Midaoui Announces New Reforms in Master’s Programs: Diversifying Training, Simplifying Selection, and Administrative Management
Given the rapid developments in higher education in Morocco, and within the framework of the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation’s efforts to enhance educational offerings and improve the efficiency of the training system regarding master’s programs, new amendments have been adopted to the national pedagogical guidelines. These aim to simplify the administrative and pedagogical management of master’s tracks and expand the base of beneficiaries.
In this context, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Azeddine Midaoui, clarified in a memorandum directed to university presidents that these amendments are part of a comprehensive vision aimed at diversifying educational programs and enhancing the employability of graduates, in addition to supporting the academic openness of university institutions.
According to the mentioned document, the new guidelines contain qualitative improvements, the most notable of which is the reduction of the time allocated to knowledge units, allowing for greater flexibility in structuring educational pathways and easing the pedagogical and administrative burden on institutions.
Midaoui emphasized in his correspondence the necessity of adhering to the spirit of these amendments and avoiding any interpretation that could undermine the objectives of the decision, especially regarding the selection method for master’s program admission. He noted that the new amendment grants pedagogical teams the freedom to choose appropriate selection mechanisms and integrate them into descriptive files, instead of relying on the previous model, which consisted of a preliminary selection followed by a written test. It should be noted that these files are still subject to evaluation by the National Agency for Assessment and Guarantee of Quality in Higher Education and Scientific Research, in accordance with its competencies.
On another note, the minister highlighted that the reforms included in the new guidelines reaffirm the importance of the roles assigned to coordinators and pedagogical teams, by enhancing coordination and integration among various university structures, whether at the institutional level or through the departments, thus ensuring effective governance in the management of master’s programs, both administratively and pedagogically.
