Fulbright Morocco hosts pre-departure orientation for outgoing Moroccan grantees

Fulbright Morocco held a pre-departure orientation on Wednesday to prepare a new cohort of Moroccan students for their academic pursuits in the United States. 

The event served to highlight the achievements of the scholarship recipients and showcase the Fulbright program’s opportunities for aspiring Moroccan students.

The Moroccan-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACECE), funded by the US and Moroccan governments, organized this pre-departure orientation for a group of 22 Moroccan students who received a send-off before heading to the US for their Fulbright scholarships.

The selected students will be pursuing either master’s degrees or doctoral research in the US with full financial support from Fulbright. MACECE’s Executive Director, Dr. Rebecca Geffner, led the session to prepare them for their travels and American life. 

The grantees received training on budgeting, finding housing, staying safe, managing health and well-being, navigating the US education system, adapting to campus life, and appreciating cultural differences. 

The new Fulbrighters also had a chance to connect with Moroccan Fulbright alumni, current American Fulbrighters in Morocco, MACECE board members, and US Embassy representatives in Morocco.

Mohamed Amine El Majdouli, a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright scholarship, spoke to Hespress English about his exciting plans. El Majdouli sees the Fulbright program as a springboard to pursue an MBA in the US. This accelerated education will equip him with the skills and knowledge to launch his own company upon returning to Morocco. 

El Majdouli is particularly drawn to the program’s focus on data analysis, a burgeoning field in Morocco with a growing startup scene. 

“I believe the Fulbright program and my Master’s degree will provide me with a strong foundation to navigate this evolving landscape, where investment in data analysis remains limited,” he said.

While acknowledging the application process as theoretically straightforward, El Majdouli emphasizes the importance of perseverance. It took him three dedicated months to complete his application. 

His decision to apply stemmed from a deep respect for the high-quality and diverse US education system, particularly the renowned universities. 

El Majdouli, who graduated with a Master of Engineering in Industrial Management (2018) from EMINES/UM6P and boasts over five years of experience with the OCP Group, is set to embark on his studies at the State University of New York, Buffalo School of Management.

Fatima Zehra Nekkach, a 25-year-old Fulbright grantee, is a third-year Ph.D student in data engineering at UM6P. Nekkach told Hespress English that her research focuses on applying artificial intelligence to breast cancer detection.  

Nekkach highlighted the streamlined Fulbright application process, which she completed in just one month. 

While finding a qualified American co-supervisor, a program requirement presented a challenge, Nekkach ultimately chose a supervisor at Arizona State University whose expertise in multi-model machine learning aligned perfectly with her research goals. 

For the next year, Nekkach will be based at Arizona State University’s Health Center, collaborating with medical professionals to integrate AI models into breast cancer detection workflows. 

“Beyond my research, the Fulbright experience is an opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and immerse myself in American culture and education,” she said. 

The pre-departure orientation has also known the presence of Moroccan Fulbright alumni who connected with the grantees and answered their questions about life and studies in the US. 

Yosra, a 29-year-old Fulbright alumna, leveraged the prestigious Fulbright scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree at New York University in 2021. 

A 2020 Fulbright recipient and an undergraduate of a Bachelor’s in Engineering and Management Science from Al Akhawayn University, Yosra praised the program’s openness to diverse ideas and collaborative spirit among students and professors. 

“During my time in the US, she actively participated in campus life, even leading the Industrial and Systems Engineering club and taking part in major events. Such opportunities are limited in Morocco, so I specifically targeted the Fulbright program for its comprehensive financial support,” Yosra told Hespress Eng. 

While acknowledging the program’s competitiveness, which initially discouraged her from applying in 2017, Yosra ultimately viewed the application process as a worthwhile hurdle, and encouraged Moroccan students to apply for the scholarship.