The total number of students enrolled in public universities for the 2022-2023 academic year has increased by 6.49%, said Tuesday in Rabat, the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Abdellatif Miraoui.
Students enrolled in various public universities for the current year reached 1,130,182, an increase of 6.49% compared to last year, said Miraoui in response to a central question on “the acceleration of the transformation of the ecosystem of higher education, scientific research and innovation” at the Chamber of Advisors.
He also indicated that the number of baccalaureate holders for the 2021-2022 school year stood at 328,650, a decrease of 1.4% compared to the 2020-2021 school year.
Some 86% of these students are enrolled in open-access institutions, while 14% pursue their higher education in limited-access institutions, he noted.
In order to meet the growing demand on higher education, the Minister highlighted the increase in the reception capacity of universities by regarding 20,000 new seats, thanks to the extension of 16 university establishments, adding that these educational places are spread over five universities, namely Ibn zohr University of Agadir, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University of Fez, Ibn Tofaïl University of Kenitra, Moulay Ismaïl University of Meknes, Hassan University 1st of Settat and the University Mohammed Premier (UMP) of Oujda.
Regarding the strengthening of social services for the benefit of students, the Minister reported the creation of three new university residences for the current academic year, one public and two in partnership with the private sector, with an estimated increase to 2,023 beds.
In order to support the process of global reform of the system of higher education and scientific research, Mr. Miraoui affirmed that his department will work during this academic year for the promulgation of a series of legislative and regulatory texts. , including the draft statute for the body of teacher-researchers and the draft law on the organization of higher education, scientific research and innovation.
It is also regarding the launch of a project to overhaul the national information system and the generalization of the digitalization of higher education, scientific research and innovation, he said.
In order to promote scientific research and innovation, the Minister announced that a series of measures will be launched for the 2022-2023 school year, citing in this regard the training of a new generation of doctoral students and the creation of three national thematic research institutes, to respond to national development priorities in areas related to health, water and artificial intelligence.
These measures, he continued, relate, among other things, to the creation of two new innovation hubs, support for initiators of innovative projects and the dissemination of scientific, technological and innovation culture, as well as the mobilization of Moroccan skills throughout the world.
