USAID Higher Education Career Development Initiative

The USAID Higher Education Career Development Initiative is a collaborative partnership between Michigan State University, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Instituto Superior Politecnico de Manica, and Universidade Pungue.

This project will increase access to quality employability services through the development of sustainable Career Development Centers at these Mozambican higher education institutions.

These centers will rely on the expertise of leaders from Michigan State University to establish training and activities that ensure students, including women and persons with disabilities, graduate with the technical, entrepreneurial, and soft skills to successfully enter and thrive in the current and future labor market.

In addition to improving the skills of individual students, the program will also build sustainable ties between universities and the Mozambican business sector so that universities can continually adapt their course work and training to meet the demands of the job market.

Career Development Center staff will also gain in-depth knowledge of youth development, gender biases and accessibility issues, human resource issues, and partnership building through training.

Youth will increase soft skills, exploration of career paths, and job search skills, which complement academic knowledge and lead to employability in their chosen field of study.Private sector partners, through their partnerships with the project will have access to highly qualified interns and employees who have developed soft skills, achieved career readiness, and acquired requisite knowledge.Results and learnings shared with the Government of Mozambique, particularly the Ministry of Higher Education, to create and implement into the national plan for similar higher education career development center initiatives.The Career Centers will increase youth employability by creating career services that enhance the transition from education to employment by engaging key market actors and other