In a major push to tackle overcrowding, modernize universities, and curb medical brain drain, Morocco’s Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation has unveiled a broad plan to restructure the country’s university system.
Speaking during a plenary session devoted to oral questions at the House of Councilors on Tuesday, Higher Education Minister Azzedine Midaoui outlined a series of reforms, including dividing Ibn Zohr University into several institutions, expanding law faculties, strengthening digital infrastructure, and reforming student services.
A key focus of the overhaul is the reform of medical education, particularly the status of general medicine within Morocco’s healthcare system.
Reforming general medicine
Midaoui said reforms concerning the third cycle of medical and pharmaceutical studies are nearly complete, with only a few pedagogical regulations still under review.
The minister also said the government is preparing a new legal framework aimed at transforming general medicine into a recognized specialty, similar to systems in countries such as Canada and France.
Under the planned reform, doctors practicing general medicine would follow specialized tracks in areas such as family medicine or advanced general practice.
According to Midaoui, the reform is designed to improve the quality of healthcare services while addressing the growing number of Moroccan doctors leaving the country in search of specialization opportunities abroad.
“This reform will help address several challenges, including brain drain,” the minister said, noting that full implementation will take time.
Five universities from Ibn Zohr
Beyond medical studies, the ministry’s master plan proposes a major reorganization of Morocco’s university network.
The project includes dividing Ibn Zohr University in Agadir into five separate universities located in Agadir, Ait Melloul, Guelmim, Laayoune, and Dakhla. Ouarzazate, previously affiliated with Ibn Zohr University, would instead be attached to the university network of Errachidia.
Midaoui said the restructuring aims to reduce overcrowding and improve access to higher education across regions.
The ministry is also moving ahead with the expansion of law faculties. A first phase, approved by the National Coordination Committee, includes the creation of 26 new university institutions, while a second phase will add 23 more, bringing the total to 49.
Digital infrastructure and student services
The minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to accelerate the digitalization of Moroccan universities in line with Higher Education Law 59.24.
A new international digital learning platform has already been launched by the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research, allowing Moroccan universities to integrate into global online learning systems.
To support these changes, Morocco has increased university internet bandwidth from 24 gigabits per second to 60 gigabits per second.
On scientific research, Midaoui said the European Union has approved a strategic agreement granting Morocco advanced status in research funding partnerships, making the kingdom one of only a few Mediterranean countries benefiting from this mechanism.
The ministry is also preparing a new law to transform the National Office for University, Social and Cultural Works into the National Office for Student Life.
The reform seeks to improve services for Morocco’s 1.3 million students through the creation of regional directorates that would manage social, cultural, and student affairs locally rather than centrally from Rabat.
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