Ifrane, March 8, 2010 – The ambassador of the United Kingdom to Morocco and Mauritania, His Excellency Tim Morris, discussed U.K.-Morocco relations in an address to Al Akhawayn students and faculty today. Nearly 40 students attended the highly interactive event, in which Ambassador Morris discussed a wide range of political, economic, and social issues in the context of Morocco’s relations with the U.K.
Of particular interest were the discussions about projects undertaken by the U.K. embassy in Morocco, in the areas of sports, mediation, and conflict resolution, for example, and more delicate political matters such as visas and the Western Sahara. Ambassador Morris noted that commercial relations between Morocco and Britain still need development, but was pleased to see how “the Moroccan government is leading admirable and first-class strategies in raising awareness of new markets and trade relations.” He stressed the importance of identifying and building on opportunities for more cooperation with Morocco, as well as establishing common values and principles to foster the relationship between the two countries.
Later in the day, the ambassador was the guest speaker at a dinner honoring Al Akhawayn students on the President’s List. Here, he addressed the topic of regionalization policies around the world, a subject of particular interest to Morocco at the moment, and helped Al Akhawayn University President Driss Ouaouicha present certificates to the President’s List students.
IMF Engages Students at Al Akhawayn Roundtable
Ifrane, March 8, 2010 – Representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) exchanged views with Al Akhawayn University students on the economic policy challenges facing Morocco, the region, and its youth as part of a series of roundtable discussions being held in the Middle East and North Africa under the auspices of the IMF Youth Dialogue.
“These roundtable discussions provide an opportunity for university students to air their views on the issues that concern them most, such as their job prospects in the wake of the global financial crisis”, said Ralph Chami, Division Chief in the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia department. “Al Akhawayn students offered many thoughtful ideas and proposals for policies and we intend to present their ideas to our IMF colleagues.”
Mr. Chami added that he was impressed at the quality of the Al Akhawayn student contributions, their mastery of the English language, their visionary ideas, and their motivation to work for the good of their country. “Al Akhawayn University has an excellent reputation abroad, especially among IMF members,” he said. “When we decided to include Morocco in our roundtable discussion series, it was instantly clear that we would hold the event at Al Akhawayn University.”
University students submitted papers and gave presentations on different areas of Morocco’s economic development. The students provided a thorough overview of the challenges facing the country and had a thought-provoking discussion with IMF representatives and executives of the School of Business Administration. The discussion focused on students’ views on a variety of economic issues, especially employment opportunities for the millions of young people who have entered and will enter the workforce in the next decade. The discussion also covered the role the IMF can play in helping countries in the MENA region reach their economic potential.
The Youth Dialogue is an IMF-sponsored initiative aimed at engaging with the next generation of the region’s leaders. The objective of the initiative is to work with university students to gain their perspectives on their economic future and to contribute to the evolution of their views on the policy measures that will be needed to secure sustainable economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa.
“This roundtable session was a great opportunity for us to broaden our horizons through stimulating discussions on key subjects such as the development priorities for our country, the future of our economy, and the lessons to learn from the global crisis”, said Taha El Hajji, student in Al Akhawayn’s School of Business Administration and one of the presenters at the roundtable. “Such events help raise awareness among us, students, of our environment and allow us to link our theoretical and academic knowledge with reality. I hope there will be more opportunities like this that allow students to meet with experts and decision-makers,” he added.
The roundtable discussion series began in Lahore, Pakistan, and will now continue in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the UAE. The IMF Youth Dialog has a website where students and visitors can interact and post their thoughts (www.imf.org/youthdialog).
Al Akhawayn Women Win Regional Futsal Tournament
Meknes, March 8, 2010 - On the occasion of International Women's Day, the Al Akhawayn women’s soccer team, the Cats, took the top trophy in the annual regional universities futsal tournament in Meknes. In the tense final match against Moulay Ismail's campus team (Cité Universitaire) before a roaring public crowd at the University of Moulay Ismail, Al Akhawayn scored the winning goal in the last minute of extra time to give the Cats a thrilling 1-0 victory. In earlier matches in the tournament, Al Akhawayn bested the School of Technology (EST) 5-0 and trounced the Ecole Nationale d'Agriculture de Meknes (ENA) 5-1. Futsal is a variant of soccer, played with fewer players and with different rules. The Al Akhawayn team will next participate in an international competition hosted by Saint Joseph University in Beirut on March 18-21, 2010.
