Rabat – A new cohort of 24 American Fulbright grantees has arrived in Morocco, embarking on an academic adventure that will span the 2026-2027 academic year. This diverse group of scholars and educators will delve into Morocco's rich cultural tapestry through a combination of research, teaching, and cultural exchange activities. Their journey will take them from university classrooms and film archives to Amazigh communities and educational institutions throughout the country.
Upon their arrival, the grantees participated in an orientation program in Rabat, preparing them for a year of immersive experiences that extend far beyond the capital. Their work will involve collaborations with Moroccan students, researchers, educators, artists, and local communities. The projects they undertake will cover a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence, cultural heritage, education, architecture, cinema, and social change.
The Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE) and the US Embassy in Rabat hosted a welcoming reception for the grantees on September 3, bringing together the newcomers and members of the Fulbright alumni community, MACECE Board members, and diplomats. This year is particularly significant as Morocco and the United States celebrate 250 years of diplomatic relations, dating back to Morocco’s recognition of American independence in 1777. Additionally, 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the Fulbright Program itself.
Exploring Moroccan Culture through Research
Among the 24 American Fulbright participants, six will serve as US Student Researchers, each seeking to gain unique insights into Morocco’s diverse cultural landscape. One researcher plans to investigate Amazigh representation in Moroccan cinema, conducting fieldwork in Ouarzazate, a city renowned for its connection to the film industry. Another will focus on the experiences of Muslim families from France who have relocated to Morocco, with their research based in Meknes.
Additional projects will explore sustainable tourism's role in preserving traditional kasbahs and ksour in the Souss-Massa and Draa-Tafilalet regions. Another researcher will delve into medieval Maghribi manuscripts and the historical significance of the calligrapher-sultan. Furthermore, a project situated near Taliouine will highlight the knowledge traditions of Amazigh women involved in saffron cooperative work, showcasing forms of knowledge that often remain embedded in local customs rather than formal educational systems.
Another significant project will engage with High Atlas communities impacted by the 2023 earthquake, focusing on the development of participatory AI tools aimed at reconstructing and preserving their cultural heritage. The depth and variety of these projects embody the uniquely Moroccan essence of the Fulbright experience, emphasizing engagement with local places, communities, and traditions that shape contemporary Moroccan society.
Bridging Academic Expertise Across Borders
Five Fulbright US Scholars will collaborate with Moroccan universities, creating synergies between American and Moroccan academic expertise. At Moulay Ismail University in Meknes, one scholar will investigate the connection between the Qur’an and human sensory perception. Another will explore the potential of agentic artificial intelligence to shape the future of education at Abdelmalek Essaadi University in Tangier. Architecture will be a focal point at the National School of Architecture (ENA) in Rabat, where a scholar will analyze urban and landscape dynamics through artistic representations along the Bou Regreg.
At Mohammed V University in Rabat, another scholar aims to enhance physics education accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, examining how AI can facilitate more inclusive science education. Lastly, a project affiliated with the Rabat Genizah Project will work towards the digital preservation of Moroccan Jewish heritage, in collaboration with Ibn Zohr University and the Museum of Moroccan Judaism. These initiatives blend technology with historical and cultural preservation while addressing key issues of access and inclusivity in education.
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistants will further enrich the educational landscape by working directly in Moroccan classrooms, engaging with students across various cities, including Sale, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Tetouan, Fez, Oujda, El Jadida, Safi, Essaouira, Berrechid, and Ouarzazate, with two assistants based in Marrakech. Prior to their assignments, the teaching assistants will undergo a comprehensive training program tailored to facilitate their adaptation to the Moroccan educational system. Moreover, the cohort includes a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching participant who will investigate how Eco Schools programs can promote sustainability education in both rural and urban Moroccan schools.
MACECE Executive Director Rebecca Geffner emphasized that the value of the Fulbright program transcends academic projects, highlighting the transformative potential of the grantees' contributions to Moroccan communities from Tangier to Taliouine. Their work addresses critical future-oriented issues such as artificial intelligence, education, cultural heritage, urban development, and human capital. “At its core, Fulbright is about investing in people and advancing cooperation,” Geffner stated.
US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Benjamin Ziff echoed these sentiments, underscoring the enduring personal relationships fostered through academic exchange. He noted that the Fulbright program has long served as a cornerstone of cultural and educational exchange between the United States and Morocco, forging lasting connections that extend beyond formal diplomatic relations.
As these American grantees undertake their transformative year in Morocco, nearly 50 Moroccan Fulbright recipients are traveling in the opposite direction, enriching their academic journeys in the United States through various programs encompassing master’s-level studies, doctoral research, Arabic teaching, and professional development opportunities. This reciprocal exchange is at the heart of the Fulbright tradition, where individuals cross borders not merely to study but to cultivate relationships that endure well beyond the conclusion of their grants. For the 2026-2027 cohort, these relationships will unfold within Moroccan schools, universities, cultural institutions, research sites, and communities, adding a new chapter to the enduring narrative of people-to-people exchange that has characterized US-Morocco ties for generations.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
