Local Scholarship Program FY2019 Semi-Annual Progress Report 2 (April – September 2019)

The program's goal is to develop and sustain a cadre of skilled professionals who can apply and impart new knowledge and skills in priority areas. IIE, the implementing partner, was awarded the program by USAID in May 2015. Since its inception, 210 students have been successfully recruited, selected, and awarded LSP scholarships. All three cohorts' students have already started their academic studies at their host universities, including the American University in Cairo (AUC), the Arab Academy for Sciences, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), and the British University in Egypt (BUE). IIE increased the number of Cohort 3 students from 65 to 80, including 11 students with disabilities. There are 12 students with disabilities in the program, consisting of 3 females and 9 males. The LSP students are enrolled in various fields of study, including communication and mass media, economics, nursing, computing and information technology, engineering and technology, and management and business technology. The program has a diverse representation of students from 26 governorates, with 113 females and 97 males currently enrolled. The program has also achieved a significant milestone, with 65 Cohort 1 students currently enrolled in their seventh academic semester, 65 Cohort 2 students in their fifth semester, and 80 Cohort 3 students in their third semester. The LSP program accomplished several activities during the second half of FY2019, including two Leadership in Action Enrichment sessions attended by 159 Cohort 3 students, one Gender Forum attended by 200 students, and Career Directions and Civic Engagement training conducted for 80 Cohort 3 students. Additionally, five Group Mentoring Sessions were attended by 104 students, and six IIE-led Online Career Guidance Sessions were conducted for 6 students. Eighteen Cohort 1 students and 1 Cohort 2 female student completed their Study Abroad programs in the U.S. The program's results to-date are summarized in Table (2), which shows the number of students currently enrolled, students with disabilities, students who completed service learning projects, students who completed Study Abroad programs, and students who completed internships. The table highlights the program's progress and achievements in developing and sustaining a cadre of skilled professionals who can meet the demands of the Egyptian Labor Market. The LSP program's academic progress is also notable, with students demonstrating strong adoption of enrichment interventions, including composting and crop rotation methods.