The United States (US) government, in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the American University in Cairo, celebrated the launch of two career development centres at Mansoura University this week.
“These centres will help students prepare for, and attain, employment,” said United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Egypt Mission Director, Sherry F Carlin, during a press statement of the embassy in Egypt on Tuesday.
“Students who use these career development centres will receive support to tailor their career paths based on market trends. They will also benefit from linkages between the universities and industries in the Delta,” Carlin added.
The USAID is working in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education and The American University in Cairo to scale up a pilot career development centre model, that resulted in thousands of employment opportunities for Egypt’s university students.
The $20m project aims to establish 12 university centres for career development at 20 universities in greater Cairo, the Delta, and Upper Egypt, that will reach up to 70% of university students in Egypt.
These new Centres will provide training, networking, and will link universities with the private sector to increase career opportunities, and job training for students, and alumni.
The Career centre staff will become qualified career service providers, empowered to provide professional guidance to students, ensuring the sustainability of the centres.
The International Labour Organization, a project partner, will also train staff on collecting and analysing labour market information, and will develop staff capacity to serve students with disabilities.
The USAID’s support of the career development centres is part of the $30bn that the US has invested in Egypt through USAID since 1978.
