The recent visit to the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) marks a significant step in the institutional mission between the Canary Islands and Morocco, bringing together business leaders, public officials, and prominent representatives from Ibn Zohr University. This gathering is a testament to the strengthening of academic and strategic alliances aimed at enhancing scientific research and educational collaboration between the two regions. Recognized as the largest Moroccan institutional delegation ever received in the Canary Islands, this visit underscores the commitment of the Canary Islands’ government to foster relationships with the Souss-Massa region, thereby positioning the Canary Islands' university system as a vital pillar in this cooperative effort.
The visit was meticulously coordinated by the Vice-Rectorate of Internationalization and Cooperation, allowing the rector and vice-rectors of Ibn Zohr University to explore the rich knowledge ecosystem at ULPGC. This exploration follows the recent signing of several collaboration agreements between the two institutions. During their tour, the Moroccan delegation visited key innovation nodes within ULPGC, including the Scientific and Technological Park Foundation, which highlighted the university's role as a catalyst for knowledge transfer and business development. Additionally, the Office of Knowledge Transfer (OTC) was showcased for its critical function in bridging research and the productive sector.
The itinerary also encompassed visits to the School of Civil Engineering and the School of Computer Engineering, emphasizing ULPGC's capabilities in training, technology, and research in strategically important areas for international cooperation. Nabil Hmina, the rector of Ibn Zohr University, expressed enthusiasm for emerging fields of collaboration identified across various domains, including Medicine, where there is a desire to increase student and faculty mobility; Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, with aspirations to establish a university sports city in Morocco; and Blue Economy, tourism, and technological innovation, where the public universities of the Canary Islands can leverage their scientific expertise.
Following this visit, the rectors of ULPGC and Ibn Zohr have committed to developing an annual action plan to concretize specific cooperation and mobility initiatives in the short to medium term. This academic agenda has been supported by the institutional collaboration of the rectorates of both ULPGC and the University of La Laguna, as well as representatives from the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands and the Department of Universities, Science, and Innovation, illustrating a coordinated effort within the Canary Islands knowledge system.
ULPGC's active participation in this mission reinforces its strategic positioning as a key player in the international projection of the Canary Islands, solidifying its role as a bridge between Europe and Africa in higher education, research, and innovation. Beyond the institutional nature of the meeting, this visit lays the groundwork for new collaborative avenues in critical areas such as engineering, digitalization, and knowledge transfer, in a context where university cooperation emerges as an essential element in addressing shared challenges within the Atlantic space.
As reported by ulpgc.es.
