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Municipality Of Aradippou

Aradippou is located in the south of Cyprus, a short distance from Larnaca International Airport. Traditionally Aradippou was an agricultural village, but the Turkish invasion of 1974 along with the land and building development boom that followed in Cyprus, the village demography has changed and its economy has been developed dramatically. Today Aradippou has a strategic position as a hub for the national road network because the main Cyprus cities are connected via the Rizoelia round about, known to every Cypriot. Aradippou was declared a Municipality by a referendum in May 1986and has gradually established itself as a vigorous urban centre. Once declared a municipality, Aradippou determined its municipal limits and is the second largest municipality in Cyprus land with 42,982 square governmental acres. Its population today Aradippou reaches 20,000. The city got its name from its founder, King Aradippou. The excavations revealed architectural remains, dating from the era of the Achaeans. Aradippou was renowned in the Middle Ages because of a royal villa called "Despotissa" and belonged to the Lady Margaret de Lusignan, sister of Leo VI and granddaughter of Amory, Prince of Tyre. The cultural development of the community takes methodical and organized by the various honorary events for persons who have excelled in offering Aradippou, with lectures, celebrations, exhibitions, publications, etc. Achievement of cultural development is the establishment of artistic - Folklore event (on 18 October) that it has basically folklore.Aradippou hosts within the municipal boundaries the most of the industrial districts that serve the region's urban cluster and throughout Cyprus. These are: the Free Trade Zone, south of Larnaca-Limassol highway, Industrial Zone limited degree of nuisance(Zone Ba3) south of Larnaca motorway at Kofinou and the government industrial area of Larnaca that although is included in the municipal limits of Larnaca, in terms of geographical location its within Aradippou area. Aradippou is famous for its numerous churches (with the oldest one of Apostle Luke1851 AD), and many chapels. Residents of Aradippou are always distinguished for the social solidarity among themselves but also for the all people who need social, financial and or moral support. The Municipality helps such voluntary organizations to achieve their goals to help and support residents.
Cypriots are below average users of the internet with 54% of them using the internet regularly. As for people who have never used the internet, they account for 41%. The most popular activity among individuals in Cyprus is finding information about goods and services with a rate of 48%, below the EU average of 56%. Cypriots are also using the internet largely to read and download online newspapers (36%, 4 p.p. below the EU average), participate in social networks (33%, 5 p.p. below the EU average) and to make travel and accommodation arrangements (31%, 8 p.p. below the EU average). Among the least popular activities is selling goods or services (1% as opposed to the EU average of 17%).

· In terms of operational computer and internet skills, Cyprus exhibits rates 56% of citizens with some level of computer skills and 58% have internet skills. These rates are well below the averages for the EU of 67% and 73%, respectively.

Unemployment in Cyprus climbed to 10.9 per cent in July, representing the third highest year-on-year rise in the European Union, it was announced yesterday. According to the eu’s statistical service, Eurostat, Cyprus was behind Spain and Greece, having seen its jobless rate rise from 7.7 per cent in July 2011 to 10.9 per cent this year.

The age on which internet become available and affordable to the public (only 15 years ago) and the lack of the e-skills are the main reasons of the slow transition of the ICT world within the government, local authorities operation and people in general. With no ICT skills people over 35 years old are unable to find a job and it’s difficult to get trained for computer and internet use. Therefore, those people are either in their position but non-productive as required and replaced by new employees or either are becoming redundant.

Also there is no University or college dedicated to IT in order to provide the facilities, promote research and development or organise with the local authorities events or training for mature people.

i. Challenge 1: overcoming digital illiteracy

§  Training

§  There are around 4 private computer centres in Aradippou which can be used

§  Training – seminars can be offered for free by Aradippou ICT Professionals

§  Enforce the daily use of computer and internet

§  Local authorities may enforce non-office workers  to start using computers to their daily activities

§  Citizens can be changed to e-citizens and get priority on services when paying bills online, when reporting issues online, receive statements online. This way will help to get more people interested in the e-government services and off course they will improve their e-skills.

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ii. Challenge 2:  fight e-skills gaps on the labour market

It is necessary to conduct surveys and measure the people e-skills and then request feedback on how they can be improved in this sector.

iii. Challenge 3:  fight e-skills shortage

Expert IT can be organised in professional groups and engage their companies facilities, experience and knowledge in order to be involved in the people training and also to develop system s for e-skill improvements and people training.

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November 2024

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