Minister of Higher Education Announces Upcoming Activation of Automatic Equivalency for European University Degrees
Follow-Up
Azeddine Midawi, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, confirmed that holders of degrees from foreign universities will enjoy the same rights as graduates of Moroccan universities, clarifying that the ministry does not interfere in the conditions for participating in national competitions, as long as the degrees are recognized.
During a question-and-answer session in the House of Representatives on Monday, the minister revealed the issuance of a special decree for France that establishes automatic equivalency for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees issued by public French universities. He noted that four new decrees concerning European countries, including Germany, Spain, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, will be issued soon, along with additional countries later.
In an effort to streamline administrative procedures, Midawi indicated that the ministry is in the final stages of digitizing the application process for equivalencies. He also mentioned that efforts are underway to transfer the responsibilities of the Legal Affairs Directorate to the National Agency for Evaluation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education.
Regarding university housing, the minister stated that the National Office for Social Works, now named the National Office for Student Life, will continue to improve university residences. A new model will be launched to manage these facilities through a public-private partnership, aiming to build 100,000 university beds annually, while the current number of available beds in the public sector is limited to 60,000.
He highlighted the review of the law governing the office, which includes the establishment of regional directorates and the expansion of its responsibilities to bring services closer to students and improve the quality of services provided to them. Additionally, there will be an emphasis on enhancing cooperation with local authorities to expand the availability of university housing across various regions of the kingdom.
Regarding the development of scientific research, the minister described it as a "significant challenge," emphasizing that new legislation for higher education includes mechanisms to stimulate research, such as creating positions for post-doctoral researchers, associate researchers, honorary researchers, and foreign professors, as well as enhancing the involvement of technical staff and engineers in research projects.
Midawi explained that the ministry is in the final stages of restructuring the research system, considering that establishing partnerships between the state and universities will be essential to revitalize doctoral training.
In response to a question about the low levels of investment in public universities, the minister clarified that only 40% of the investment budget allocated for universities was spent last year, with 60% of the management budget utilized, asserting that the issue lies in resource management rather than a lack of resources.
He added that universities must seek to generate their own resources, stressing that achieving this requires organizational reforms and clear, practical ideas to ensure the proper utilization of budgets and achieve effective investment.
