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

During this reporting period, fifty MBA scholars continued to participate in a six-month University Preparation Program (UPP) at the American University in Cairo (AUC). The UPP aimed to prepare scholars for integration and success in a new environment and culture. The program also saw the start of eight HEI undergraduate scholars in STEM fields on October 4, 2015, who began their eight-month UPP at AUC. HEI MBA Cohort 2 scholars completed their UPP on February 29, 2016, while HEI STEM undergraduates will complete their eight-month program on May 31, 2016. To address 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. This resulted in the recruitment of Cohort 2A, consisting of 17 scholars, to replace STEM Cohort 3. 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. Regular Skype calls, campus visits, and webinars were conducted to follow up with HEI Cohort 1 scholars, who were attending their first year of studies at U.S. universities. The IIE Cairo team collaborated closely with project partners, AFS-Egypt, Nahdet El Mahrousa, 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 aimed to provide scholars with the best possible preparation to integrate and succeed in a new environment and culture. In addition to the ongoing academic programs, STEP and its partner, Keys to Effective Learning (Keys), continued 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. The program also highlighted several key events and activities, including Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) Meetings and a USAID Knowledge Sharing Visit – Integrating into US Culture and Universities. The CDCS Meetings aimed 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 provided positive feedback on the effectiveness of the UPP and reported positive experiences in integrating in their communities in the United States. The USAID Knowledge Sharing Visit – Integrating into US Culture and Universities was held in collaboration with AFS-Egypt, and Intercultural Awareness Sessions (ICL) were conducted for HEI STEM undergraduate scholars. These sessions aimed to prepare scholars for integration and success in a new environment and culture. The STEP Program continued to make progress in its fifth semi-annual reporting period, with a focus on academic programs, technical assistance initiatives, professional development/training initiatives, and deliverables. The program's efforts aimed to support the development of Egyptian professionals and contribute to the achievement of USAID/Egypt's Development Objectives.