IBTCI was selected by USAID to assist its Office of Education and Training in implementing the $57 million Higher Education Partner Program (HEPP) in Egypt. This was part of the Indefinite Quantity Contract for Human and Institutional Capacity Building. As part of its Labor Market Assessment (LMA) for HEPP, IBTCI assessed multiple sectors and sub-sectors of the Egyptian economy and identified occupations limited by a lack of human capital, technical innovation, or knowledge transfer that otherwise demonstrated high-growth potential. IBTCI additionally provided a list of academic disciplines in public universities and technical colleges capable of training students in high-growth potential labor sectors and recommended public universities capable of conducting applied research activities resulting in commercialization of research leading to job growth.
To support HEPP project implementation, IBTCI conducted a thorough review of existing assessments, surveys, data-records, annual reports, and national trends about Egypt’s labor market and higher education sector between 2011 and 2015. Over 100 key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted with government officials, industry leaders, and economic and education experts within Egypt. Five structured survey instruments were designed and used to collect data on the views of economic experts and business associations regarding potential high growth sectors and disciplines in high demand, the needs of business owners and managers, research and development services needed by businesses that are provided by universities, and human and institutional capacity requirements of highly ranked universities and technical colleges. Survey instruments designed and implemented by IBTCI reached an estimated 1,000 individuals.