HIBAPRESS
Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa, President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, on Thursday in Rabat, presided over the inauguration of Lalla Asmaa University, the world's first inclusive university.
The inauguration of this university reflects the strong and unwavering commitment of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God support him, to developing scientific excellence and promoting innovation in the service of health, improving living conditions, and the socio-professional integration of the deaf and hard of hearing.
A statement from the Lalla Asmaa Foundation explained that this university, which enjoys prestigious partners such as the Pasteur Institute, Chicago, Louvain, and Montpellier, offers a free study path in audiology, thanks to four schools and 16 diplomas, ranging from training certificates to Master's degrees. It is open to all young people, whether deaf or with normal hearing: together, and on the same benches, they will become the therapists, interpreters, engineers, and entrepreneurs of the future. The statement added that society as a whole can learn accessibility by 2030 within this university.
The statement continued that Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa, President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, has thus opened the doors to an unprecedented campus, both regionally and in Europe, as it combines, for the first time, hearing treatments, sign languages, technology, and professions for deaf, hard of hearing, and normally hearing students. It is noted that the study path in audiology is free, pointing out that more than 11 centuries after the founding of Al Quaraouiyine University in Fez in 859, the Kingdom is once again presenting an innovative model for higher education.
The same source highlighted that Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God support him, who has placed human capital and inclusion at the heart of the Kingdom's project, and thanks to the continuous engagement of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa, now possesses an institution unparalleled in the world.
Upon her arrival, Her Royal Highness was welcomed by Professor Nawal Bouyhiaoui, President of Lalla Asmaa University, before she unveiled the commemorative plaque.
Prestigious Partners, from Paris to Chicago
On this occasion, and in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa, Mr. Karim Sakkali, Managing Director of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, signed five agreements, consolidating the university's position among leading global institutions in the field of hearing. These agreements were signed with:
– The "Reconnaître" University Hospital Institute in Paris. This is the first European hub dedicated to hearing and speech, bringing together the Pasteur Institute and three hospitals affiliated with the Public Hospital Institution in Paris: Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, and Lariboisière Hospital.
The agreement, signed by the institute's director, Professor Anne-Lise Mamessier Giraud, will enable the university to benefit from advanced research, from genetic research related to deafness to gene therapy, as well as expertise in pediatric audiology at Necker Hospital and adult audiology at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital.
– Montpellier. Montpellier University, an extension of the oldest continuously operating medical faculty in the Western world, along with the "Audiocampus" center and the Cochlear Academy, represented by Mr. François Pierrot, Vice-President of the University for International Relations, Professor Jean-Luc Puel, and Mr. Karim Abdennour, Director for Africa.
The agreement aims to transfer the training model for hearing aid professions and cochlear implantation to Morocco, and to open prospects for research and support for specialized diplomas in cochlear implantation.
– Louvain and Brussels. This partnership brings together the Catholic University of Louvain, the Léonard de Vinci Higher School, and the Saint-Luc University Clinics, which is the first cochlear implantation center in French-speaking Belgium. It is represented by Professor Naïma El Dakdoug. The letter of intent establishes cooperation in French in the field of clinical care related to cochlear implantation and the training of audiologists.
– Mohammed V University in Rabat. The agreement was signed by the university's president, Mr. Mohamed Ghachi, and aims to strengthen convergence between Lalla Asmaa University and the Kingdom's first modern university in the fields of training and scientific research.
– The National Radio and Television Broadcasting Company. The public audiovisual media group, represented by its Director General, Mr. Fayçal Laarissi, who equipped the motion capture laboratory studio, is committed to collaborating with the university to train sign language interpreters for television and radio channels, prepare accessible programs for all, and open up career prospects in visual media for young deaf people.
The statement indicated that a sixth agreement was concluded a few weeks ago in Rabat with an American academic institution (Chicago), which provides expertise in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a specialty that originated in the United States and is virtually unavailable in Morocco.
This partnership supports the university's Master's program and specialized laboratory in Applied Behavior Analysis through the training of certified analysts, scientific supervision, and the exchange of professors and students.
