During a session in the House of Councillors, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Azeddine El Midaoui, unveiled a new strategy to restructure multidisciplinary colleges and integrate artificial intelligence into Moroccan universities, while enhancing scientific research through specialized institutions. The Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Azzedine El Midaoui, said that the multidisciplinary colleges created since 2003 have «lost their original identity». Speaking during a session of oral questions in the House of Councillors last Tuesday evening, the minister explained that these institutions were originally inspired by an American model in which students would spend «two or three years before moving on to major universities». Over time, however, they «strayed from that model and began offering master's and doctoral programs». El Midaoui noted that these colleges now cover a wide range of disciplines and that «their size has become excessive, with some enrolling up to 30,000 students, turning them into a burden». As part of the ministry's strategy, and in line with the recommendations of the Higher Council for Education, Training, and Scientific Research in its 2022 report, El Midaoui said: «We are currently rethinking the organization and structure of these institutions to ensure spatial justice, bring higher education closer to citizens, and respond to regional and national needs». He stressed the need for «a clear vision for Morocco's future challenges and emerging professions», noting that «jobs today are no longer local, regional, or even national; they have become global». The ministry, he added, has developed «a complete vision for the university map», which is tied to a draft law currently under review. Once approved, the ministry will move quickly to implement its plans. Artificial Intelligence Addressing the integration of artificial intelligence, El Midaoui acknowledged that the pace of technological change has caught everyone off guard. «Yesterday, we were talking about digitization; today, we are talking about artificial intelligence; and tomorrow, we will be talking about something else», he said. AI, he noted, is not only challenging Moroccan universities but institutions worldwide, both in teaching and research. He pointed to shifting research expectations, mentioning that «a Chinese university recently abolished the traditional thesis and replaced it with one or two innovations», while «other universities no longer want 300- or 400-page theses but two or three peer-reviewed articles». The ministry has set up a dedicated body to think through AI integration according to international standards. «We have introduced innovative teaching approaches», he said, «diversifying teaching methods, expanding training in artificial intelligence, data science, and digitization, and preparing a new generation of skilled graduates capable of keeping pace with emerging technologies». He also announced the creation of a cybersecurity innovation center in partnership with the Administration of National Defense and the Ministry of Finance, along with the introduction of specialized AI units in academic programs, «at least two in bachelor's degrees and three or four in master's programs». So far, the ministry has approved 550 programs in digital fields and 65 in artificial intelligence, trained 600 professors, and is working on establishing data centers through international partnerships, particularly with China. Scientific Research Turning to scientific research, El Midaoui argued that research within Moroccan universities «has not been foundational but rather superficial», noting that institutions «do not adhere to international standards». To address this, he said, the ministry has created research structures that will soon be institutionalized. These include new roles such as «postdoctoral researchers, affiliate researchers, non-Moroccan professors or researchers, research engineers, and research administrators». He also announced the creation of «specialized research institutions that do not award degrees but focus on strategic national topics to strengthen Morocco's sovereignty».
