9th Semi-Annual Progress Report – IIE/STEP

The program's primary objective is to enhance the employability of Egyptian graduates and contribute to the country's economic development. As of March 31, 2018, 27 HEI MBA graduates from the first cohort have secured employment in various organizations, including Amideast, EFE Egypt, CID Consulting, Bank Misr, Save the Children, Jumia, Huawei Egypt, Dell, Misr El Kheir Foundation, and Giza Systems. The graduates have been placed in positions that align with their career goals and skills, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in facilitating job placement. The program has also achieved significant milestones in terms of scholar engagement and community outreach. Five HEI MBA cohort 1 alumnae were selected as recipients of the "Give It Back" program grant, which aims to support orphans and youth in Egypt. The grant recipients, including Mary Abdel Nour, Amira Khalil, Doaa Abdou, Dina Sallam, and Dahlia Rehab, have developed a project called "Dream" that targets 100 orphaned children and youth between the ages of 6 and 16, as well as 25 social workers and educators. In addition to job placement assistance, the program has provided various support services to graduates, including career counseling, resume building, and interview preparation. The IIE team has also facilitated participation in employment fairs, such as Jobzella's Employment Fair and the AmCham Employment Fair, to connect graduates with potential employers. Despite the program's successes, challenges have been encountered, particularly in terms of graduate expectations and feedback. Many graduates have expressed unrealistic expectations regarding job positions and compensation packages, while others have struggled to accept feedback on why they were rejected by employers. To address these challenges, the IIE team has provided guidance to graduates on the status of the Egyptian labor market and encouraged them to accept positions with less seniority, with the expectation that they will excel with hard work and proof of competence. The HEI program has also received recognition and support from various stakeholders, including the US Embassy and USAID. The program's extension beyond the life of the STEP project, which ends on December 31, 2018, is a testament to its effectiveness and the need for continued support for Egyptian graduates. The allocated funding for the extension will flow through the IIE Local Scholarships Program (LSP), which will maintain autonomy in terms of structure, staffing, and reporting to USAID. Overall, the HEI program has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, and its continued support will be crucial in enhancing the employability of Egyptian graduates and contributing to the country's economic development.