Morocco's Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation and the Italian Ministry of University and Research signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the field of higher education on Friday in Rabat. The MoU, initialed by Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Abdellatif Miraoui and Italian Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini, aims to foster collaboration in higher education, scientific research, and innovation between Morocco and Italy. «The signing of this memorandum of understanding between our two countries represents an important step towards strengthening our relations of friendship and cooperation, areas to which Italy attaches great importance», Bernini said. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation, she added, explaining that it provides for the exchange of students, researchers, doctoral students, and professors. This exchange will allow for a rich and diverse sharing of experiences, knowledge, and competencies. In this regard, the Italian minister referred to the Mattei Plan, an Italian initiative that she considers «a concrete example of this ambition», which aims to promote cooperation between young talents from different countries, especially in Africa, in order to foster harmonious and sustainable development. The minister also highlighted the particular importance of art and artistic expression in higher education, arguing that these areas are essential for the cultural and intellectual development of students. For his part, Miraoui emphasized that the signing of this agreement highlights the strength of the ties between Morocco and Italy in a strategic area such as higher education. «International cooperation in the field of higher education is of paramount importance as it focuses on the development of human capital», he said, emphasizing the pivotal role of mobility of students and research professors in «building a better world». The minister noted that more than 600 Moroccan students are currently enrolled in Italy, recalling the various university agreements signed between the two countries, especially during the first session of the Academic and Scientific Forum between Moroccan and Italian universities, held on April 30 in Rome. He also referred to initiatives such as the PRIMA and Erasmus+ programs, which highlight the magnitude of this cooperation, stressing that promising prospects are on the horizon, especially with regard to the mobility of PhD students.
