Stelios Philanthropic Foundation renews support to UCY MBA students
For the second consecutive year, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, creator and owner of the easy family of brands (www.easy.com, www.easyHistory.info) and founder and president of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation (https://steliosfoundation.com.cy/), has reaffirmed his commitment to supporting MBA students at the University of Cyprus (UCY).
As part of its activities, the Foundation has allocated €30,000 in scholarships for students pursuing UCY’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme, within the School of Economics and Management. Annually, three students are selected based on academic performance and socioeconomic criteria, with the scholarships fully covering their tuition fees.
For the academic year 2024–2025, following an extensive evaluation process, the scholarships were awarded to Elina Filaktou, Dr Neoclis Hadjigeorgiou, and Dr Spyroula Mavrommati. Rena Rouvitha Panou, Board Member of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, presented the awards at a special ceremony held at the University on November 12, 2024.
In her address, Rouvitha Panou highlighted the social and humanitarian efforts of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, headquartered in the UK. Emphasising the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to awarding scholarships at internationally-recognised universities, where Sir Stelios himself had studied, Rouvitha Panou underscored the importance of including UCY among the Foundation’s priority institutions, honouring the benefactor’s homeland.
She also congratulated the winners on their outstanding achievements, welcoming them into the international Stelios Scholars family, which the Foundation has supported over the years. Rouvitha Panou conveyed Sir Stelios’ personal congratulations and shared his message. “Our aim is to support and encourage students who excel academically, helping them complete their studies and equipping them with the tools for successful careers,” his message stated. “Education is a fundamental key to realising our dreams.” In closing, Foundation Board Member Revitha Panou encouraged UCY Stelios Scholars to follow his inspiring example by contributing to society to the fullest, while striving for excellence in their professional pursuits.
University of Cyprus President Tasos Anastasiou expressed his thanks to the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and especially to Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, adding that the generous support set an example for future benefactors who recognise the University’s pivotal role and significant contributions.
In his remarks, University Rector Professor Tasos Christofides also expressed his appreciation for Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s invaluable support to the University of Cyprus. He emphasised that this enduring commitment is a recognition of the University’s role in promoting the development, prosperity and progress of Cyprus, through its dedication to excellence and the training of visionary scientists.
The event was attended by distinguished guests, including Michalis Sarris, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the School of Economics and Management, MBA Programme Directors Professor Irini Karamanou and Associate Professor Marios Theodosiou, and senior academic officials, as well as previous Stelios Foundation Scholars, who represent the first such Scholars from the University of Cyprus.
Concluding the ceremony, Professor Sofronis Clerides, Dean of the School of Economics and Management, expressed his gratitude to Sir Stelios, as well as to Rouvitha Panou and other representatives of the Foundation. He extended his congratulations to the scholarship recipients, expressing pride in the level of academic excellence at the University of Cyprus, as demonstrated by the remarkable achievements of the selected Scholars.
About the UCY MBA Programme
The University of Cyprus MBA programme, accredited internationally by EFMD and AACSB, ranks among the leading business administration programmes in Cyprus and the broader Eastern Mediterranean region. The programme’s mission is to deliver high-quality education in management and finance through modern, innovative and practical teaching methods.
About the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, supports a wide range of charitable activities, primarily in countries where its founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, has lived and worked: Cyprus, Greece, the United Kingdom, France, Monaco and Ireland.