Al Akhawayn University (AUI) in Morocco recently hosted a three-day, grants writing workshop, called ‘A Design Science Approach,’ from October 15–17th, 2025, led by Prof. Panos Papalambros of Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) and Dr. Ahmed Khallaayoun of AUI.
The workshop was part of the ongoing African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec) workshop series on Design Science and AI in the age of digital transformation. The series is supported by Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) and the Mastercard Foundation, with the endorsement of the US National Academy of Engineering, led by NAE Member Prof. Panos Papalambros.
The event included faculty from a number of Afretec universities with the goal of strengthening participants’ development of competitive research proposals using a design science approach.
The workshop examined the full grant development process, examining how to build strongand fundable proposals in both research and instruction, while also linking academic approaches with real-world impacts.
“Hosting this workshop at Al Akhawayn University underscores our commitment to advancing applied research and innovation that responds directly to Africa’s most urgent environmental and economic challenges,” commented workshop lead, Dr. Ahmed Khallaayoun. “We are all very proud to contribute to the Afretec Network vision of shared knowledge creation and sustainable development.”
Since it first began in 2022, Afretec, led by Carnegie Mellon University Africa, has provided $7.43 million USD towards collaborative knowledge creation initiatives ranging from artificial intelligence and machine learning, through to renewable energy.
The Ifrane workshop is the fourth in a growing series that began in 2024:
“The participants in Ifrane have been truly dedicated,” commented Prof. Papalambros.
“They had started working in teams at the Dakar workshop after going through an intensive, hands-on, baseline design experience, exploring design through the science lens.
“Besides the Ifrane work, participants have also started implementing their workshop experience in their instructional and research activities. The key idea is to integrate technological, human, and social considerations while pursuing digital transformation. It has been a great pleasure working with this wonderful group.”