modules (credited with 20 ECTS per module) and the Master’s Thesis (credited with 40 ECTS).

Students are required to prepare four written assignments in each Module under the supervision and guidance of a tutor and if they gain the necessary grades they become eligible to participate in the final exams.

The University's academic year begins in mid-September and ends in June, with the final written exams at the end of the year in May.

The selection of 60 ECTS per academic year is equivalent to full-time, whereas the selection of less than 60 ECTS per academic year is considered as part-time.

Modules offered:

Year 1

• Organization and Management - The Environment of Risk Management 20 ECTS
• Advanced Quantitative Methods for Managers 20 ECTS
• Risk Management and Risk Management Standards 20 ECTS

Students have to enroll for the modules in a specific order: ERM501, ERM502, ERM503. 

Year 2

• Crisis Management and Business Continuity Planning 20 ECTS
• Master’s Thesis 40 ECTS

The Master Thesis can be taken after the successful completion of the three Year 1 modules.

Each student can optionally enrol, once or twice, in the free of charge Thematic Unit (i.e. Module) "Industry Placement", which awards five (5) ECTS. The module offers a structured placement, designed to offer students specific industry and professional experience in their particular field of study, and to allow them to build their skills in a real-world setting. The hosting institution can be any public or private organisation operating in the Republic of Cyprus:

ERM695 - Industry Placement (1st placement)

ERM696 - Industry Placement (2st placement)

SCOPE OF THE MASTER PROGRAMME

Enterprise Risk Management is increasingly being recognized as the key for achieving and driving sustainable organizational performance, regardless if the organization is active in the public sector or the private sector and industrial domains. 
This Master’s programme in Enterprise Risk Management is designed to provide formal education contemporary Risk Management and its natural extensions to Crisis and Emergency Management to graduates.

This Master’s programme in Enterprise Risk Management is designed around four year-long thematic units which capture the essential knowledge, and skills that are essential to a competent and contemporary Chief Risk Officer in any type of organization or enterprise. The programme is composed by 120 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).

Τhe programme is offered jointly by the Open University of Cyprus and the Hellenic Open University.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The Master programme in Enterprise Risk Management is likely to attract industry-sponsored applicants or even groups, i.e. from organizations that are in the process of developing or strengthening their own risk management functions. The tight focus of the program on all aspects of risk management but in a generic format makes it an ideal postgraduate course in Risk Management for candidates from all over the world to apply for the qualification. 

EMPLOYABILITY

Employment opportunities include the following:

• Risk Officers and Chief Risk officers in any type of organization that implements, or is in the process of implementing an Integral Risk Management function. 
• Managers or Directors in any type of organization where they will be required to handle crises and emergencies, and to develop formal risk, crisis, or emergency management processes.

The Open University of Cyprus (OUC), through its participation in the European project "Liaison Offices with the Labour Market", offers to students of all its programmes of study, the optional and free of charge Thematic Unit (i.e. Module) entitled "Industry Placement". This module provides students opportunities for a placement to gain professional experience in their particular field of study, and the hosting institution can be any public or private organisation operating in the Republic of Cyprus.

Each student has the right to participate in this offering once or twice during his / her studies, provided that s/he meets the required conditions.

The programme is taught over 24 months and includes three mobility periods (credit bearing The programme is taught over 24 months and includes three mobility periods (credit bearing placements), and a Master’s thesis.

There is a pathway choice in Semester 2: "Critical issues, Policy and Curriculum" or "Community Engagement and Education". Open University of Cyprus delivers all online courses.

Semester 1

• Introduction to Adult Education for Social Change(required)
• International Issues in Adult Education or Psychology of Adult Learning
• Practical Aspects of Adult Education (required)
• Placement (required)
• Teaching Adult Education Online (required)

Semester 2

Pathway A: Critical Issues, Policy and Curriculum

• Adult Education and Social Difference
• Adult Education for Sustainable Development
• Curriculum Development
• Placement
• Research Methods (online) (required)

OR

Pathway B: Community Engagement and Education

• Advanced Gender Studies in Adult and Community Education
• Advanced Theories in Adult and Community Education
• Power, Politics and Society: Adult Education in Context
• Placement
• Research Methods (online) (required)

Semester 3

• Critical Reflection in Adult Learning and Education (online) (required)
• Placement (required)
• Recognising Built Capacity: Career and Impact Pathways (required)
• Social and Professional Identity of Adult Educators (required)
• Theories of Change (required)

Semester 4

• Master's Thesis

This International Master is a joint degree delivered and awarded by five universities: University of Glasgow (UK), University of Malta, Open University of Cyprus, Tallinn University (Estonia) and University of Maynooth (Ireland).

