Higher Education

EDC partners with higher education institutions (HEIs) globally and in the U.S. to enhance their capacity to deliver industry-aligned, learner-centered education and improve employability outcomes for graduates.

Three students seated in a row in a higher education classroom, with one looking outward and the other two looking down.

We create sustainable, context-driven solutions that integrate employability skills, pedagogical training, community engagement, and strategies for meaningful private-sector involvement. Our work includes developing adaptable work-readiness curricula, evidence-based teaching strategies, and tools to assess institutional development needs.

Recognizing that HEIs are central to broader social and economic systems, we collaborate with local and global partners to implement targeted programs that strengthen HEIs and prepare graduates for the evolving demands of the workforce. In the U.S., we work closely with community colleges to design new programs focused on creating pathways to high-tech careers.

In Lebanon, the USAID Higher Education Capacity Development (HECD) program strengthens HEIs’ capacity to improve academic and job readiness training, helping graduates meet labor market needs. In the U.S., our Integrating AI Literacy into Community College Programs project prepares students for AI-driven careers by developing AI curricula and providing faculty training, equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing, tech-centered workforce.