AUC and USAID Celebrate the Inauguration of Two University Centers for Career Development at Mansoura University

The American University in Cairo (AUC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), jointly with Mansoura University, celebrated today the opening of two university career development centers at Mansoura University premises. Dr. Ashraf Abdel Basset, acting president of Mansoura University, welcomed the AUC and USAID delegations to the event which was attended by Dakahlia Governor Kamal Sharobim, Director of USAID/Egypt Sherry F. Carlin, USAID/Egypt Office Director of Education and Health Katie Donohoe, AUC President Francis Ricciardone, AUC Counselor Ashraf Hatem, and AUC Provost Ehab Abdel Rahman.

Commenting on the event, The American University in Cairo President, Francis Ricciardone said: “We are pleased to cooperate and exchange experiences with Mansoura University in the University Centers for Career Development project that will positively impact students, businesses, industry and Egypt’s economy in general. The project exemplifies The American University in Cairo's mission of service to the Egyptian society over the past 100 years. I thank the American People for making these centers for career development possible through USAID funding and support."

This inauguration follows the launch of two other centers at the Universities of Minia and Beni-Suef last July as part of the University Centers for Career Development project being implemented by AUC to establish 20 centers in 12 public Egyptian universities through USAID funding. The project aims to provide career guidance to around one million students, representing almost 70 percent of the public universities’ student bodies.

“These centers will help students prepare for, and attain, employment,” said USAID/Egypt Mission Director Sherry F. Carlin. “Students who use these career development centers will receive support to tailor their career paths based on market trends. They will also benefit from linkages between the universities and industries in Delta.”

Expressing his pleasure with the launch event, Dr. Ashraf Abdel Basset, acting president of Mansoura University, commented: “The opening of two university centers for career development at Mansoura University in cooperation with the US Agency for International Development and The American University in Cairo will highly contribute to the development of student employability skills, prepare them for the labor market demands, and increase their competitiveness. The establishment of these centers represents an effective contribution to serving the community in the governorate, which reflects the university’s pioneer approach in adopting new visions and implementing them to serve Egypt. "

The two centers for career development at Mansoura University will empower students to take concrete steps in following career paths of their choice and in making a smooth transition from higher education to the labor market. Private sector training partners will collaborate with the centers to provide students with a comprehensive range of trainings in career management, employability skills, English language and entrepreneurship. 

The AUC team will train and empower Mansoura University career center staff to become qualified career service providers and enable them to provide professional guidance to university students, thus contributing to the sustainability of the centers and their services. The International Labour Organization, a project partner, will also train the center staff on collecting and analyzing labor market information and will develop their capacity to serve students with disabilities.

Senior officials, members of parliament, presidents of private universities and experts of higher education in Dakahlia were present at the celebration.