• A distinctive feature of the programme is the connection between theory and practice, gained through focused placements and mobility periods between the partner universities.
• It draws together the recognized strengths of the consortium partners into a relevant, joint degree that engages with and responds to such issues as social inequality, migration and intercultural cooperation.
• The programme aims to deliver a curriculum that enables people to work with adults effectively and competently in changing socially diverse contexts.
• You will receive a theoretical grounding in adult education, as well as intercultural and practical skills development though teaching placements, focused seminars and online courses.

For the successful completion of the Master programme, students must follow and successfully pass examinations in twelve (12) Modules (credited with 5 ECTS per module) a Capstone Project (credited 10 ECTS) and a Master Thesis A and B. All modules are compulsory.

Students are required to prepare two written assignments in each Module under the supervision and guidance of a tutor and if they gain the necessary grade they become eligible to participate in the final exam.

The University's academic year begins in mid-September and ends in June, with the final written exams at the end of each Semester, i.e. January and May.

The selection of 30 ECTS per semester is equivalent to full-time, whereas the selection of less than 30 ECTS, students are considered as part-time. Part time students are suggested to choose at least two modules in each semester.

Modules offered:

Year 1

Semester 1

Code/Modules/ECTS

• SES511 Introduction to Energy Technology Systems 5
• SES512 Renewable Energy for the Built Environment 5
• SES513 Renewable Energy for Power Generation 5
• SES514 Power Generation Technologies 5
• SES515 Capstone Project 10

The above modules are offered only in the first semester, therefore part time students may take the above modules only during the first semester of each academic year. 

Semester 2

Code/Modules/ECTS

• SES521 Energy Design of Buildings 5
• SES522 Energy Audits 5
• SES523 Energy Economics 5
• SES524 Sustainable Built Environment 5
• SES701A Master Thesis I (Capstone) 10

The above modules are offered only in the second semester, therefore part time students may take the above modules only during the second semester of each academic year. To register into the module SES701A-Master Thesis I, students must comlpete the module SES 515.

Year 2

Semester 1

• SES611 Energy and Environmental Policies 5
• SES612 Environmental Impact Assessment 5
• SES613 Energy and Environmental Evaluation Tools 5
• SES614 Energy demand management 5
• SES701B Master Thesis II (Capstone) 10

Students are suggested to select the above modules after successfully completing the modules offered in Year 1. Part time students may take the above modules only during the first semester of each academic year. To register into the module SES701B-Master Thesis II, students must complete the module SES 701A-Master Thesis I.Students may select the modules SES 611 & SES612 in paraller with SES701B.

The programme is offered jointly by the Open University of Cyprus and the Frederick University.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The joint master in Sustainable Energy Systems is a taught multi-disciplinary international programme suitable for applicants from engineering, architecture, planning and other relevant backgrounds, intended to incorporate the latest developments not only in the international scientific field, but also in the European and national regulatory and legal framework. Students will also be acquainted with the required knowhow for monitoring and evaluating the energy efficiency of building systems, of buildings, of renewable and conventional energy systems and of indoor environmental quality conditions, in accordance to legal and best-practice requirements, so as to be able to carry out energy renovation, retrofitting and refurbishment projects. Furthermore, they will learn to evaluate, by means of applying standards and models, the environmental performance of buildings, as needed in order to implement the environmental labelling schemes.
The Programme is designed to stimulate and encourage novel and imaginative solutions with respect to their implementation in a real market and a rapidly developing economic environment, surrounding the energy sector and the built environment. The Programme involves theoretical and hands-on learning methods aiming at producing skilled professionals who will be able to effectively enter the competitive European market of energy experts. Graduates of the programme acquire a strong qualification that assists them in the professional progress. The degree greatly enhances the employability of our graduates in public and semi-public organisations, whose work is related to the implementation of energy and environment related legislation and to the operation of the energy market, or in the power generation, the construction and the building materials industries. The programme is composed by 90 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).
 
GRADUATES CAN BE EMPLOYED – CAREER PROSPECTS

Employment opportunities include the following:

• Engineering consulting companies which deal with the design and commissioning of renewable energy power plants and sustainable energy systems Construction industry for buildings’ energy design, performance certification and auditing
• Public sector in energy and environment related departments (Energy Service, Environmental Service)
• Private and public sector as environmental and energy managers
• Finance industry as technical consultants for energy and environment projects

Target Audience:

• Recent Engineering, Architecture, Town Planning, and graduates from other pertinent fields, seeking higher and focused education before entering the market.
• Professionals with experience in the field who wish to reorient their career in the topics covered by the programme.
• Professionals in the public and semi-public sector, related to the implementation of energy and energy related legislation and the operation of the energy market.
• Professionals in power generation, the construction and the building materials industries.