The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Beni Mellal has signed a new partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, aimed at expanding access to higher education and vocational training for refugees and asylum seekers in Morocco.
This partnership was signed last Friday, as confirmed by the Commission via its official Facebook page, as part of a renewed cooperation between the two parties that focuses on transitioning from a traditional humanitarian aid approach to one that emphasizes empowerment through education and social and economic integration.
The Commission emphasized that this initiative reflects a shared commitment to expanding education and innovation opportunities for refugees, enabling them to develop their skills and improve their chances of integration into Moroccan society and the labor market.
University of the Office Chérifien des Phosphates
The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University is a non-profit higher education and research institution, established with the support of the Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP), one of the largest public economic institutions in Morocco, through its social and developmental arm.
The university is distinguished by its African orientation and programs related to scientific research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, as well as its openness to students and researchers from various countries, especially from Sub-Saharan African countries.
According to an information paper issued by the Commission, around 16 refugee students have graduated under the academic scholarship program known as the “Dafi” program, while three other students have enrolled in master’s programs at the university.
Refugees from 60 Countries
Commission data indicates that Morocco hosts approximately 19,382 refugees and asylum seekers, originating from more than sixty countries, belonging to various nationalities from Sub-Saharan Africa such as Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal.
The Commission confirms that Morocco serves as both a host country and a transit route, making issues of integration, education, and training more prominent in the policies related to asylum in Morocco.
