The Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Azzedine El Midaoui, and the French Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, co-chaired the Moroccan-French Forum on Work-Study Programs on Wednesday, July 9, at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Tangier, part of Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in Tetouan. The forum aimed to «raise awareness among institutions, higher education establishments, and Moroccan companies about the many benefits of work-study programs, drawing from the French model and initial pilot projects launched in Morocco», according to a joint statement. The initiative also reflects the ministry's commitment to «promoting the professionalization of university education by strengthening ties between academia and the economic sector». The event brought together a large number of stakeholders, including over 300 representatives from institutional bodies, business leaders, and academic partners from both countries. Moroccan universities were also actively involved, alongside a wide representation from French higher education institutions. The forum also featured the signing of two key agreements. The first, between the Moroccan ministry and the French Embassy in Morocco, focuses on developing university training through work-study models. The second, signed with the French Institute of Morocco, «outlines the terms of an educational, cultural, and academic partnership» between the two sides. Participants reiterated the importance of strong institutional backing to establish work-study programs across several regions and pilot institutions. Priority areas have been identified in a roadmap for 2025–2026, which includes the rollout of initial training programs. The forum forms part of the broader dynamic of Moroccan-French cooperation in higher education, in line with the bilateral declaration of intent signed in Rabat on October 28, 2024, during President Emmanuel Macron's state visit.
