Cairo – The U.S.-Egypt Higher Education Initiative (HEI) solidified its public university scholarship agreement with Ains Shams University today through a memorandum of understanding signed by the university and AMIDEAST, the USAID-funded initiative’s implementing partner.  Through this agreement, Ain Shams will accept HEI scholarship recipients over a three-year period.

Ain Shams is one of five public universities participating in this initiative.  Currently, over 100 scholarship students are in their second semester at Ain Shams, Cairo, Mansoura, Alexandria, and Assiut universities.  As part of this program, students receive advice and support from counselors to enable them to achieve excellence in their programs; English language training to increase their proficiency; and opportunities to broaden and apply their learning through internships, community service projects, and study abroad programs in the United States.

“This initiative is one way that USAID is working with the Egyptian people to create lasting prosperity,” said Katie Donohoe from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).  “Knowledge leads inevitably to better jobs and a more prosperous economy.”

During this multi-year initiative, the U.S. Government is granting scholarships to hundreds of talented Egyptians to Egyptian and American universities in fields that will help them reach their aspirations and contribute to Egypt’s economic prosperity.  In addition to the public university scholarships component of the initiative, the U.S. government is providing scholarships to five private universities in Egypt, as well as scholarships for women to pursue business and science degrees in the United States.  All scholarship recipients pursue studies in fields important to Egypt’s economy, including engineering, commerce, science, and agriculture. 

The U.S.-Egypt Higher Education Initiative (HEI) is an investment in Egypt’s future that provides educational opportunities for high-achieving Egyptians to learn skills that will better meet the needs of a 21^st century economy.  In partnership with the Government of Egypt and the private sector, the U.S. Government is providing hundreds of Egyptians with access to higher education opportunities in Egypt and the United States and facilitating strategic partnerships in key fields to strengthen Egypt’s economy.