In recent years, Morocco has embarked on a digital transformation, marked by the modernization of various sectors, including higher education. With the support of partners, these advancements are becoming increasingly tangible.

Morocco secured a €120 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to digitize its universities, according to a financing agreement signed in Rabat on Tuesday, July 16.

The agreement was signed by Achraf Hassan Tarsim, AfDB's country manager for Morocco, and Nizar Baraka, Morocco's Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation.

The funds will be used to develop and implement new university training programs in digital fields. These programs will be tailored to meet job market needs and the expectations of national and international investors. Additionally, universities will be equipped with new computer hardware and their services will be digitized.

This €120 million loan is part of a larger €604 million AfDB financing package for Morocco. The other allocations include €200 million for the Territorial Competitiveness Improvement Program, €200 million for the construction of the 104-kilometer Guercif-Nador highway and €84 million for the Integrated and Sustainable Development Support Project for Forest Areas. 

The Moroccan government views this investment in university transformation as key to achieving the goals of its Plan for Accelerating the Transformation of the Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation Ecosystem (ESRI 2030). Launched in 2020, ESRI 2030 aims to create a high-performing and attractive higher education system aligned with the country's needs. It emphasizes incorporating entrepreneurship into curricula and promoting excellence and innovation.

Morocco has set ambitious targets: graduating 22,500 students annually by 2027 and increasing the number of graduates with digital specializations or competencies across all disciplines and levels to 50,000 by 2035.

Samira Njoya