Cairo – In partnership with the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) honored 86 outstanding Egyptian women today as they prepare to begin their studies under the U.S.-Egypt Higher Education Initiative (HEI).  The scholarship recipients will travel to the United States to pursue Masters or undergraduate degrees at select colleges and universities. 

“The United States Government has a long history of providing scholarships and exchange opportunities to some of Egypt’s most promising students,” said USAID/Egypt Mission Director Sherry F. Carlin. “These women join the ranks of thousands of Egyptians who have participated in these opportunities and become leaders in fields such as medicine, law, education, business, engineering, agriculture, and the sciences.” 

Launched in April 2015, the U.S.-Egypt Higher Education Initiative supports scholarships in fields that will benefit Egypt’s economy and strengthen U.S.-Egypt educational ties.  Today’s group of departing students includes 47 women who will pursue Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) programs at universities in the United States, as well as 39 undergraduate students (men and women) who will pursue programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at U.S. universities.

In partnership with the Government of Egypt, the HEI program will provide scholarships to over 1,900 Egyptian students to study at leading institutions in Egypt and the United States.  The program includes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) undergraduate scholarships for high achieving young women from low income families to study in the United States.

For more information about HEI, visithttp://egypt.usembassy.gov/hiedinitiative.html.

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