New Webometrics Rankings Show Al Akhawayn's Position Stable
Al Akhawayn University remains number one in Morocco, according to Webometrics, a directory of world universities ranked by their presence on the web, which has published its latest rankings of more than 17,000 higher education institutions worldwide. The latest numbers show that Al Akhawayn improved its position in the Arab world, to 29 out of 100, and is still number 19 in Africa.
The "Webometrics Ranking of World Universities" is an initiative of the Cybermetrics Lab, a research group belonging to the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), the largest public research body in Spain. CSIC is among the first basic research organizations in Europe; attached to the Ministry of Education, its main objective is to promote scientific research so as to contribute to scientific and technological development.
From Ifrane to Harvard Square: Al Akhawayn Students Visited Harvard University
A delegation of ten Al Akhawayn University students traveled to the United States to attend the inaugural Harvard College Students in Africa Initiative (HSAI) conference at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during the week of February 6-14, 2010. The students, representing all three schools at Al Akhawayn, were accompanied by Associate Professor of Geography Eric Ross.
During their visit to Harvard, the Al Akhawayn delegation stayed with students in dormitories and experienced campus life in Cambridge while participating in the conference. They also engaged their counterparts from around the world with a presentation about Morocco, and helped educate U.S. students and educators about the important role of Al Akhawayn University in Morocco and the region.
Following up on their week’s experience at Harvard, from March 14-19, 2010 a group of 11 Harvard students will come to Al Akhawayn for an immersive educational and cultural experience in Ifrane. The Harvard group will stay in university housing, participate in presentations and discussions, and also visit local attractions such as Fez and Meknes.
Through immersion in host institutions and close student-to-student interaction, the HSAI strives to put a personal face on global issues and allow participants to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the international community, while simultaneously building synergetic relationships between the future leaders of Africa and the United States.
A student organization at Harvard University, the HSAI invited delegations from select universities in Africa to come to Harvard for the annual conference, with 2010 being the first year. And each March, HSAI sends delegations of Harvard students and faculty to participate in similar conferences throughout Africa, organized by partner schools such as Al Akhawayn, the University of Bamako in Bamako, Mali, and the Polytechnic of Namibia in Windhoek, Namibia.
Water Course Focuses on Development and Environment
Ifrane, February 5, 2010 – Al Akhawayn University has concluded a 3-day national training course on “Capacity Development for Better Integration of Water Demand Management in Morocco.” The course enabled decision makers and water professionals to better understand the challenges and opportunities confronting Morocco as it responds to the growing demand for water and the increasing threat of climate change. It also helped identify ways to reposition water issues in the future, and to involve different parties, especially farmers, in decisions about water management.
The course took place at the Al Akhawayn University campus in Ifrane and was organized in cooperation with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Canada and the Arab Water Academy (AWA) in Abu Dhabi. It included 50 senior managers and professionals from government ministries and agencies, water utilities, private sector organizations, academia, and NGOs throughout Morocco. Among them were representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries, UNESCO, GTZ, USAID, the Office of Water and Forests, the National Office of Potable Water, the Center for Regional Investment of Meknes-Tafilalt, the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (France), and many others.
“This course is a humble contribution to the national initiatives that aim at better management of our water resources,” said Dr. Ahmed Legrouri, Dean of the Al Akhawayn University School of Science and Engineering, coordinator of the university research group on water and the environment, and a member of the board of the Arab Water Academy.
“Morocco ranks the issue of water as a top priority,” said Legrouri. “Indeed, the national Strategy on Water and the ‘Maroc Vert’ plan, which have been presented to His Majesty the King, are examples of the importance of water demand management.”
Dr. Asma El Kasmi, Director of the Arab Water Academy, also highlighted Morocco’s key role in water management, noting that “Morocco has incredible expertise and experience in this area, which needs to be made better known and much more widely applied throughout the Arab region.”
