LOTUS Scholarship Program, Quarterly Report, FY2014, Quarter 2

Agency for International Development (USAID). The program aims to provide scholarships to students from Egypt to pursue higher education in the United States. As of May 2010, IIE/Egypt was awarded funding for 150 scholarships, which were later modified to include 50 additional scholarships in September 2013. The program has three cohorts of students, with Cohort 1 and 2 students enrolled in academic programs in the United States. Cohort 1 and 2 students represent all 27 governorates of Egypt, with a total of 146 students. The students are pursuing various fields of study, including business, engineering, and social sciences. Cohort 3 students, who were selected in 2013, are participating in a Bridge Year Program at the British University in Egypt to gain essential skills, including English language, computer, research, and study skills. The 50 students in Cohort 3 are from various governorates in Egypt, with a total of 28 female and 22 male students. During FY2014, Q2, several activities took place as part of the LOTUS Scholarship Program. A total of 23 staff members from the British University in Egypt and 21 staff members from Pharos University in Alexandria attended a workshop on "Team Leadership" as part of the LOTUS University Capacity Building component. Additionally, 26 staff members from Pharos University in Alexandria attended a workshop on "Culture and Leadership," and 27 staff members from Future University in Egypt attended a workshop on "Strategic Planning Management." The program also organized several student-focused activities, including a re-entry session for 13 students, the Second Annual Student-led Leadership workshop, which was attended by 320 students and guests, and a career component, which included student self-assessment, career counseling, mentoring sessions, and internships. The program also conducted a community service survey in 2014, which compared the outcomes of LOTUS students with a comparison group. The LOTUS Scholarship Program has made significant progress in its second quarter of FY2014, with a focus on capacity building, student development, and community engagement. The program continues to provide opportunities for Egyptian students to pursue higher education in the United States and to develop essential skills and knowledge to contribute to the development of Egypt.