The Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Abdellatif Miraoui, held talks on Monday in Paris with the French Minister of Higher Education and Research, Sylvie Retailleau, focused on the examination of issues of common interest and means of strengthening bilateral cooperation.
During this interview, held on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Science and Technology Policy Committee of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), scheduled for April 23 and 24, 2024 at the Organization’s headquarters in Paris, under the theme “Shared challenges, transformative actions”, the two ministers welcomed the results of cooperation in higher education, scientific research and innovation.
They also expressed their mutual commitment to further strengthen this cooperation, thus contributing to the economic and social development of the two countries and the region.
“France is one of Morocco’s first scientific partner countries,” declared Miraoui at the end of his exchange with his French counterpart, noting that the discussions focused on “the major projects that we are going to implement. place jointly for our Moroccan and French universities”.
The main axes of these projects include the mobility of students, teacher-researchers and administrators, as well as the lifelong training of human capital in universities, the minister specified.
The two parties also discussed the “doctoral student monitors” program, an initiative aimed at training 1,000 executives capable of meeting the challenge of scientific research, as well as the creation of structures, laboratories and joint research institutes on major themes. such as water, energy and artificial intelligence, he continued.
“The challenges we face today are of paramount importance, and no country can address them alone,” observed the minister. “As part of our exchanges with France, in particular, but also with all of Europe, we plan to carry out several joint activities,” he added.
Highlighting “the dynamism” of today’s youth, who demonstrate a strong desire for internationalization and mobility, Mr. Miraoui underlined the importance of political commitment in creating an environment conducive to the realization of the aspirations of young people.
For her part, Ms. Retailleau highlighted “the common desire” to continue the “long-standing” collaboration between the higher education and research establishments of the two countries, through numerous projects.
This common desire, she continued, is driven by a real desire and a desire to tackle together the challenges facing young people.
“By pooling our strengths, our skills, our knowledge, we believe we can effectively meet today’s challenges facing our youth, to be able to offer them mobility, to open up to international mobility via research “, she said about this.
The institutional framework between Morocco and France has more than 476 interuniversity agreements identified since the 1990s, according to the Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation. This framework continues to expand, with the launch, in November 2022, of a call for projects for the development of double diploma agreements between Moroccan and French universities.
Some 46,371 Moroccan students were continuing their higher studies in French higher education establishments, for the 2021-2022 academic year, according to figures from Campus France.