In a significant initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of overcrowding, modernizing the educational landscape, and mitigating the brain drain of medical professionals, Morocco's Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation has introduced an extensive reform plan to revamp the university system across the nation. During a recent plenary session at the House of Councilors, Higher Education Minister Azzedine Midaoui elaborated on a series of transformative measures. These include restructuring Ibn Zohr University into multiple institutions, expanding the capacity of law faculties, enhancing digital infrastructure, and improving student services to cater to the needs of the growing student population.
One of the central elements of this overhaul is the reform of medical education, with a particular emphasis on the role of general medicine within Morocco's healthcare framework. Minister Midaoui indicated that the reforms associated with the third cycle of medical and pharmaceutical studies are nearing completion, with only a few pedagogical regulations awaiting finalization. The government is also in the process of establishing a new legal framework intended to elevate general medicine to a recognized specialty, akin to models implemented in countries like Canada and France. This planned reform will ensure that physicians specializing in general medicine will undertake focused training in areas such as family medicine or advanced general practice, thereby enhancing the overall quality of healthcare services while addressing the critical issue of Moroccan doctors emigrating for specialization opportunities abroad. "This reform will help tackle numerous challenges, including brain drain," asserted Midaoui, acknowledging that full implementation will require substantial time and effort.
In addition to medical training, the ministry's comprehensive plan outlines a major reorganization of Morocco's university network. One pivotal aspect involves the division of Ibn Zohr University located in Agadir into five distinct universities situated in Agadir, Ait Melloul, Guelmim, Laayoune, and Dakhla, while Ouarzazate, which was previously associated with Ibn Zohr University, will now be linked to Errachidia's university network. This restructuring aims to alleviate overcrowding and enhance access to higher education across various regions of the country. Furthermore, the ministry is advancing its plans to expand law faculties. The first phase of this initiative, which has received approval from the National Coordination Committee, includes the establishment of 26 new university institutions, with a subsequent phase set to introduce an additional 23 institutions, culminating in a total of 49 new faculties.
On the digital front, Minister Midaoui underscored ongoing initiatives to accelerate the digital transformation of Moroccan universities, aligning with Higher Education Law 59.24. The National Center for Scientific and Technical Research has already launched a new international digital learning platform, facilitating the integration of Moroccan universities into global online education systems. To support these digital advancements, Morocco has significantly increased its university internet bandwidth from 24 gigabits per second to an impressive 60 gigabits per second. In terms of scientific research, Midaoui announced that the European Union has approved a strategic agreement that grants Morocco advanced status in research funding partnerships, positioning the kingdom as one of the few Mediterranean nations to benefit from this initiative. Moreover, the ministry is preparing a new law aimed at transforming the National Office for University, Social and Cultural Works into the National Office for Student Life. This reform is designed to enhance services for Morocco's 1.3 million students through the establishment of regional directorates that will manage social, cultural, and student affairs at a local level, rather than being centrally controlled from Rabat.
As reported by en.hespress.com.
