AUC, USAID Open University Centers for Career Development at Zagazig, Ain Shams Universities

In an attempt to help bridge the gap between university education outcomes and the needs of the labor market, AUC recently celebrated the opening of three USAID-funded University Centers for Career Development at Zagazig University and one at Ain Shams University - totaling 12 out of 20 UCDCs in 12 public universities in Greater Cairo, the Delta and Upper Egypt - part of an initiative to equip and prepare around 1 million public university students for the labor market with a comprehensive set of guidance and training in the fields of career management, employability skills and entrepreneurship -- free of charge -- to increase their competitiveness.   

Zagazig University

Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel Ghaffar praised the project, “The opening of the three University Centers for Career Development today is a great example of cooperation between the United States Agency for International Development and The American University in Cairo, which has served Egypt for 100 years and whose graduates are excelling in all positions.”

Abdel Ghaffar emphasized the importance of such a program for Egypt’s youth. “There is always a gap between academic education and the needs of the labor market -- not only in Egypt, but all over the world," he said. "This is why the career development centers are of importance to raise the quality of graduates to compete in the local and international labor markets. We hope we can have such career development centers in all Egyptian universities.”

To ensure the sustainability of the University Centers for Career Development and their services, an AUC team will train and certify the UCCD staff at Zagazig University as career service providers to university students.

“Zagazig University has always been in pursuit of modernization and development to serve its community," said Zagazig University President Khaled Abdel Barry. "It has served as a beacon of knowledge and foundation of creativity with capable graduates who compete in the job market and contribute to developing their society. Today, we celebrate the opening of three University Centers for Career Development that will serve not only students and graduates by preparing them, raising their competence and helping them find jobs -- but will also have a positive impact on the Sharqia governorate’s economy with its industrial, agricultural and touristic cities.”

AUC Provost Ehab Abdel-Rahman emphasized AUC's mission to serve. “The University Centers for Career Development project is a wonderful endeavor that is emblematic of AUC’s dedication to giving back to Egypt,” he said. "We are pleased to collaborate with Zagazig University to establish three University Centers for Career Development to prepare their students for the labor market and develop their skills so they can contribute positively to the business, industrial and agricultural sectors in Sharqia governorate."

Ain Shams University

Ain Shams University collaborated earlier with AUC in the field of career education when it hosted in 2014 two centers at the Ain Shams Faculty of Engineering and main campus as part of the pilot project, Employability and Career Development Centers. 

"As AUC celebrates 100 years of excellence in education and service to Egypt, we are pleased to once again collaborate with Ain Shams University in the field of career education as we celebrate the inauguration of the University Center for Career Development at the Faculty of Commerce,” said Ahmed Tolba, associate provost for strategic enrollment management. “This follows the success of the Employability and Career Development Centers established at the Faculty of Engineering and the main career center that we jointly established in 2014. Collectively, the three centers will provide more students with access to career guidance services, which will contribute to increasing their competitiveness and employability in the job market. We appreciate USAID's support in funding the University Centers for Career Development in Egypt."

To ensure the sustainability of the University Center for Career Development and its services, the AUC team will train the UCCD staff at Ain Shams University's Faculty of Commerce to become career service providers to university students.

Ain Shams University Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development Nazmy Abdel Hamid noted, “Ain Shams University has always been a forerunner among universities to embrace new models and approaches to serve its students and the wider community. The university is building on the success of the Employability and Career Development Centers, which we take pride in the fact that they continue to be sustained and successfully functioning. The ECDC at the Faculty of Engineering has provided different services to more than 11,000 students, while the main campus ECDC has served more than 13,000 students. The two centers have hosted six employment fairs availing hundreds of vacancies and internships for thousands of students and alumni. Our success will continue with the UCCDs, and we will continue to inspire model success and share our best practices with others.”