Al Akhawayn University is a natural leader in the field of water management, and the issue dovetails with the university’s commitment to contribute to the socioeconomic development of its region. In recent years, Al Akhawayn has hosted a pre-symposium on water, participated in the 2004 water symposium in Cannes, France, and in 2006, a UNESCO chair at the university was named, followed by a series of workshops, seminars, and conferences on water.
The course that just ended is one in a series organized by the IDRC and the Arab Water Academy, which counts Al Akhawayn University as one of its centers of excellence in the Arab region and Africa, and is the first organized in cooperation with Al Akhawayn. A third training session will be held in Cairo from March 1-3, 2010, in which participants will gain more regional experience from water management experts.
Al Akhawayn University Mourns the Passing of its First Chancellor, Dr. Azzeddine Laraki
Dr. Azzedine Laraki (1929 – 2010)
The entire Al Akhawayn University community is mourning the passing on February 1, 2010, of Dr. Azzeddine Laraki, who served as the first Chancellor of Al Akhawayn University (1995-1998).
The former Minister of Education, former Prime Minister of Morocco (1986-1992), and former Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (1997-2000), Dr. Laraki made significant contributions to Al Akhawyn University during its founding and formative years.
Dr. Laraki was born in Fez in 1929, and later enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris, from which he obtained a doctorate in 1957. He was widely accomplished in the field of medicine and education, published a number of scholarly writings, and was a high-ranking member in many national and international bodies.
May his soul rest in peace and may Allah grant his family patience and endurance.
Al Akhawayn Shows its Colors at Riyadh Fair
Al Akhawayn University participated this year for the first time ever at the International Exhibition for Higher Education (IEHE) EXPO 2010, a major annual event where over 300 leading universities, higher education institutions, and educational organizations from more than 42 countries present their programs to tens of thousands of students, parents, and educators from around the Middle East. Al Akhawayn was the only Moroccan and African university represented this year. The exhibition was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and ran from January 26-29, 2010.
Representing Al Akhawayn in Riyadh were Professor of Anthropology John Shoup and Mohammed Amine Kendoussi, Admissions and Outreach Officer. Armed with Arabic and English-language brochures about the university’s programs, along with posters and Moroccan cookies, Shoup and Kendoussi reported that the Al Akhawayn booth was flooded with visitors keen to apply to Al Akhawayn, to establish partnership agreements, and to find out more about Morocco.
Among the highlights for the Al Akhawayn delegation on the final day of the event was presenting a gift to His Excellency Dr. Ali Ibn Souleiman Ateya, Saudi Vice Minister of Higher Education. The gift was a framed photograph of the Al Akhawayn University inauguration day and was sent to the Vice Minister by President Dr. Driss Ouaouicha.
The exhibition provided an important opportunity for the Saudi community in particular to interact with international higher education institutions and universities, and to promote collaboration and partnerships between Saudi universities and international universities. For Al Akhawayn, participating in the exhibition was part of its continuing effort to enhance its international reputation, to strengthen university outreach actions and student recruitment, especially for international students, and to establish effective collaborations with other international institutions.
Water Demand Management Course Begins at Al Akhawayn
Ifrane, February 3, 2010 – Today Al Akhawayn University, the International Development Research Center in Canada, and the Arab Water Academy launch a three-day national training course on “Capacity Development for Better Integration of Water Demand Management in Responding to Water Scarcity in Morocco.” The course is taking place at the Al Akhawayn campus in Ifrane and includes 50 senior managers and professionals from government ministries and agencies, water utilities, private sector organizations, academia, and NGOs throughout
Morocco. Among them are representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries, UNESCO, GTZ, USAID, the Office of Water and Forests, the National Office of Potable Water, the Center for Regional Investment of Meknes-Tafilalt, the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (France), and many others...
Al Akhawayn University welcomes back for the start of the spring 2010 semester its students and faculty, both old and new. The campus is alive with activity, as students register for classes; campus services open after the mid-year break; and orientation sessions begin for those new to the university and the city of Ifrane including for the first time a presentation on the Leadership and Development Institute at Al Akhawayn University. Classes begin on Monday, January 25.
