Midawi Clarifies the Facts About the Cancellation of Bachelor and Master’s Research and Reveals New Reforms in Higher Education
On Monday, Azeddine Midawi, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, confirmed that the cancellation of graduation research applies only to the bachelor’s level starting from 2023, while research projects at the master’s level remain fully intact.
During a public session for oral questions in the House of Representatives, the minister explained that the cancellation of research at the bachelor level was due to objective reasons, including a lack of academic training, an increase in student numbers, and the difficulty of supervision, in addition to the use of artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT that can automatically formulate research. However, he noted that the new pedagogical framework allows professors and specialists to impose research requirements at the bachelor level as needed.
Regarding the master’s program, Midawi clarified that reports of research cancellation are incorrect, indicating that research remains varied according to the specialization; for instance, in the exact sciences, it requires practical training, while in law, it can be conducted in courts, with the professor retaining full authority to guide the research.
The minister emphasized that enhancing higher education is a continuous and dynamic process, mentioning that the ministry had held intensive meetings with networks of deans and university presidents, leading to partial amendments in the pedagogical frameworks for the bachelor’s and master’s programs, the introduction of new knowledge units, and various teaching languages, in addition to establishing a new bachelor’s degree in higher technology schools and several other reforms.
In the area of university housing, Midawi unveiled a new public-private partnership approach for managing 127 hectares that encompass 23 university cities, explaining that this new method aims to overcome the limitations of previous public management. He referenced the opening of new university residences such as the “Dar Al-Bahith” residence in Rabat with a capacity of 600 beds and the “Tilila” residence in Agadir, with support from local authorities.
The minister also announced a review of the legislation governing the University Social and Cultural Works Office so that it becomes a tool for monitoring and support at each university city, under the supervision of relevant departments and offices.
For the current academic year, Midawi stated that research grants in the energy sector for doctoral programs will be launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, along with the opening of six new university institutions after delays in their completion, emphasizing the need to diversify funding sources for university social services with contributions from municipalities, regions, and the private sector.
