Semi-Annual Progress Report: April 1 – September 30, 2015

The event was hosted by the U.S. State Department, in cooperation with USAID and the U.S. Embassy, and was attended by high-level representatives, including the Minister of Higher Education, the Minister of International Cooperation, the U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, and the USAID/Egypt Mission Director. The event was moderated by Mr. Ibrahim El Kerdany, an ex-TV presenter and an AFS Alumnus. During the launch event, an HEI STEM student and an HEI MBA scholar participated in a panel discussion with the dignitaries to share their experiences, study objectives, and hopes for the future. The scholars highlighted how the scholarship opportunity would contribute to realizing their long-term objectives. The event was also attended by 40 Cohort 1 HEI MBA and STEM undergraduate scholars. In May 2015, Cohort 1 HEI MBA and STEM undergraduate representatives met with a congressional staff delegation (STAFFDEL) from the U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee visiting Egypt. The STAFFDEL asked to meet Egyptian youth benefiting from USG assistance and seen as "future leaders." During the meeting, a USG-supported student expressed sadness that he seemed to be more accepted in the U.S. than in Egypt and wished to live abroad. The HEI scholarship students questioned his stance and asked incredulously "who will be the change" to carry out the work that needs to be done in Egypt. The Higher Education Initiative (HEI) program aimed to provide scholarships and training to Egyptian professionals. During the reporting period, the IIE Cairo team and IIE New York and Washington DC offices worked closely on managing testing requirements and placements for Cohorts 1 of the HEI MBA and STEM undergraduate scholarships in various universities across the United States. A significant project achievement consisted of the successful placement of 53 MBA participants and 21 undergraduates at U.S. universities identified as the best academic fit for each scholar. As of mid-September 2015, all Cohort 1 scholars had begun studies at their respective universities. The IIE team also worked closely with project partners AFS-Egypt (AFS), Education For Employment (EFE), Nahdet El Mahrousa (NM), and the American University in Cairo (AUC) for the outreach, recruitment, and university preparation of Cohorts 2 of the HEI MBA and STEM scholarships. USAID approved 50 MBA and 27 STEM undergraduate students to participate in Cohort 2 of the HEI scholarships program. Aside from the ongoing academic programs, STEP and its partners implemented five technical assistance and professional development and training assignments in support of USAID/Egypt's Development Objectives. These included an assessment of Youth and Adult Literacy (Y&AL) programs in Egypt, a mid-term evaluation of USAID-funded University Career Development Centers (CDCs) in Egyptian Public Universities, an assessment of local organizations whose activities are focused on gender-based violence or violence against women, training for Ministry of Education (MOE) professionals in Early Grade Learning (EGL), and training workshops on Viral Hepatitis – Ministry of Health. The STEP program aimed to provide scholarships and training to Egyptian professionals, with a focus on academic programs, technical assistance initiatives, and professional development and training initiatives. The program worked closely with project partners to implement these initiatives and provide support to Egyptian professionals.