The statement quoted Mr. Karim Sakkali, Managing Director of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, as saying: "The Foundation has been providing care for years, and today, it is training those who will provide care in the future, and it is working to train them together, whether they are deaf or have normal hearing. This is Her Royal Highness's vision: for inclusion to become the norm."
Four Schools, from Professional Certificate to Master's
Lalla Asmaa University comprises four schools offering 16 diplomas and providing 3,500 places, in addition to a dormitory that will open its doors from 2027 onwards to students from various regions of the Kingdom and from abroad. These include:
– School of Audiology, Communication, and Clinical Neuroscience: This school offers a free study path, including audiology, speech therapy, audiology-vocal therapy, family counseling, and clinical psychology, to support children, adults, and families, applied behavior analysis, as well as a diploma in cochlear implantation for ENT surgeons.
– School of Sign Languages, Interpreting, and Accessibility: This school is dedicated to training sign language interpreters, specialized teachers, and professionals in inclusive media.
– Inclusive School of Technologies, Innovation, and Digital Creativity: This school includes specializations in computer science, artificial intelligence, graphic design, and digital art.
– Inclusive School of Professions and Vocational Training: This school includes specializations in information design (infographics), pastry and chocolate making, cooking and services, as well as Microsoft certification.
Seven Laboratories for Research, Therapy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship
The new university hosts seven laboratories:
1- Innovation Lab: A research laboratory in artificial intelligence and humanoid robots that learn to communicate in sign languages used worldwide.
2 – Motion Lab: A motion capture studio, equipped by the National Radio and Television Broadcasting Company, dedicated to recording Moroccan sign language for the development of sign language avatars, the production of pedagogical capsules, and the creation of a reference visual dictionary.
3- Inclusion Lab: An incubator established as part of a Moroccan-Belgian cooperation, focused on guidance, development of communication and relational skills, and entrepreneurship, leading to the creation of companies.
4- Digital Lab: A digital space where students design websites, applications, and software, and learn how to develop and ensure their continuous operation.
5- ENT Anatomy Laboratory: Allows surgeons to practice cochlear implantation surgical procedures with extreme precision before performing them.
6- Audiology Laboratory: Enables hearing tests and adjustment of hearing aids in realistic conditions.
7- Applied Behavior Analysis Laboratory: Allows learning how to support children with other developmental needs through a series of sessions.
Thanks to Lalla Asmaa University, a baccalaureate holder, whether with normal hearing or deaf, can become a specialist in the fields of audiology, speech therapy, clinical psychology, sign language interpreting, artificial intelligence development, and chocolate making. ENT doctors at the university will also be able to specialize in cochlear implantation.
According to the statement, a banking institution will send its employees to the university for training in receiving deaf customers, while a hotel establishment will send its reception staff, and reception teams at a 2030 World Cup stadium will receive similar training. The list of students will also include young people benefiting from the Foundation's support services, including a significant number who underwent cochlear implantation in childhood and can now speak, and who will follow the same training paths at the university as their peers.
The same source added that Morocco, which will co-host the 2030 Football World Cup with Spain and Portugal, will welcome all visitors, including the deaf and hard of hearing, at stadiums, hotels, transportation, and public facilities. It indicated that the university is already working to train the professionals who will be responsible for reception and direct communication with visitors, particularly guides, hotel and stadium reception staff, and employees of banking institutions and administrations.
On this occasion, Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa toured the laboratories and workshops before meeting with faculty members.
During Her Royal Highness's visit to the various spaces of the university, she was accompanied by Professor Abdelaziz El Raji and Professor Naïma El Dakdoug in the cochlear implantation simulation area, Mr. Philippe Castro, designer of the audiology laboratory, Mr. Fayçal Laarissi, at the Motion Lab studio, Ms. Loubna Tricha, Director General of the Vocational Training and Employment Promotion Office, in the cooking workshops, Mr. Amine Mezouagi, Director General of the Digital Development Agency, in the digitalization laboratory, His Excellency Mr. Gilles Heyvaert, Belgian Ambassador to Morocco, in the Inclusion Lab, Ms. Loubna Jazouli Hadid, Director General of "Decenture," in the Innovation Lab, as well as Ms. Soumia Errass and Professor Leila Sqalli in the hearing aid laboratory.
