The MORHEL Project’s kick-off meeting took place on 1-3 March 2023 at the Al Akhawayn Conference Center in Ifrane. Through creative programs and events, this Erasmus+ Capacity Building Project, which is supported by the EU, aims to promote leadership and management skills in Moroccan higher education institutions.
Al Akhawayn University has received 979.703,00 Euros from the European Union to lead this national project on Management and Leadership Development, which is supported by the Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation and is in partnership with key Moroccan and European Universities. The consortium involves the following higher education institutions: Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (Project Coordinator and Lead), the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez, Moulay Ismail University, the Agronomic and Veterinary Institute Hassan II, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Chouaib Doukkali University, Hassan I University, Ibn Zohr University, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Ibn Tofail University, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI, Slovenia), PEGASO University (Italy), University of Granada (Spain).
This three-year project combines research and development activities with the aim of improving management and leadership skills in Moroccan higher education institutions. The program entails the establishment of a National Center and Satellite Hubs (NLDC), as well as a Certified Leadership Development Program (NLDP).
This is the first time Al Akhawayn University will serve as the Lead and Coordinator of an EU-funded CBHE project involving a consortium of Moroccan and European universities.
“This project is the culmination of years of consolidated experience in managing effectively EU-funded projects as partner or beneficiary, and it denotes the trust of the EU towards our institution to lead such a strategic and restructuring project at the national level. It has been an honor to work with national and international experts to prepare and develop this project, and I look forward to building the right synergies among all partners to ensure a successful implementation of the project’s activities”, says Dr. Karim Moustaghfir, the Project Leader and Coordinator.
During the life of the project, 132 Moroccan HE leaders and managers will engage with the NLDC and benefit from the NLDP with a demonstrable impact on their capacity to operate the governance, strategic plans and management of HEIs. In the 5 years following the project, it is expected that additional leaders will benefit from taking the NLDP and that at least 10 additional Moroccan HEIs will have adopted it for leadership development. All partner HEIs in Morocco will engage with the NLDC for leadership development through systematic and systemic activities targeting academic and administrative staff.