Twenty Egyptian women graduate from United States agency for International development STEM programs
As part of America’s support for economic development in Egypt, Twenty Egyptian women have graduated from prominent universities all funded by the United States government.
The women all received scholarships from the U.S. Agency for International Development to pursue undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees at universities in the United States.
Launched in 2015, this program is funding 62 women to pursue STEM degrees in the country.
The recent graduates had joined a network of more than 1000 Egyptians that the ageny supported with scholarships for undergraduate alongside graduate study in both countries.
The recent STEM graduates has received degrees from universities in the United States like Rutgers University, Arizona State University, and Rochester Institute of Technology.
Two out of the graduates were recognized by their departments as top scholars in their graduating class, and a total of seven received scholarship offers from U.S. institutions to pursue their doctoral degrees.
Quoting one of the graduates, Israa
“Being a mechanical engineering student at Arizona State University introduced me to different opportunities like working as an undergraduate research assistant and accessing high performance labs.”
The graduate pointed out that the program has allowed them to use advanced software and engage in scientific discussions with research partners and research mentor.
Also speaking on the graduation, the USAID Mission Director, Sherry F. Carlin,
“Economic growth here in Egypt will require a pool of talented women and men who can work for – and lead – companies that create cutting-edge technologies and universities that achieve research breakthroughs in areas such as renewable energy and ending infectious diseases.”
Carlin stressed that the global economy is moving in a direction where jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math are in high demand.
