5th Semi-Annual Progress Report: Scholarships and Training for Egyptian Professionals (STEP) Program

During this time, fifty MBA scholars continued to participate in a six-month University Preparation Program (UPP) at the American University in Cairo (AUC). The program aimed to prepare scholars for their studies in the United States. The UPP included one-on-one coaching sessions, a continuous 360-degree evaluation process, additional leadership and communication interventions, and intercultural awareness workshops. Building upon lessons learned from Cohorts 1, these additional activities provided scholars with the best possible preparation to integrate and succeed in a new environment and culture. In an effort to provide HEI STEM Cohorts 2 and 2A scholars who were not participating in the UPP an opportunity to develop their academic skills prior to their departure to the United States, IIE collaborated with AUC to conduct a tailored six-week intensive Academic Life Skills Program (ALSP). Sixteen scholars are currently benefiting from this opportunity. In addition to the ongoing academic programs, STEP and its partner, Keys to Effective Learning (Keys), continue to implement nationwide training for Ministry of Education (MOE) professionals in Early Grade Learning (EGL), focusing on Early Grade Reading (EGR) and mathematics (EGM) in support of USAID/Egypt's Development Objectives. USAID/Egypt is designing its new Country Development Cooperation Strategy, covering the period of 2016-2020. As part of the strategy development process, USAID seeks input from its partners, including the Government of Egypt (GOE), donors, NGOs, beneficiaries, and others. To provide feedback and assistance, IIE coordinated two meetings between USAID and HEI scholars. The first meeting took place on December 22, 2015, at USAID, where HEI MBA and STEM Cohort 2 scholars Nada El Sayed and Esraa Attia participated. The second meeting occurred on December 28, 2015, at IIE's office, where HEI MBA Cohort 1 scholars Basma Mohamed (University of Bridgeport) and Amira Khalil (Stony Brook University) met with the COR. Both scholars were visiting Egypt during their winter break. The purpose of the meetings was to receive scholar feedback and recommendations on what to incorporate in the strategy as well as what, if anything, should be done differently in future scholarship programs. The scholars gave positive feedback on the effectiveness of the UPP, specifically noting that they fully appreciated the value of the skills acquired during the UPP once they began their studies in the United States. They also reported positive experiences in integrating in their communities in the United States, appreciation for the universities in which they were placed, and valuable support from the IIE team, university administration, and faculty. However, they reported some challenges with securing appropriate housing upon arrival and recommended that additional support be provided to MBA Cohort 2 in identifying housing availability. IIE teams in Cairo, New York, and Washington, DC, worked together to manage the testing requirements and preliminary placement plans for Cohorts 2 of the HEI MBA and STEM undergraduate scholarships in various universities across the United States. IIE's in-country and U.S.-based teams continue to follow up regularly with HEI Cohort 1 scholars, currently attending their first year of studies at U.S. universities through regular Skype calls, campus visits, and webinars. To make up for the cancellation of HEI STEM undergraduate Cohort 3, IIE obtained USAID's approval and the Ministry of Education's consent to add a group of undergraduate candidates to Cohort 2. Under a challenging and strict timeline, IIE and its partner, AFS-Egypt, succeeded in recruiting a Cohort 2A consisting of 17 scholars (13 core and 4 alternates) to replace STEM Cohort 3, which was originally scheduled to begin studies at U.S. universities in Fall 2017. IIE collaborated with AFS-Egypt to recruit Cohort 2A scholars, who will begin their studies in the United States in Fall 2016. The recruitment process involved a rigorous selection process, including testing and interviews, to ensure that the selected scholars meet the program's requirements. The STEP Program continues to work closely with project partners, AFS-Egypt, Nahda El Madhouse (NM), and the American University in Cairo (AUC), throughout the preparation program of Cohorts 2 of the HEI MBA and STEM scholarships. IIE introduced several additions to the UPP, including one-on-one coaching sessions, a continuous 360-degree evaluation process, additional leadership and communication interventions, and intercultural awareness workshops. These additions provide scholars with the best possible preparation to integrate and succeed in a new environment and culture. Building upon lessons learned from Cohorts 1, the additional activities aim to enhance the scholars' academic and professional skills, as well as their ability to adapt to a