The Auditor General found multi-month delays that not only increased initial estimated costs but caused other problems in three major University of Cyprus construction projects.
The Audit Office examined the Medical School, the Biological Sciences Department building facilities, and the Engineering School.
The three projects on the university campus were the subject of previous Audit Office special reports, which were discussed in relevant parliamentary committees.
The Audit Office report states its findings emerged from on-site inspections at the university campus in 2025, specifically in April and September.
The Auditor General’s key findings included:
Engineering School: 72-month delay
Work on the Engineering School project began on 20 January 2016 with an original contractual duration of 40 months. The project was completed on 5 June 2025 after a total of 112 months, presenting a 72-month delay compared with the original schedule.
Justified time extensions were granted for 58 months (4.8 years), whilst the remaining 14 months (1.2 years) were deemed unjustified delay, for which penalties of €1.63 million were imposed.
The project’s cost increase was also examined, rising from €55.1 million plus VAT to an estimated €68.7 million plus VAT.
The report highlighted the granting of partial handovers that were approved retrospectively without being provided for in the contract, and which were not met within approved schedules.
Biological Sciences building: Cost increase exceeding €1m
Work on the Biological Sciences building began on 1 June 2020 with a contractual duration of 36 months and completion date of 31 May 2023.
By September 2025, an unjustified delay of five months in work progress was found, for which penalties of €1.5 million were imposed. A cost increase of €1.25 million plus VAT was recorded due to approved changes and requirements.
The audit also found delays in forwarding change and requirement matters to competent bodies, whilst the partial handover process was not completed within approved timeframes.
Medical School: Four months unjustified delay
The Medical School project began on 10 January 2022 with a 36-month contract and completion date of 9 January 2025. The audit found four months unjustified delay in work progress, for which penalties of €196,000 were imposed.
A cost increase of €349,980 plus VAT was recorded, as well as delays in submitting revised schedules.
The Audit Office noted that except for the Medical School project, the other two cases showed delays and various other problems from their start, which were recorded in previous reports and appear to have prompted the new on-site inspection.
University of Cyprus response
The Audit Office report includes an appendix containing the University of Cyprus’s commentary on the draft report.
On the Biological Sciences building, the university noted that by September 2025, 40% of the project concerning the Teaching Spaces 03 section had already been handed over. The university disagreed that there was a cost increase of €4.1 million due to approved changes and requirements by September 2025, stating the increase was €1.25 million and is estimated to reach €1.8 million.
The university stated that responses to contractor requests depend on the completeness of submissions, their complexity, and submission timing. Every possible effort is made to advance changes promptly by all parties involved in the approval process, the university said.
On the Medical School project, the university noted that beyond the accumulation of work and large sums towards the project’s end, the delay resulted from a combination of factors.
These included delays in resolving technical issues for which the contractor submitted queries late to the engineer, resulting in delayed issue of relevant instructions. Reduced responsiveness from both engineer and contractor was observed for isolated issues, contributing to delay conditions affecting smooth project progress, the university said.
The university stated that whilst the work programme is the contractor’s exclusive responsibility and not subject to employer approval, it repeatedly highlighted problematic project factors that might lead to delays through letters and emails during technical and monthly meetings from the project’s start.
On the Engineering School facilities, the university noted it managed the project during an economic crisis, special adverse international conditions, and other external factors that affected progress, requiring serious decisions for the project’s evolution.
Through interventions towards both the project engineer and contractor, and following all legal procedures, it led to project completion, the university said.
The university disagreed with findings of inability to manage the project, stating that contractor requirements were examined within reasonable frameworks depending on their complexity and the contractor’s cooperation, following approvals from all competent bodies.
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