In a statement on Sunday, the US embassy in Cairo said the $25 million expansion brings total US investments in the career centres program to $63 million.

The programme is being undertaken in cooperation with the American University in Cairo (AUC) and the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Those career centres prepare Egyptian youth for – and connect them to – today's job market, providing a vital link between higher education and the private sector in Egypt, the statement added.

The statement noted that the career centre model will expand to 46 centres that will operate at 27 public universities, three technological universities and four not-for-profit universities across Egypt.

Speaking at the ceremony to make the announcement, USAID Deputy Mission Director Margaret Sancho said: "The $63 million University Centres for Career Development program reflects the strength of the US-Egypt partnership in higher education, as well as the US government's commitment to expanding education and career opportunities for all Egyptians due to our belief in the limitless potential of Egyptian youth."

"Through these career centres, the US government has brought the concept of career guidance and counseling to public university scholars and graduates for the first time in Egypt. Since 2017, 22 centres at 15 public universities have opened and served more than 300,000 students, resulting in over 25,000 job and internship opportunities," Sancho added.

The University Centers for Career Development provide students with career mentoring and training in skills such as leadership, problem solving, critical thinking and entrepreneurship.

The centres also track evolving labour market needs to inform university curricula and establish key networks and linkages between Egyptian universities and the private sector.

The United States' support for the University Centres for Career Development is part of the $30 billion in economic assistance the American people have provided to Egypt since 1978, the statement concluded.