UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM - III

The program aims to provide scholarships to Lebanese students to pursue higher education at LAU. The program's primary objective is to increase access to higher education for talented Lebanese students, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. The program's implementation began in October 2012, and the reporting period for this quarterly progress report spans from January to March 2013. During this quarter, significant progress was made in various areas, including dissemination, recruitment, and career counseling. Dissemination efforts focused on promoting the USP III program through various channels, including advertisements in leading newspapers, media appearances by LAU officials, and the distribution of promotional materials to public high schools throughout Lebanon. The program's brochure was also developed and distributed to public high schools, with a total of 7,000 brochures distributed during the quarter. Recruitment efforts involved scheduling meetings with public school principals, visiting schools, and presenting the USP III program to students. A total of 239 public high schools were visited during the quarter, and 4,945 applications were distributed to students. The program also received electronic copies of the USP III brochure from LAU alumni and friends, with a total of 15,950 addresses covered. Career counseling was another key area of focus during the quarter. A special career counseling workshop was organized for the top 150 interviewed candidates, with 150 scholars attending the workshop. The program also offered students transportation allowance, with 43 scholars receiving the allowance. Academic formation was another critical aspect of the program, with LAU student mentors assigned to every scholar. A total of 17 mentors were assigned to the scholars during the first academic year. The program's progress was also monitored through various indicators, including the number of host-country individuals receiving USG-funded scholarships, the number of scholars trained, and the retention and graduation rates of scholars. The program's baseline data showed that 85 scholars were expected to receive scholarships, with 34 male scholars and 51 female scholars. The program's target unit for the number of scholars was 85, with a retention and graduation rate of 30% and 70%, respectively. Overall, the USP III program made significant progress during the quarter, with various activities and outputs completed or ongoing. The program's implementation is expected to continue throughout the year, with a focus on achieving the program's objectives and targets. The program's impact was also assessed through various indicators, including the number of scholars attending LAU school visits, the number of scholars attending the career counseling workshop, and the number of scholars admitted to student housing and intensive English programs. The program's data showed that 12,000 students attended LAU school visits, with an average of 60 students per school. A total of 150 scholars attended the career counseling workshop, and 42 scholars were admitted to student housing. The program's progress was also influenced by various challenges, including the need to inform MEHE (Ministry for Education and Higher Education) and schedule meetings with public school principals. The program's team worked to overcome these challenges, with a focus on achieving the program's objectives and targets.