Morocco examines role of Artificial Intelligence in higher education and research at Meknes Symposium

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Morocco’s Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Mrs. Amal El Falah Seghrouchini, has called for a strategic integration of artificial intelligence into higher education and scientific research to support national development and digital sovereignty.

She made the remarks, while chairing the opening session of a scientific symposium held at the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of Moulay Ismail University in Meknes. The symposium was organized under the theme “Artificial Intelligence, Higher Education and Scientific Research in Morocco: Opportunities, Challenges and Prospects.”

Addressing participants, the Minister noted that artificial intelligence represents a profound structural transformation with far-reaching implications for the production of knowledge, pedagogical methods and approaches to scientific research. She emphasized that AI is reshaping how universities generate, process and apply knowledge in an increasingly data-driven environment.

Mrs. El Falah Seghrouchini stressed the importance of accompanying ongoing transformations within Morocco’s higher education system by supporting the evolution of universities into integrated ecosystems for knowledge and data production. She highlighted the need for robust digital infrastructure, the establishment of specialized laboratories and the gradual integration of AI competencies into academic training and research pathways.

She further underscored the necessity of sustained and strategic investment in human capital, alongside efforts to strengthen Morocco’s digital sovereignty. According to the Minister, these priorities align with the national “Digital Morocco 2030” strategy, which seeks to foster innovation, enhance national competitiveness and contribute to the Kingdom’s comprehensive socio-economic development.

The symposium brought together academics, researchers and policy stakeholders to examine the opportunities and challenges associated with the adoption of artificial intelligence in higher education and scientific research, as Morocco advances its digital transformation agenda.