What our Students Say
Alumni Success Stories
The Business School has been operating in Nicosia, Cyprus, since September 1978, with the Limassol branch opening in 1984. Offering evening-only classes for in-career individuals at a time when “life-long learning” was far from the norm, CIM is now firmly established as one of the top institutions in Cyprus. We’ve interviewed five CIM graduates – all now leading figures in the Cyprus Business sector – to find out more about what CIM means for them.
Giorgos Georgiou,
Sales and Marketing Manager, Chistodoulides Bros
Why did you choose to enrol in a CIM programme?
Having missed out on the chance of going to college after graduating from school, I began working as a salesperson at Christodoulides Bros. I soon realised that working in the Sales department was something I thoroughly enjoyed and felt the need to broaden my skills and enhance my career by gaining a formal education qualification. I asked around and everyone recommended studying at CIM – and I soon came to see why!
How, if at all, did your studies help in furthering your career?
I could not have gained a promotion without my degree from CIM. Precisely because CIM has such a good name in the market, Christodoulides Bros offered me a promotion immediately after my graduation. My studies at CIM and my hard work have now paid off as I am presently the Sales and Marketing Manager of the company.
At CIM you had the chance to be taught by in-career professionals. Did you find that you benefited from their expertise?
All the more! CIM lecturers are all familiar with the subject that they teach and it was greatly helpful for me as a student that they combined excellent knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the subject with solid, practical knowledge of the market. This is what separates CIM from other tertiary institutions on the island and what makes it so distinctly competitive.
Looking back at your time at CIM, what, if anything, do you remember most strikingly?
What I remember strikingly from my time at CIM is how demanding the course was, yet also how rewarding the whole experience was. For me, I’d urge anyone to study at CIM because it offers the chance for high-quality education, with a combined emphasis on theory and practice, and because the course is designed in such a way as to facilitate in-career individuals.
Giorgos Theodorou,
Advertising Manager
Why did you choose to enrol in a CIM programme?
I chose CIM for a number of reasons. Perhaps most important of all was that I correctly judged that CIM would be best fitted to accommodate my educational needs as an in-career student; that lectures were held in the evening meant that I could attend without having to take leave off work. At the same time, the fact that all lecturers were professionals with a lot of expertise and experience of the Cypriot market held a special appeal for me. I was able to learn a lot from their insight stories and their words of wisdom as to how things work in the local market.
How, if at all, did your studies help in furthering your career?
CIM was instrumental to the furthering of my career. Besides the necessary professional qualifications needed for promotions, I gained a lot from networking, as all students and lecturers at CIM are professionals working across a wide spectrum of the market.
At CIM you had the chance to be taught by in-career professionals. Did you find that you benefited from their expertise?
At CIM you are taught the theory by people who apply this theory every day in their working lives. By giving us case studies of real situations, and inviting us to contribute our own experiences, we were able to gain a broader, in-depth and most important very useful knowledge of how things work in the real market.
Looking back at your time at CIM, what, if anything, do you remember most strikingly?
I recall vividly the classroom discussions that were very intriguing, sometimes even heated, and ultimately extremely useful and eye-opening. This type of knowledge as well as the method of teaching has stayed with me ever since.
Evros Papadopoulos,
Group Marketing Manager, Papaphilippou Ice Creams
Why did you choose to enrol in a CIM programme?
I chose CIM because the programme description appeared to satisfy my needs. I was also attracted to the fact that classes were held in the evenings because as a working individual this would make my life a lot easier, as well as the low fees.
How, if at all, did your studies help in furthering your career?
I could not have progressed in my career without my tenure at CIM. The expertise I gained through attending classes, working on assignments and studying for exams made me a more confident individual and a more competitive candidate for promotion.
At CIM you had the chance to be taught by in-career professionals. Did you find that you benefited from their expertise?
Most certainly. In fact, it is this very fact, that the lecturers at CIM are professionals who teach in the evening what they learn from first-hand experience during the day, that makes CIM different from all other educational institutions in Cyprus.
Looking back at your time at CIM, what, if anything, do you remember most strikingly?
What I remember most strikingly is the excellent rapport between lecturers, administrative staff and students, relationships that remain to this day as strong as ever.
Anna Antoniou,
Marketing Manager, Special Editions
Why did you choose to enrol in a CIM programme?
After graduating with a degree in Public Relations and Media, I became interested in furthering my education. I decided to study for a Bachelor degree in Business so as to ultimately become a Chartered Marketer, something that has always been a dream of mine. Having researched into the various educational bodies in Cyprus and enquired about ways of becoming a Chartered Marketer, I soon found out that CIM is the only college in Cyprus that offers the diploma of the UK Chartered CIM-Cyprus Business School. It became immediately clear where I should pursue my studies!