In his speech to new students and parents, Al Akhawayn University President Driss Ouaouicha congratulated incoming students for passing the difficult admittance tests, and addressed international students by inviting them to "talk about your positive experience in the land of tolerance and coexistence and be convinced that coexistence among different peoples is not only possible, but also useful in a world where economic, cultural, and information borders are being dismantled, as evidenced by the recent financial crisis." For the full text of the president's speech, click here.
This year is a milestone as it marks the 15th anniversary of the opening of Al Akhawayn University, which even in such a short amount of time has dramatically enriched higher education in Morocco and continues to reach new heights. And as it continues to internationalize and become better known worldwide, this semester the university welcomes a number of new students, including 150 freshmen (27 graduates and 123 undergraduates) and 47 international students. Also, within the framework of the exchange programs with different worldwide partner universities, this semester will see the presence of 34 exchange and study-abroad, 3 degree-seeking, and 10 continuing students from universities around the world, including Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mauritania, Oman, and the United States.
Ensuring National and International Cybersecurity
Regional Conference in Ifrane advances Maroc Numeric 2013
Ifrane, January 22, 2010 – A two-day international conference on cybersecurity organized by Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and New Technologies of Morocco has released recommendations related to cybersecurity that advance the ‘Maroc Numeric 2013’ program, Morocco’s digital initiative, that will strengthen Morocco’s and the region’s capacity to be leaders in the Internet age.
The conference was attended by participants from leading universities and government agencies in Morocco, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Bearing in mind that the Internet is intended to allow and enable open and free communication in all fields, including business, education, and private communication, the conference participants emphatically declared that security of information is vital to ensure safe and free communication among all players.
After intense discussion, a number of recommendations were adopted, including the following:
Integrate cybersecurity regulations in Moroccan law to be able to immediately react to the increasing number of cyberthreats;
Synchronize Moroccan cybersecurity regulations with the appropriate international regulations in order to allow for a consistent reaction to cyberthreats at a global level;
Establish programs for continuing education and training in cybersecurity for judges and lawyers, decision-makers, and other key stakeholders;
Raise awareness of cyberthreats among the members of the Moroccan community (children, students, parents, decision-makers, etc.)
Increase communication among all stakeholders about cyberthreats and cybersecurity measures;
Encourage research and development in the field of cybersecurity by working with different governmental, organizational, and academic institutions; and
Integrate cybersecurity into academic curricula in Morocco.
The formal recommendations of the conference will be available soon at www.aui.ma.
In concluding the conference, the president of Al Akhawayn University, Dr. Driss Ouaouicha, expressed the university’s interest in starting an academic program in cybersecurity that would follow up on the conference recommendations, and in playing a major part in the process of shaping Morocco’s leadership role in the era of Internet development and cybersecurity.
Both Mr. Taieb Debbagh, Secretary General of the Moroccan Department of Post, Telecommunications, and New Technologies at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and New Technologies, and Mr. Abdelhafid Debbarh, Secretary General at the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education, Civil Servant Training and Scientific Research, expressed their interest in making the conference a departure point for larger cooperation among members of academia, the scientific community, and government agencies throughout the world.
Overall, the participants in the conference developed a clear roadmap about how to address cybersecurity going forward, one that will guide Maroc Numeric 2013 and other similar initiatives in the region and beyond.
Al Akhawayn Turns Fifteen
Over the January 16 weekend , Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane marked the 15th anniversary of the day it opened its doors to students, January 16, 1995.
Visiting Ifrane on this auspicious date were ambassadors to Morocco representing over 20 countries from around the world, including the United States, South Africa, Bangladesh, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon, China, Congo, Croatia, Gabon, Gambia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Pakistan, Sudan, and Oman.
Kicking off the anniversary weekend, Al Akhawayn welcomed the new U.S. ambassador to Morocco, His Excellency Samuel L. Kaplan, on his first visit to the university since assuming his duties as President Obama’s representative to the Kingdom. Ambassador Kaplan and his wife met privately with Al Akhawayn President Driss Ouaouicha, and were then given a presentation and tour of the university campus.
