Agadir, September 25, 2025 – The Political and Territorial Development Studies Laboratory at the Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences in Agadir organized a study day dedicated to discussing the developments of Bill No. 59.24 related to Higher Education and Scientific Research, attended by professors, researchers, and specialists in the field of higher education.
This study day is part of the implementation of the recommendations of the 2021 development model and the framework law No. 51.17 issued in 2019, as part of national efforts to update the higher education and scientific research system, enhance the quality of training, modernize pedagogical engineering, and strengthen university governance mechanisms, while addressing current national and international challenges.
Participants noted that the bill aims to restructure Moroccan universities by enhancing their independence, establishing non-profit digital universities, allowing the opening of branches of foreign higher education institutions, and diversifying financial resources, with a clear focus on placing the student at the center of the educational process.
Speakers emphasized the importance of addressing several issues related to the project, most notably:
– Ensuring the academic independence of universities in making their pedagogical and administrative decisions, and avoiding the dominance of the Board of Trustees over internal policies.
– Preserving free higher education and equal opportunities, especially with the opening up to foreign institutions and private sector partnerships.
– Providing the financial and human resources necessary to ensure the quality of training, strengthening infrastructure and equipment to ensure the effectiveness of both in-person and digital education.
– Enhancing the role of students and professors in university decision-making and ensuring genuine participation in representative structures.
Participants stressed the need for a participatory approach in preparing and implementing the bill, drawing on comparative experiences to ensure a balance between institutional reform and university autonomy, while enhancing their contribution to national development and scientific innovation.
The study day concluded with a set of practical recommendations, the most notable of which are: reviewing the structure of the Board of Trustees and the mechanisms for appointing its members, defining conditions and regulations for remote and in-person training, and ensuring that research projects align with community priorities, along with establishing continuous training programs for professors and students.
This meeting represents an opportunity to renew the academic discussion about the future of Moroccan universities and to formulate practical proposals that enhance the quality of training and scientific research, positioning the university as an active player in national and international transformations in the higher education sector.
Source: Political and Territorial Development Studies Laboratory, Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences, Agadir.
