Morocco and Italy sign memorandum of understanding on higher education
Hibapress
The Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation and the Ministry of University and Research of the Republic of Italy signed, Friday in Rabat, a memorandum of understanding in the field of higher education.
Initialed by the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Abdellatif Miraoui, and the Italian Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, this memorandum aims to strengthen Moroccan-Italian relations in higher education, scientific research and innovation.
“The signing of this memorandum of understanding between our two nations marks an important step in strengthening our relations of friendship and cooperation, areas to which Italy attaches great importance,” explained Italian Minister Anna Maria Bernini, in a statement to the press.
This agreement aims to promote increased collaboration in the fields of higher education, scientific research and innovation, she said, specifying that it provides for exchanges of students, researchers, doctoral students and professors between Morocco and Italy, thus allowing a rich and diverse sharing of knowledge, skills and expertise.
“We are committed to creating opportunities for our young people to exchange ideas and experiences, thus contributing to a common future of growth and development,” Ms. Bernini noted.
In this regard, the Italian minister referred to the Mattei Plan, an Italian initiative that she considers “a concrete example of this ambition”, aimed at fostering collaboration between young talents from different nations, particularly in Africa, in order to promote harmonious and sustainable development.
She further highlighted the particular importance of art and artistic expression in higher education, believing that these areas are essential for the cultural and intellectual development of students.
For his part, Mr. Miraoui stressed that this event demonstrates the strength of the ties uniting Morocco and Italy in a field as strategic as that of higher education.
“International cooperation in higher education is of paramount importance, as it focuses on the development of human capital,” he said, stressing the crucial role of student and teacher-researcher mobility in “building a better world.”
Currently, more than 600 Moroccan students are enrolled in Italy, revealed Mr. Miraoui, recalling the various inter-university agreements signed between the two countries, notably during the 1st Academic and Scientific Forum between Moroccan and Italian universities, held on April 30 in Rome.
He also referred to initiatives such as the PRIMA project and the Erasmus+ programme, which illustrate the scale of this cooperation, noting that promising prospects are emerging on the horizon, particularly with regard to the mobility of doctoral students.
And to conclude that “this memorandum is intended to be an additional impetus and demonstrates Morocco’s desire to strengthen this cooperation, under the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.”
