The signing ceremony was attended by Sheikha Boudour bint Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the American University of Sharjah, along with the university’s Chancellor Todd Lawson, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Al Akhawayn University Abdul Latif Jahri, and its President Amin Bensaid.
This memorandum of understanding falls within the framework of a strategic partnership centered around Arabic and Islamic studies, language pedagogy, and emerging technologies. It also aims to promote cultural exchanges, collaborative research, and the formulation of a shared vision for the future.
Bensaid stated in a press statement that this partnership aligns with the foundational vision of Al Akhawayn University, which revolves around rooting identity while fostering cultural openness and technological advancement.
He pointed out that this strategic partnership seeks to enhance joint research and rethink methodologies for addressing Arabic studies in light of developments in artificial intelligence, as well as to develop innovative tools that contribute to cultural prosperity and the well-being of young generations.
Lawson affirmed that this initiative embodies a shared vision for borderless higher education, based on deep intellectual collaboration. He also highlighted the ambitions of both institutions to expand the horizons of joint research while reaffirming their commitment to the ethical and responsible development of artificial intelligence, particularly applied to the Arabic language and culture.
The two universities also aim to establish a joint center dedicated to pedagogy and digital humanities, incorporating artificial intelligence contributions to support research in Arabic and Islamic literature, cultural dynamics, and modern communication methods.
Additionally, this agreement opens the door to expanded cooperation in other fields, particularly in sciences, engineering, management, architecture, arts, design, and archival research. It also envisions the establishment of an open-source Arabic language database by compiling literary works, media content, and scientific publications that represent the cultural richness of both Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
The agreement stipulates the exchange of faculty and administrative staff, launching student mobility programs, and developing joint research projects. It also includes the joint management of theses and dissertations, the co-organization of conferences, seminars, and joint training sessions, and the creation of funds dedicated to supporting joint academic initiatives.
This agreement is part of the strategies of both institutions aimed at forming partnerships with leading international entities, supporting interdisciplinary innovation, and contributing to the emergence of knowledge networks capable of addressing regional and global challenges.
