AUC and USAID Celebrate the Inauguration of Two University Centers for Career Development at Alexandria University
November 29, 2018, Alexandria – The American University in Cairo (AUC) celebrated today the opening of two university career development centers at Alexandria University funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The event was attended by Rebecca Latorraca, USAID Deputy Mission Director, Essam ElKordi, President of Alexandria University, Francis Ricciardone, AUC President and Ashraf Hatem, AUC Counselor. The inauguration was also attended by Alexandria University vice presidents, deans and a number of university presidents and higher education experts in celebration of the inauguration of the two University Centers at the Faculties of Commerce and Engineering. The two centers are among 20 career development centers in 12 Egyptian universities, to be established by AUC with funding from USAID, in Greater Cairo, Delta and Upper Egypt.
Reflecting on the inauguration, Ricciardone said, "As AUC celebrates one hundred years of excellence in education and service to Egypt, we are glad to share our expertise in career guidance through the two career development centers that are established in partnership with Alexandria University. The value of those centers lies in the impact they will have in training the centers’ staff as career services providers, preparing students effectively for employers’ hiring needs and enhancing their employability. I wish to thank the American people for making these career development centers possible through the funding and support of USAID.”
Latorraca said, "In its 80-year history, Alexandria University has been a pioneer in education in the region, and it continues to make strides providing resources and opportunities to its students. This includes hosting two Centers for Career Development that will benefit its 62,000 students in the Faculties of Engineering and Commerce."
Emphasizing the key role of the two Centers for Career Development in preparing the students for the labor market requirements, ElKordi added: “The centers present an additional link for Alexandria University with the industry and will keep up-to-date with the competencies that our graduates should have to satisfy the job market needs. The range of career services, employability and entrepreneurial skills trainings that the centers provide will increase our students’ competitiveness in landing employment opportunities.”
“We are proud to host a University Career Development Center at the faculty of engineering and provide our students with the career management and soft skills that will help facilitate their transition to the working world,” said Saeed Allam, dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University.
Recognizing the value that the new career development center will add to the faculty of commerce and its students, Dean Said Al Saifi added: “The center will add a new dimension to our relationship with the business sector in Alexandria, ensuring that our graduates are well prepared for its needs, and are up-to-date with recent developments applied by the industry.”
The University Centers for Career Development project aims to give professional career guidance and a range of employability skills trainings free of charge to help Universities Bridge the gap between university educational outcomes and the industry needs. It will facilitate students’ job search through employment fairs and job announcements, and will support students’ entrepreneurial interests through relevant training.
Through partnering with International Labor Organization, the project will help in identifying local labor market requirements and keep the universities updated with those needs to accommodate for them in their curricula.