July 15, 2019, Sharqiya – The American University in Cairo (AUC) celebrated today the opening of three university career development centers at Zagazig University funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The event was attended by Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, minister of higher education and scientific research; Mamdouh Ghorab, governor of Sharqia; Khaled Abdel Barry, president of Zagazig University; Sherry Carlin, director of USAID/Egypt; Ashraf Hatem, AUC counselor; and Ehab Abdel Rahman, AUC provost. Senior officials in Sharqia governorate and businessmen in 10th of Ramadan City and Zagazig also attended the opening ceremony. “The University Centers for Career Development project is a wonderful endeavor that is emblematic of AUC’s dedication to giving back to Egypt,” said AUC Provost Ehab Abdel-Rahman. "We are pleased to collaborate with Zagazig University to establish three Career 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. We thank the US Agency for International Development for its support to this project, which aims to spread career education in Egyptian universities," he added.
The newly opened centers, three of 20 centers in 12 universities throughout Egypt, are implemented as part of the University Centers for Career Development project that offers a comprehensive set of career management services, trainings for employment and entrepreneurship to increase the graduates’ competitiveness.
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel Ghaffar praised the project saying: “The opening of the three university centers for career development today is a great example of cooperation between the US Agency for International Development and the American University in Cairo that 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. 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 the Egyptian universities.”
This inauguration comes weeks after the opening of the UCCD of Sohag University, making the UCCD centers eleven opened in Delta and Upper Egypt. The project aims to reach around one million students in public universities in Upper Egypt, Delta and Greater Cairo. It will help bridge the gap between university education outcomes and the needs of the labor market and industry.
“Zagazig University has always been in pursuit of modernization and development to serve its community. 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,” said Khaled Abdel Barry, Zagazig University president. “Today we celebrate the opening of three 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 positive impact on Sharqia governorate’s economy with its industrial, agricultural and tourist cities.”
To ensure the sustainability of the career development centers and its career services, AUC team will train and certify the staff of Zagazig University as Career Service Providers who are capable of providing career guidance services to university students.
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