How, if at all, did your studies help in furthering your career?
Yes – to a great extent. At CIM one is given the chance to gain the expertise on which to build a very successful career.
At CIM you had the chance to be taught by in-career professionals. Did you find that you benefited from their expertise?
Certainly. Not only are lecturers professionals with vast experience of the local market, but they happen to be very successful at what they do. Their experiences and their willingness to share these with the students were extremely beneficial to us as students. When I later became a lecturer for the college, I did my best to impart my experiences on my students.
Looking back at your time at CIM, what, if anything, do you remember most strikingly?
What I remember most vividly is the founder of CIM, Theo Hadjiyannis, reiterating to us on many occasions that if we work hard, and are willing to take calculated risks, then there’s nothing stopping us from materialising our dreams! Theo Hadjiyannis himself had a secure position at the Central Bank before deciding to quit in order to start CIM. Beginning with one student in a tiny flat, we are all very proud now that CIM has international presence and stature. I recommend studying at CIM unreservedly.
Stelios Athanasiou,
Manager, Scandia
Why did you choose to enrol in a CIM programme?
I decided to attend CIM for two reasons. First, as a full-time working individual, I found the way the classes were structured, being taught in the evenings, very appealing. Secondly, I was really attracted to the fact that the teaching consisted of lecturers-professionals who put a lot of emphasis on the practice of Business, as opposed to the theory.
How, if at all, did your studies help in furthering your career?
The professional qualifications I gained from CIM helped me get promoted at Scandia, finally becoming a Manager.
At CIM you had the chance to be taught by in-career professionals. Did you find that you benefited from their expertise?
The fact that the lecturers at CIM are themselves professionals with an in-depth knowledge of the market means that they are more suited to communicate ideas to the students. The fact that they are extremely successful at what they do also means that they may act as an inspiration to their students.
Looking back at your time at CIM, what, if anything, do you remember most strikingly?
I could never forget the passion and dedication of Theo Hadjiyannis for knowledge that certainly rubs off on the students!
Aristos Anastasiou,
Business Development Manager, KEAN
Why did you choose to enrol in a CIM programme?
I was really interested in the way CIM combines theory and practice. It was recommended to me by friends and the decision to study at CIM now ranks amongst the best decisions I made in my life.
How, if at all, did your studies help in furthering your career?
The expertise I gained at CIM, specifically the insightful knowledge of how things work in the Cypriot market has greatly helped my career. Learning, for instance, through the study of case studies from the local market, how wise it is to focus on the human factor in business, making sure employees and clients are always kept motivated and content, proved an invaluable asset.
At CIM you had the chance to be taught by in-career professionals. Did you find that you benefited from their expertise?
Certainly. The lecturers always made sure they substantiate theory with practical examples.
Looking back at your time at CIM, what, if anything, do you remember most strikingly?
I remember the ethos of CIM, the noble belief that people always deserve a second-chance in life when it comes to their education. I am proud to have played my part in developing the ethos of the college and I am extremely delighted to see that CIM is growing bigger and stronger!
Adonis Argyrou,
Bank of Cyprus, Senior Officer Nicosia District Retail Banking Support
“From the first moment I attended the CIM, the management’s interest towards students made me feel at ease. Tuition fees are affordable and the programme of studies is flexible and ideal for working people with family responsibilities. The academic staff has perfect knowledge of the Cypriot market due to experience, thus combining our theoretical studies with practical implementation. It is an excellent business school which offers recognised qualifications. These studies, along with my knowledge to date, helped me take on duties which require good marketing knowledge, good interpersonal relationships and organisational skills.”
Elias Antoniades
ORB Advertising Agency, General Manager
“I chose the CIM because it was the only college offering substantial education in the marketing sector, with teachers who weren’t just academics, but also worked in the field they taught. Especially at the beginning of my career and when I first entered the communication and advertising field, the knowledge I had acquired from the CIM was directly linked to the challenges in my working field.”
Marios Shinas
Alpha Bank Cyprus, Deputy Manager, Wholesale Banking Workout Division
Since August 2015 he has also been Manager of the Wholesale Banking Workout Division. Furthermore, in 2012 he received a full scholarship and successfully completed the post-graduate programme of Master in Business Administration (MBA) at the CIM.
“This MBA offers flexibility to working people and orientates toward practical skills. It has offered me new skills and knowledge and it enhanced my capability to successfully meet my increased functions and responsibilities.”
