USAID Career Center Quarterly Report (July-September 2015)

The program is designed to provide youth with specific soft skills training to prepare them for the world of work, in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Executive Education and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. Component One: Establish Career Centers focuses on setting up career centers in universities across Morocco. This quarter, the university in Tangier provided a space for the Career Center and an office for two of the program's regional staff. The university in Casablanca reiterated its commitment to identifying a space for their Career Center, and the program had advanced discussions with the university in Marrakech regarding the Career Center. A proposed organizational chart and description of core services for the university Career Centers was drafted, including online self-assessment and diagnostic tools, advice on job search strategies, information on career pathways, and workplace connections. University partners in Casablanca and Tangier were enthusiastic about the hiring of the Career Center Director position. Despite the universities being closed and many stakeholders being away during the summer, the project organized four youth focus groups and met extensively with the private sector, university, and other partners. Next quarter will see deep engagement with partners to facilitate the physical operationalization of the university Career Centers and to advance the hiring of Career Center Directors. The project will also advocate for an office space for the Regional Coordinators in Casablanca and Marrakech as well as for the space for the Career Centers. Component Two: Work Readiness involves providing rapid industry analysis and identifying leading industry growth sectors. This quarter, the project progressed on its Rapid Industry Analysis, with five leading industry growth sectors specifically identified. The project aims to engage private sector employers to offer them a value proposition that relates directly to the performance of their businesses through work-based learning strategies and services. The program will also solicit commitment from vocational training institutions in three regions to host the space for the regional vocational Career Centers, with the goal of adapting the Career Center model for vocational training centers. The project anticipates being able to advance significantly in the next quarter the adaptation of the Career Center model for vocational training centers. An official visit to the Wali of the three pilot regions will help USAID Career Center to obtain the buy-in from institutions at the regional level and to develop public/private partnerships. The program's overall goal is to improve youth employability in Morocco by providing them with the necessary skills and training to succeed in the workforce.