USAID/Lebanon Higher Education Capacity Development Program
Project Director:
EDC Staff:
Funded by:
U.S. Agency for International Development
Partners:
American University of Science and Technology, Antonine University, Beirut Arab University, Centre MINE at Lebanese University, Haigazian University, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Islamic University of Lebanon, Notre Dame University-Louaize, Sagesse University, Saint Joseph University of Beirut
Services:
Design & DevelopmentImplementation
Region:
Middle East
Duration:
2019-2025
Challenge
Despite the high levels of tertiary education in Lebanon, the supply of highly skilled workers is not keeping up with employer demand. To increase their productivity and competitiveness, Lebanese employers need educated graduates with mastery in targeted job readiness skills. This requires that Lebanese higher education institutions (HEIs) improve their capacity to effectively train new labor market entrants.
To meet this need, EDC implemented USAID’s five-year Higher Education Capacity Development (HECD) program. HECD supported Lebanese HEIs in improving their administrative, academic, and job readiness capacity to better prepare graduates for employment and success in the labor market.
Key Activities
HECD staff conducted the following activities:
- Facilitated a Continuous Institutional Maturity Assessment (CIMA) semi-annually with each HEI partner to identify priority HEI capacity-building needs and related project assistance.
- Introduced innovative teaching and learning materials focused on job readiness skills, including EDC’s Work Ready Now, Be Your Own Boss, Design Thinking, and Work-Based Learning programs
- Provided training-of-trainer programs, professional development workshops, and mentoring and coaching for university administrators and instructors
- Delivered HEI institutional capacity-building training covering alumni tracking systems, career center, data integration, enhancements, employer engagement, and grant writing systems
- Promoted increased employment opportunities for university students
Our Impact
Over more than 5 years, HECD made measurable progress, delivering tangible impact across Lebanon’s higher education system:
- 19,000+ students gained job readiness skills, supported by 200+ certified university instructors trained in workforce development skills, entrepreneurship, design thinking, career services, and mental health for the workplace.
- Nine university career centers strengthened through training, coaching, and in-kind grants providing essential infrastructure, career services software, and institutional memberships.
- Lebanon’s first nationwide Career Center Consortium (LCCC) launched, strengthening industry-academia partnerships and enhancing student employability.
- 200+ students secured internships through partnerships with USAID’s Community Support Program (CSP), bridging academic learning with real-world experience.
