Challenges Action Taken. Nineteen students were absent from this training. These cases were communicated to IIE. Summer Internships AMIDEAST contacted a wide number of employers and we reached a final agreement with roughly 75 NGOs and companies to give priority to LOTUS students during the interviewing phase for any summer internships they have. Also, AMIDEAST reached a final agreement with Misr El Kheir to provide summer internships for our LOTUS students without interviews however many students excused themselves from this opportunity. No internships were provided to the 20 students who were studying abroad from Cohort 4. For Cohort 3 and 4, after the second Career Counseling step - Internship Preparation - and third Career counseling step - Networking and Mapping - students were taught how to search for internships and increase their own network by themselves. Outcomes: • BUE Cohort 3: 6/29 students were successfully placed and started their internship. • BUE Cohort 4: 1/26 students were successfully placed and started their internship. • AASTMT Cohort 3: 3/21 students were successfully placed and started their internship. • AASTMT Cohort 4: 4/22 students were successfully placed and started their internship. Challenges Action Taken AMIDEAST tried to offer internships for almost all students, however, the number of students who pursed internships secured by AMIDEAST is low. There is a variety of reasons for this outcome including some students not being a good fit for the given opportunity AMIDEAST communicated each case to IIE and on our last meeting dated September 20, 2018 IIE guaranteed that they will support AMIDEAST in the coming quarter. XXX has requested to schedule a meeting with AMIDEAST to debrief over the I n s t i t u t e o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n ( I I E ) Challenges Action Taken they applied for, some students’ weak level of English proficiency, and some students’ lack of interest in the opportunities. internship process and the various challenges faced in order to see if there are is anything that could be done differently for Cohort 4. In addition to the above challenges in securing internships, 20 students from BUE Cohort 4 were studying abroad over the summer and as such could not participate in summer internships. In coordination with XXX, AMIDEAST is working with a number of employers to avail a winter internship for the students. Lessons Learned/Success Stories • Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx,A Cohort 3 student, BUE, applied for a summer internsh...
Challenges Action Taken. One student did not fill the assessment - Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Cohort 3, BUE, is unreachable. The case was communicated by AMIDEAST to IIE. Career Counseling
Challenges Action Taken. Ten students were absent from this final career counseling step AMIDEAST tried to reach them through mobile phone, emails, and WhatsApp. These cases were reported to IIE. Trainings
Challenges Action Taken. Some students did not show up for several career activities due to various post-academic responsibilities including internships and applying for military service. Those cases were communicated to IIE. AMIDEAST decided to take into consideration ending the program earlier for the next work plan 2018/2019 to guarantee that all students will attend and benefit from all activities. Xxxx Xxxx Alexandria Project Specialists resigned from her post. IIE was officially informed and AMIDEAST is in the process of appointing a new Project Specialist for AASTMT students. AMIDEAST Career Component Activities Assessments TOEIC Post-Program Test of English for International Communication: AMIDEAST implemented the internationally recognized TOEIC assessment for the second time as planned at the end of the year for Cohort 3 students. The TOEIC provides an accurate indication of participant language improvement within a business environment, especially that most of the training and activities were delivered in in both English and Arabic. Assessment results could be useful for students when added to their CVs prior to applying for any internships or job opportunities. The assessments were given at AMIDEAST’s offices in Cairo. The majority of the students took the assessment on the originally scheduled dates with a few exceptions of students who took the assessment on other dates due to various personal reasons, while a few others did not show up. Reports with their results have been sent to Cohort 3 students. Outcomes: • 47 out of 50 students took the TOEIC assessment. Post-Program Survey The aim of the post-program survey is to document the change in students’ perception of their knowledge, skills, and abilities in order to document student growth in knowledge about the labor market, employer expectations, personal skills, interests, and the process of finding opportunities as well as applying for jobs. The post-program survey provides AMIDEAST with insights about which activities added value to the students’ experience and which were least beneficial. The feedback provided will help AMIDEAST to make any necessary modifications to the 2018/2019 work plan in collaboration with XXX. Outcomes: • 49 out of 50 students took the TOEIC assessment.
