HIBAPRESS – Laayoune
The city of Laayoune witnessed, on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the headquarters of the Higher School of Technology, a ceremony for the signing of contracts for the development of Moroccan public universities for the period 2025–2027, presided over by Mr. Izz al-Din al-Madawi, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, and in the presence of the Secretary General of the Ministry, the presidents of the twelve Moroccan universities, and a number of officials and central directors.
The choice of the city of Laayoune to host this national event comes within the context of commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Green March, and coinciding with the historic resolution of the UN Security Council that reaffirmed the Moroccan identity of the Sahara, giving the city a special symbolism that reflects its pivotal position in the national development path, and consolidating its presence as a rising university center in the southern regions of the Kingdom. The Minister affirmed in his speech on the occasion that these contracts represent a practical step to translate the new model of university governance on the ground, and to link responsibility with accountability, in accordance with the contents of Framework Law 51.17 related to the education, training, scientific research and innovation system, and with the government program 2021–2026 and the ministry's work program for the period 2024–2026. He stressed that this workshop aims to establish the foundations of a modern Moroccan university, capable of contributing effectively to regional and national development, and of raising the quality of higher education and the competitiveness of scientific research. The signed contracts included twelve public universities: Mohammed V University in Rabat, Hassan II University in Casablanca, Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez, Abdelmalek Essaadi University in Tetouan, Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra, Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, Hassan I University in Settat, Moulay Ismail University in Meknes, Chouaib Doukkali University in El Jadida, Sultan Moulay Slimane University in Beni Mellal, and Hassan II University in Laayoune. These contracts aim to consolidate modern governance within universities, by defining precise commitments and clear performance indicators between the ministry and university institutions, which contributes to improving the quality of training, raising the attractiveness of the pedagogical offer, developing scientific research and innovation and linking it to the needs of the economy and society. It also seeks to enhance the employability of graduates by supporting initiatives aimed at integrating competencies into the labor market, modernizing digital and technological infrastructure, in addition to expanding the international openness of university institutions through partnerships and academic cooperation with foreign universities. The Minister affirmed that these contracts fall within a comprehensive vision aimed at achieving spatial justice in access to higher education, and ensuring equal opportunities among the various regions of the Kingdom, considering that this new approach represents a shift in the way Moroccan universities are managed, by adopting a logic of efficiency and results instead of traditional approaches. The ceremony concluded by emphasizing the commitment of universities to implement the contents of the signed contracts according to the set goals, and to continue efforts aimed at developing the higher education, scientific research and innovation system, in accordance with the high royal directives, and with the strategic vision of Morocco in the field of human development and advanced regionalization.
