In Partnership with USAID, AUC Announces Scholarships to Second Cohort of Egyptian Public School Students

The American University in Cairo (AUC) offers scholarships to the second cohort of Egyptian public school students through the USAID Scholars Activity. The program, implemented and managed by AUC, will provide scholarships to approximately 140 students in the academic year 2021–2022 to study at AUC and several partner Egyptian public and private universities. AUC's partner universities in the program are Cairo University, Alexandria University, Ain Shams University, Assiut University, Mansoura University, and Zewail City of Science, Technology and Innovation. Scholarships awarded by the USAID Scholars Activity program are made possible through the generous support of the American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The USAID Scholars Activity program accepts applications from qualified students from all 27 governorates of Egypt. The selection process commits to gender balance – the inclusion of at least 50% female and overall accessibility – the inclusion of at least 10%-15% students with disabilities.

USAID scholar Mohamed Hamdy, a visually impaired student, accepted in cohort one in the program, is currently taking several courses in preparation for his studies at AUC. “I have been dreaming of this opportunity for so long. I have benefited so much from this program and managed to make many friends. As one of the visually impaired people, I feel equal to all my friends now, as I have received several training courses through this program. It is an excellent opportunity and especially for students with disabilities, as there is room for us.”

Amal Mowafy, chief of party of USAID Scholars at AUC, said: “The USAID Scholars Activity, which was launched in 2020 during COVID-19 in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, was still successfully able to recruit and register the first cohort in all partner universities.” She added that the program has also been delivering a number of non-academic skills enhancement activities to the scholars while ensuring student well-being under the new normal. “This program strongly builds partnerships with the government of Egypt, the private sector, and civil society to ensure broad outreach and sustainability of the activity in the future,” Mowafy said.

AUC offers twenty scholarships to study business, economics, and journalism and five scholarships to study sciences and computer sciences through this program.

Samar Hany, another USAID scholar from cohort one, who now studies nanotechnology in the Faculty of Sciences at Ain Shams University, said: “I have benefited so much from the English courses at AUC. Also, the [various] training has helped me manage my time and cope during COVID-19, and I have managed to win Cairo’s Kung Fu championship under 20 years while studying.”

In particular, the program aims to support the economic, social, and environmental development plans in Egypt by focusing on university studies in the fields of water, energy, agriculture, computer and artificial intelligence, data sciences by providing university education opportunities based on the foundations of knowledge, innovation, and scientific research and characterized by excellence, experimental education, entrepreneurship and preparation for the job market.

Besides the rigorous higher education, students have access to English language training, entrepreneurship training, career counseling, a semester/summer abroad in the U.S., job placement services, and holistic character development to harvest future scholars as change agents and transformative leaders in Egypt.

Applications are open until 10 August.

To know more information about the USAID Scholars Activity program, please visit https://www.aucegypt.edu/admissions/scholarships/egyptian-students/USAIDscholars