On the conclusion of his visit, Ambassador Kaplan said, “We came to visit because as the U.S. ambassador I was obliged to. I leave being overwhelmed by this remarkable institution, its architecture, its setting, its interior organization, its faculty, and its gifted president. All are amazing. It has been a great honor to be here.”
On Saturday, January 16, the high-level visits continued as a group of ambassadors and their entourages arrived on campus for the night as part of a general visit to the Meknes-Tafilalt region. Following dinner on campus, the next day the ambassadorial delegation was given a presentation of the university and a tour of the campus.
At the sumptuous dinner in the Al Akhawayn dining room on January 16, His Excellency Francois Banga Eboumi , ambassador of Gabon to Morocco and the dean of the diplomatic corps in Rabat, joined President Ouaouicha in cutting the first slice of a 15th birthday cake as the dinner guests sang “Happy Birthday” to Al Akhawayn University.
In his speech to the dinner guests, Ambassador Eboumi said, “We wish this unique university all the best in its future endeavors. It is a distinct honor for us to be here on this important day, and we look forward to building strong partnerships between our countries and your fine institution.”
Azrou Center Gets Millennium Challenge Corporation Funding
Rabat, Jan. 12, 2010 – Al Akhawayn University’s Azrou Center has received funding of 100,000 DH from the U.S.-based Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). In an agreement signed between the Moroccan Ministry of Education, the U.S. Embassy in Morocco, and the Agence de Partenariat pour le Progrès (APP), the money will be used to operate a literacy program targeting local craftsmen, who will thus be able to improve their professional and management skills as well as their quality of life.
The overall program intends to train a total of 30,000 craftsmen, allowing them at the end of their training program to receive micro-credits and a grant to start their own craft-related businesses. The Azrou Center’s initial goal is to contribute to the literacy of 100 craftsmen over a period of 18 months, and about 5,100 people are expected to benefit from the first phase of the project. A second phase will follow in October 2010, serving 10,000 craftsmen. The craft industry in Morocco employs 2,100,000 people, 30 percent of whom are illiterate.
New papers by Dr. Ahmed Driouchi
The Al Akhawayn University Institute for Economic Analysis and Prospective Studies (IEAPS) announces five new publications. One, written by Ahmed Driouchi and Nada Zouag, both of IAEPS, together with Cristina Boboc of the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, is entitled “Interdependencies of Health, Education and Poverty: The Case of South Mediterranean Economies” and was published in the journal Estudios de Economía Aplicada (August 2009). Another, also by Ahmed Driouchi and Cristina Boboc, is entitled “Do Better Health and Education Enhance Economic Development?” and was published in the journal Economic Computation and Economic Cybernetics Studies and Research (2009).
Another IAEPS paper by Mohammed Abdellaoui, Olivier L’Haridon, and Ahmed Driouchi has just been published in the journal Theory and Decision, entitled “Utility Elicitation: Reconciling Tractability and Bias Minimization,” and is available online at http://www.springerlink.com/content/567691r8rk001475/.
In addition, the IEAPS has authored two research reports on “The Convergence of the Moroccan Economy & European Union Standards” and “Social Cohesion and Human Development in South Mediterranean Countries” within the framework of the FEMISE (Euro-Mediterranean Forum of Institutes of Economics); both are now available at the IEAPS at Al Akhawayn University.
Dr. Jack Kalpakian from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences has published a new article on "Africa" in The Ashgate Companion to US Foreign Policy:
Dr. Ahmed Legrouri elected member of the Board of Governors of the Arab Water Council
Dr. Ahmed Legrouri, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering, was elected member of the Board of Governors of the Arab Water Council for the period 2010-2012. The election took place during the General Assembly of the Council, which was held in Cairo, Egypt, on December 17-18, 2009.
The Board of Governors is the supreme authority of the Council. It sets the detailed policies and makes organizational and executive decisions to facilitate the work of the Council and its working bodies.
The mission of the Arab Water Council is to promote better understanding and management of the water resources in the Arab world in a multi-disciplinary, non-political, professional and scientific manner; to disseminate knowledge, and to enhance sharing of experience and information for the rational and comprehensive water resource development of the region for the benefit of its population.
