Working for the Cyprus Institute - Mechanical Engineering Design Intern The Cyprus Institute Employee Review

Environment. Appreciation. Best in Cyprus

Bad administration procedures. Take time.

Some projects are genuinely interesting, and you can learn a lot if you choose to get involved. Some colleagues are knowledgeable, collaborative, and fun to work with and publish with. There are occasional opportunities for international collaboration and travel.

There are no opportunities for a raise or career growth. You are entirely on your own, and if you don't push hard, you'll be invisible. High staff turnover: two to three new people arrive, and two to three leave, every couple of months. Many people in positions of power are completely incompetent. Decision-making is driven by politics, not science or merit. The president is essentially a politician with past ambitions of becoming head of state. This political agenda bleeds into what should be an academic institution. Pay is advertised as high, but it's a joke compared to the actual workload and responsibilities. There's no real institutional vision. Most people don't want to be there. It's just a cushy gig for Cypriot academics wanting to return home or for international researchers looking to escape European or American academia and land on a holiday island. Sadly, like in many places, they bring in young scientists to make grant applications look good, but there's no long-term plan or future for them.