Challenges Action Taken. A Cohort 3 female student, BUE, is unreachable. AMIDEAST tried to contact her via phone calls, emails, and WhatsApp with no reply from her side. This case was reported to IIE. A Cohort 3 female student, AASTMT, was rescheduled on July 22, 2018. She was a no show. AMIDEAST reported this case to IIE.
Challenges Action Taken. Although AMIDEAST arranged for the sessions after the students’ completed their academic responsibilities as a way to help ensure their level of commitment, attendance was still a challenge. AMIDEAST communicated all cases to IIE by emails. Delegation: Being able to let go and delegate tasks to others can be one of the hardest tasks. Students might get pressured and decide to do the task by on their own. They might think that explaining a task to someone else might not be worth the time and effort, and that they might not know how to tackle the task. This training focuses on what delegation is and how to delegate effectively and efficiently. Outcomes: • BUE: 10/29 Cohort 3 students attended. • AASTMT: 6/21 Cohort 3 students attended. Corporate Etiquette: After graduation, the ability to handle oneself properly today can sometimes outweigh even one’s technical skills. If students know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it with grace and style, they will have a competitive edge in their careers. This training taught students the importance of business etiquette as well as equipping students with business etiquette and protocol knowledge needed to perform in a corporate culture with confidence, know-how, grace, and efficiency in their first year at work. Outcomes: • BUE: 8/29 Cohort 3 students attended. • AASTMT: 5/21 Cohort 3 students attended. Evaluation and students’ feedback: • “The Camp was more than perfect, is benefited me a lot.”-, Cohort 3. • 61% of BUE and AASTMT Cohort 3 rated this activity as ‘Excellent’ for an overall rating of the Closing Career Camp while 23% of students rated is as ‘agree’ to the same statement. Job Xxxx Tools:
Challenges Action Taken. Xxxx Xx-Xxxxxx – Program Manager left her position for personal reasons. Xxxxx Xxxxxx – Assistant Country Director will supervise LOTUS till further notice. Moved the Career Counseling Club for Cohort 4 AASTMT and BUE from December 2018 to January 2019 according to students’ exams. Cases reported to IIE and both parties agreed to move the Career Counseling Club for Cohort 4 AASTMT and BUE from December 2018 to January 2019.
Challenges Action Taken. Despite the fact that students were notified of the training 16 days in advance, there were students who did not attend the training for a variety of reasons. AMIDEAST communicated all cases to IIE by emails. Challenges and Problem-Solving Training: This training session reviewed several problem-solving styles, strategies for effective problem solving, and a specific process that can be helpful in addressing problems that will help students in their work environment and professional life. The training took place on November 2, 2018 for Cohort 4 BUE students at AMIDEAST Heliopolis and for Cohort 4 AASTMT students, the training took place on November 16, 2018 at AASTMT Xxx xxxx. Outcomes: • BUE: 16/26 Cohort 4 students attended. • AASTMT: 17/22 Cohort 4 students attended. Evaluation and student feedback: • 7% of AASTMT Cohort 4 rated it as ‘good’ for an overall rating of the workshop, while 47 % rated it as ‘neutral’, 20% rated it as ‘poor’ and 26% rated it as ‘very poor’. • 31% of BUE Cohort 4 rated it as ‘excellent’ for an overall rating of the workshop, while 50% rated it as ‘good’ and 19% rated as ‘neutral’.
Challenges Action Taken. Despite the fact that students were notified of the training 10 days in advance, there were students who did not attend the training for a variety of reasons. AMIDEAST communicated all cases to IIE by emails. The evaluation analysis of the challenges and problem-solving training for Cohort 4, AASTMT showed low rating of the overall evaluation of the workshop. AMIDEAST took an immediate action and will not use the same trainer again in any upcoming trainings for the LOTUS scholarship program.
Challenges Action Taken. Despite the fact that students were notified of the training in advance, there were students who did not attend the training the following reasons: 1- AMIDEAST communicated all cases to IIE by emails.
