From the small oasis of Goulmima in the Errachidia region, Mohamed Boufarss embarked on an academic and professional journey that would lead him to prestigious institutions in Morocco and the UAE. The challenges of childhood and the difficulties of studying did not stand in the way of his passion for knowledge and his belief that education is a window to the world. Mohamed Boufarss was born in 1976 in Goulmima, in the Errachidia province, where he enjoyed what he describes as a «happy» childhood in a large extended family of grandparents, uncles, and cousins. His relatives worked in both agriculture and trade, providing him with a supportive environment and opportunities to acquire various skills from a young age. School, however, was not easy: he had to walk or cycle no less than three kilometers each day to reach middle and high school. These early challenges, he says, shaped his character and deepened his conviction that education was a gateway to the wider world. «Life in the oasis, and especially in what people call 'the marginalized Morocco,' offered me the chance to build a resilient character that saw education as a door to the world», Boufarss told Yabiladi. «My early moves to Meknes and Tangier, and later to Ifrane, helped shape an independent personality while exposing me to cultural exchange and building friendships that continue to this day». He added: «The King Fahd School of Translation in Tangier, and its highly capable administration at the time, played a major role in raising my awareness, instilling respect for punctuality, and developing a spirit of selflessness». Beginnings at Al Akhawayn In 2001, Boufarss began his professional career at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane. «The university marked the start of my career path and my entry into the world of libraries», he recalls. «My name was nominated among a group of King Fahd students to work at Al Akhawayn, which led me to the university library». He started as a librarian's assistant before becoming supervisor of user services, then eventually left both the university and Morocco for the UAE. Boufarss had not planned to live abroad, but in late 2004 he received an offer from the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research in Abu Dhabi. He seized the opportunity, given the institution's academic stature and the country's renaissance at the time. «In reality, I faced no real difficulties in moving to the UAE, since I had a full government contract covering housing, furniture, and school fees for my children. The only challenge was the geographical distance, especially since my parents were still alive», he said. His background in languages and his professional experience in multilingual, multicultural environments in Morocco helped him integrate smoothly into Emirati society. From 2004, his career in the UAE spanned leading institutions. At the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, he worked as a technical specialist providing researchers with journals and electronic resources in politics, economics, and social sciences, and later as acting head of public and reference services. In 2007, he joined the Petroleum Institute, where he was responsible for cataloging and classification, as well as supporting students and researchers with search processes and developing information literacy. Education and Research Boufarss continued his own education in the UAE. In 2010, he earned a second master's degree from an Australian university, which paved the way for executive roles and inspired him to pursue a PhD in Finland. He went on to become one of the region's rare experts in open access, scholarly communication, and scientific policy. In 2020, he shifted from academia and research to help lay the foundations of the House of Wisdom, a public library and cultural center in Sharjah. «I was convinced this project would be a qualitative leap for public libraries in the UAE and the Arab world. I wanted to leave my mark», he said. «I was in charge of preparations, equipping the library, and setting up policies and infrastructure. It makes me proud that many libraries now look to the House of Wisdom as a reference and a source of inspiration». In 2025, he joined Zayed University as head of assessment and user services in its libraries, focusing on performance evaluation, user services, and continuous improvement. «I rely on data-driven planning and decision-making», he explained, adding that he also teaches courses on information literacy and research support. A Lasting Bond with Morocco Despite years abroad, Boufarss stresses that Morocco remains more than geography: it is history, kinship, and friendship. He maintains ties through family visits, as well as constant communication when possible, though the pandemic and his PhD slowed this pace. He prefers to describe himself as a «Moroccan of the world» rather than an «immigrant». The former, he says, conveys carrying Moroccan identity everywhere, while the latter may carry negative connotations. «Recalling one's Moroccan identity abroad means acting and interacting in ways that do not harm the mother country, striving to be ambassadors for Morocco without pretension or defensiveness. A person's behavior and reputation can be more eloquent than a thousand speeches», he said. What he misses most are his family, Morocco's cultural richness, geographic diversity, and mild climate. Looking ahead, his ambitions turn toward private enterprise. Last year, he began working on founding a small company. «I want to make a successful transition before retirement from government service, by co-founding a company related to artificial intelligence. It will soon launch in one of the European countries», he revealed.
