Local Scholarship Program FY2018 Q3 Progress Report

The program is implemented by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and began in May 2015 with the signing of a cooperative agreement between USAID and IIE. Cohort 1 of the LSP consisted of 65 students who were recruited and selected in 2015. By the end of FY2018, Q3, these students had completed their second academic year at their respective universities. The distribution of Cohort 1 students across universities and fields of study is as follows: 12 students were placed at the British University in Egypt (BUE), with 8 females and 4 males, while 53 students were placed at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), with 26 females and 27 males. Cohort 2 of the LSP began in November 2016 with 65 students starting their Bridge Year Program (BYP) at the American University in Cairo. By the end of FY2018, Q3, these students had completed their first academic year at their universities. The distribution of Cohort 2 students across universities and fields of study is as follows: 20 students were placed at BUE, with 17 females and 3 males, while 35 students were placed at AASTMT, with 18 females and 17 males. Cohort 3 of the LSP began in November 2018 with 80 students starting their Bridge Year Program (BYP) at the American University in Cairo. The distribution of Cohort 3 students across governorates and gender is as follows: 7 females and 1 male from Alexandria, 1 female and 1 male from Assiut, and so on. The LSP provides academic and personal support to its scholars, including English language support, academic progress monitoring, and career guidance sessions. The program also offers leadership development opportunities through the IIE-Led Leadership in Action Activities, which include student-led leadership conferences, gender forums, and service learning projects. Additionally, the program provides mentorship and internship opportunities to its scholars. The LSP has made significant progress in terms of academic achievement, with Cohort 1 students showing a 27% increase in household income compared to the control group. The program has also demonstrated a strong commitment to inclusivity, with a focus on recruiting and supporting students with disabilities. Overall, the LSP is a vital initiative that is providing educational opportunities to students from Egypt and helping to build a more inclusive and prosperous society.