APA-Rabat (Morocco) By Hicham Alaoui The World Bank is set to provide significant financing to Morocco, in the form of a $300-million loan, to accelerate reform of the higher education, scientific research and innovation ecosystem.
Aligned with the government’s program, this Loan for Results (LPR) aims to realize the Executive’s vision by focusing on key elements and objectives that will foster progress in these areas.
Private investment in Morocco remains below its 2019 level. To stimulate economic growth in the medium and long term, the World Bank stresses the crucial importance of strong private sector engagement, essential to creating jobs and strengthening the Kingdom’s growth. The draft Budget 2024 is committed to promoting private investment to establish a competitive, equitable and sustainable national economy, in line with the Investment Charter.
The reform project focuses on three main areas: improving the relevance of public university programs to the job market, and strengthening the governance of higher education and research. These axes include adjusting programs to labor market needs, aligning scientific research with international standards and national priorities, and improving governance at central and university levels.
Despite the progress made in the higher education sector over the last decade, obstacles still remain. Student numbers have grown considerably, but budget allocations have not kept pace, leading to a deterioration in teaching conditions. Reforms are aimed at resolving these problems, in particular the high student/teacher ratio and improving the academic quality and relevance of programs.
As for the doctoral system, it faces major challenges, notably the absence of structured admission criteria, the long time it takes to complete a doctorate and the lack of financial support. The World Bank also highlights shortcomings in research production, such as low participation in research networks and a lack of interdisciplinary research and internationalization.
To address these challenges, the Moroccan government has drawn up the National Plan for Accelerating the Transformation of the Higher Education, Research and Innovation Ecosystem, focusing on levers of change such as digital transformation and governance performance. World Bank financing will support the realization of this plan, ensuring rigorous monitoring and substantial support for its implementation.
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