AUC, USAID and Beni-Suef University Celebrate the Launch of Beni-Suef University Center For Career Development

July 16, 2018, Beni-Suef – The American University in Cairo (AUC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Beni-Suef University celebrated today the opening of on-campus University Center for Career Development in Beni-Suef University. The Center, which is funded by USAID and implemented by AUC, will help university students develop skills needed to prepare for and attain employment upon graduation. The center is one of 20 sustainable career centers that will be developed through this partnership in 12 public universities in Upper Egypt, Delta and Greater Cairo, providing access to career guidance services for over one million students.

The inauguration was attended by Sherif Habib, Governor of Beni-Suef; Mansour Hassan, Beni-Suef University President; Sherry F. Carlin, Director of USAID/Egypt; Francis J. Ricciardone, AUC President; Ashraf Hatem, AUC Counselor and Ehab Abdel Rahman, AUC Provost.

Speaking at Beni Suef University, Ricciardone remarked on the amazing development of the Province since his last visit several decades ago.  He said: "I am so pleased to return to this dynamic province today to celebrate this new collaboration between The American University in Cairo and Beni Suef University.  We thank the Ministry of Higher Education for facilitating this program, and we thank the people of the United States of America for their very generous grant provided through USAID.”  Ricciardone remarked that just as AUC's own University Career Center does in Cairo, Beni-Suef's new University Center for Career Development will introduce the students and the University to the growing industries and employers of this region.  He added: “This will enable them to better understand and meet each other's needs, as employers seeking talented employees, and as future graduates seeking promising jobs.”  As we celebrate our AUC Centennial with the coming academic year, this University Center for Career Development project stands as a proud example of AUC's continuing dedication to serve the people of Egypt.” 

The Beni-Suef University Center for Career Development will help students pursue their professional choices and facilitate their transition from university to the workforce. In cooperation with public universities and private sector training partners, the Centers will offer a comprehensive package of guidance and training in career management, employability skills, technical training, and entrepreneurship. The AUC team will also train the Beni Suef University center staff to sustain the delivery of career guidance services to university students.

“These centers will help students prepare for, and attain, employment,” said 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 Upper Egypt.”

President of Beni-Suef University, Hassan, expressed his happiness with the opening of the University Center for Career Development: “This center is considered an advanced and unique initiative to connect the University, its students and graduates to the labor market in an exceptional way and strengthens the role of the university in advancing the economy and the country, particularly in Beni Suef Governorate.”  He pointed out that the services of the Center should be extended to cover students in all universities in Beni-Suef.