Quarterly Report FY 2011: LOTUS Scholarship Program

The original award and a subsequent modification provide funding for 150 scholarships. Two competitive, nationwide outreach and recruitment cycles resulted in 150 students being selected and joining LOTUS partner universities. Cohort 1, Cycle 1 consists of 44 students representing 21 governorates and two former governorates, who entered universities in September 2010. Cohort 1, Cycle 2 consists of 56 students representing 24 governorates and one former governorate, who entered universities in September 2011. Cohort 2 consists of 50 students representing 26 governorates and two former governorates, who entered universities in September 2011. Overall, the 150 LOTUS students represent all of Egypt's 27 governorates and two former governorates. The 150 LOTUS students were placed in the following universities: Al Ahram Canadian University with 30 students, British University in Egypt with 27 students, Future University in Egypt with 29 students, Modern Sciences and Arts University with 39 students, and Pharos University with 25 students. The breakdown of students' fields of specialization includes Accounting & Finance with 4 students, Art & Design with 3 students, Biotechnology with 11 students, Business Administration with 4 students, Dentistry with 15 students, Engineering with 38 students, Human Resource Management with 4 students, International Trade/Business with 1 student, Informatics / IT & Computer Science with 18 students, Languages & Translation with 3 students, Legal Studies and International Relations with 1 student, Marketing with 1 student, Mass Communications with 9 students, Pharmacy with 27 students, Physical Therapy with 4 students, and Political Science with 4 students. The July 1 – September 30 quarter was an extremely busy quarter with various activities undertaken, including application review and short-listing, financial application review and short-listing, home visits to short-listed candidates, interview camps, selection panels, and final review. Task 0: Program Start-up and Management was completed, with finalization of SOW and legal service agreements for partner NGOs and universities, staffing of all IIE and partner positions, branding strategy and marking plan development, NGO recruitment partner planning meetings and mobilization, and completion of the Annual Work Plan for year 1. Task 1: LOTUS Scholarship Recruitment, Selection & Placement was completed, with development of common LOTUS Scholarship Program materials, orientation of the public to the LOTUS Scholarship Program and recruitment of potential LOTUS candidates, general recruitment procedures to identify LOTUS Student candidates, general selection procedures to select 100 LOTUS Students, and general placement procedures to place 100 LOTUS Students in partner universities in their chosen fields of study. Task 2: LOTUS Scholar Academic and Personal Support was completed, with development of agreements and procedures with the five universities to host LOTUS Students and pay university coordinators, development of a LOTUS Program terms and conditions agreement for signature by each LOTUS Student and a parent or guardian, ensuring adequate student housing and personal space needs are in place for each LOTUS Student, procuring laptop computers and software for LOTUS Students, developing orientation kits and materials, holding orientation sessions and team building workshops for all LOTUS Students, conducting occasional meetings with LOTUS Students at the University and program levels, providing supplemental English training and tutoring as needed, and providing occasional sessions to encourage and support LOTUS Students to be effective students and adults. Task 3: Leadership in Action Program was in progress, with development of Leadership in Action Program design and first year materials and handouts in coordination with partner NGO Nahdet Mahrousa, orientation to the Leadership in Action Program conducted for LOTUS Students, Leadership in Action Program sessions delivered by IIE staff and facilitators, and coordination of community service learning activities.