Higher Education for Economic Growth project builds partnerships between industry sectors and higher education institutions to develop demand-driven educational programs and research, as well as to train highly qualified faculty members to build professionals who contribute to industry growth and productivity and stimulate economic and social development.

The project is implementing an innovative model through four industry higher education clusters in the following sectors: information and communications technology; energy and energy efficiency; light manufacturing; and agro-industry and food processing.  Each cluster includes the private sector, an anchor university, associate higher education institutions, and public sector representatives. The collaboration between industry and higher education institutions will help create and update curricula that articulate skills requirements defined by industry for high-demand careers in growing sectors. Industry Advisory Boards have been created to strengthen the link between educators and business leaders and to share information on the labor market, curriculum planning, internships and practical training, to match industry needs with educational programs.

USAID also helps develop the capacity of higher education institutions to perform applied research, thus meeting the technical and technology-related challenges of Salvadoran industry. The project offers scholarships to Salvadoran faculty and researchers for innovative Professional Science Masters (PSM) degree programs and other continuing education opportunities.

The project mentors and trains higher education administrators in evaluation practices, use of management information systems, strategic planning, leadership development, financial management, fundraising, and other demand-based topics. It also facilitates policy dialogue between decision-makers to promote the creation of efficient higher education policy.

At least 1,000 Salvadoran students will receive scholarships to study in priority academic programs linked to growth industry career pathways in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and higher education institutions will receive support in developing student financial aid services using a scholarship seed funding.