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Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of Ain Shams University for Community Service and Environmental Development and Leader of the STEP Up Project, revealed the project's vision and objectives during her appearance on the STEP Up Podcast, hosted by Prof. Suzan El- Kalliny, Media Advisor to Ain Shams University, at the University's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (iHub).

She explained that the project was launched in response to the Egyptian leadership's directives to bridge the gap between university education outcomes and labor market needs. While the University has been working on updating its academic curricula and regulations, it also sought to provide an immediate solution for current students and graduates who need to acquire in-demand skills without waiting for the implementation of newly developed academic programs.

Prof. Farouk added that Ain Shams University conducted a comprehensive analysis of labor market demands and job advertisements to identify the most sought-after skills. Based on these findings, the University designed flexible, short-term complementary learning tracks that emphasize hands-on training and award stackable Micro-Credentials, enabling learners to progressively build their professional qualifications.

She noted that the project was initially launched with seven future-oriented tracks, covering Financial Technology (FinTech), Smart Technology (SmartTech), Digital Media and Content Creation, Legal Innovation (LegalTech), Global Educators Preparation, English for Teaching Science and Mathematics, and Geospatial Intelligence (GeoSUSTAIN). She added that additional tracks will be introduced in line with evolving local, regional, and international labor market needs.

Prof. Farouk emphasized that more than 60% of each program consists of practical training delivered in collaboration with partner companies and institutions, ensuring that participants gain real-world professional experience and are well prepared to enter the workforce immediately after completing their studies.

She further explained that STEP Up targets current university students, graduates, and professionals seeking to advance or change their career paths. The University has also partnered with leading industrial organizations and companies to contribute to program design and deliver practical training aligned with industry requirements.

Concluding her remarks, Prof. Farouk stressed that STEP Up is built on a continuous improvement model through tracking graduates' outcomes, measuring employment rates, and incorporating feedback from industry partners and employers. This ongoing evaluation ensures that the learning tracks remain responsive to the rapidly changing demands of the future labor market.