The rector, Stéphane Pallage, concluded a fruitful one-week mission to Morocco on November 22, marked by strategic meetings in Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech. This mission aimed to consolidate existing partnerships and develop new ones with several Moroccan higher education establishments.
Accompanied by the rector’s chief of staff, Guy Joffroy-Lord, the director of the International Relations Department, Neko Likongo, and the director of the Alumni Office, Mélissa Veilleux, the rector increased discussions with around fifty university leaders from eight establishments, including Mohammed V University, the International University of Rabat, Hassan II University of Casablanca and Cadi Ayyad University. This mission enabled the rector to conclude eight inter-university agreements, including three student exchange agreements.
Among the key moments, the rector signed an application agreement with the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of Mohammed V University (UM5). This partnership, concluded with the Department of Legal Sciences of the Faculty of Political Science and Law, aims, in particular, to support the creation of a Center for Legal and Comparative Studies (CEJC), with the ambition of promoting innovation in legal studies.
During his visit to Cadi Ayyad University (UCA), the rector addressed some 150 students from the Center of Excellence Marrakech Business and Political Sciences School, highlighting the essential role of universities as engines of development and pillars of democracy.
On the last day of the mission, the rector traveled to the town of Ben Guerir to visit the futuristic campus of the Mohammed 6 Polytechnic University (UM6P), with its facilities focused on research and development, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, renewable energy and sustainable agriculture
Throughout the mission, the rector explored, with his Moroccan interlocutors, new avenues of inter-university collaboration in various fields, such as health sciences, film production, hotel and tourism management as well as as joint supervision of theses.
The mission was also an opportunity to bring together and celebrate UQAM graduates residing in Morocco. Two significant events took place: a reception bringing together around fifty graduates in Rabat and a graduation ceremony in Casablanca, where eight graduates of the Certificate in Administration from the School of Management Sciences were honored by the Higher School of Management and Artificial Intelligence (SUP’RH).
From the first day of this mission, the rector was received by representatives of the governments of Quebec and Canada in Morocco, namely the director of the Quebec Office in Rabat, Myriam Paquette-Côté, and the Canadian ambassador, Stéphanie Valois .
Morocco is the fourth most represented country among UQAM’s international student population. There are currently 325 Moroccan students registered at UQAM, the majority of whom (76%) are registered in 2e cycle and 3e cycle.
The rector was able to see the solidity and quality of the relationship with Moroccan partner institutions and the vision of development that drives the country. In his words, “Morocco has been experiencing for several years an academic revolution quite similar to that experienced by Quebec during the Quiet Revolution.”
