The USAID Higher Education Capacity Development Program held its annual higher education summit on the 15th of February 2023 in the presence of the U.S. Embassy Beirut Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Richard Michaels, Acting USAID Lebanon Mission Director Amy McQuade, President of BAU Professor Amr Galal El-Adwai among ten Lebanese partner Universities.
Prof. Amr El-Adawi had the opportunity to serve as a main HEI speaker at the event where he delivered an engaging speech focusing on all the efforts that BAU and other Lebanese Universities are marking to maintain and enhance the smooth delivery of the educational services to the students in this recent economic situation.
Prof. Adawi also shed the light on BAU’s experience from the successful USAID and the HECD programs such as the “Work Ready Now” offered as a University elective course that enhances students’ life skills, opens their horizons and equips them for successful careers upon graduation. The same applies to the “Design Thinking” course, which was reflected in the teaching of the staff-members who had received the relevant training. As design thinking became a predominant aspect of all curricula taught at BAU, the staff-members themselves also became TOTs. This innovative culture is now disseminating across BAU and becoming fully integrated.
In addition Prof. El-Adawi shared the development process and enhancing the qualities of the BAU Alumni and Career Center where Concrete steps have already been taken, trainers for CV writing and interview taking counseling experts were hired to assist students to recognize and manage their social, cognitive and personality problems and to help them adjust to both the transfer into real life and later to their respective work environments. Along various workshops and other activities to help graduating students and graduates towards a smoother entry to the job-market and a better experience once they start their careers.
The summit also identified common needs, challenges, and opportunities to help inform forward looking HEI capacity development efforts related to HECD program goals.
iConnect
