Rabat – The General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) signed today a framework agreement with Morocco’s Ministry of Higher Education.
The agreement aims to bridge universities and the national economy, establishing a convergence that seeks to improve the alignment of training programs with national labor demands.
Minister of Higher Education Azeddine El Midaoui signed the agreement with CGEM President Chalim Alj, pledging to contribute to tackling Morocco’s unemployment problem.
Upon signing the agreement, the CGEM president said Morocco boasts “exceptional human capital,” with over 1.1 million students.
Women account for 58% off the total number, alongside over 150,000 graduates and around 11,000 engineers trained each year, he explained.
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Alj acknowledged that Morocco’s challenge is now to transform these tangible resources into skilled competencies capable of supporting its economic growth.
“Most of the existing relationships between universities and businesses are based on initiatives that are not sufficiently structured,” he argued.
The CGEM chief added that the agreement aims to elevate cooperation by establishing mechanisms to identify skills needed in key sectors.
El Midaoui also commended the signing of the partnership, stating that the deal is part of the two parties’ shared commitment to boost sustainable convergence between academia and the business world.
This agreement is not an end but a “step toward” establishing a practical partnership based on the active involvement of all stakeholders to build sustainable bridges between education, scientific research, and the socio-economic ecosystem, he said.
The aim is also to promote training for employees, and identify short and medium-term skills needs while organizing regular meetings between universities and companies for dialogue, coordination, and evaluation.
