AUC, USAID Celebrate the Inauguration of Two University Centers for Career Development at Alexandria University
AUC recently celebrated the opening of two University Centers for Career Development (UCCDs) at Alexandria University's Faculty of Commerce and Faculty of Engineering, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). These mark the seventh out of 20 UCCDs to be established in 12 public universities in Greatr Cairo, the Delta and Upper Egypt, benefiting more than 1 million students.
Reflecting on the inauguration, AUC President Francis Ricciardone said, "As AUC celebrates 100 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.”
Rebecca Latorraca, USAID deputy mission director, said, "In its 80 years of history, Alexandria University has been a pioneer in education in the region, and it continues to make strides toward 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 in preparing the students for labor market requirements, Essam ElKordi, president of Alexandria University, added, “The centers present for Alexandria University an additional link 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.”
Sharing the same sentiment, Saeed Allam, dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Alexandria University, noted, “We are proud to host a University Center for Career Development 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."
Recognizing the value that the new centers will provide to the Faculty of Commerce and its students, Dean Said Al Saifi added, “The centers 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 training, free of charge, to help universities bridge the gap between university educational outcomes and industry needs. The centers facilitate students’ job search through employment fairs and job announcements, and support students’ entrepreneurial interests through relevant training.
By partnering with the International Labor Organization, the project will help identify local labor market requirements and keep universities updated with those needs to accommodate for them in their curricula.
