Casablanca – The African Development Bank (AfDB) is set to inject a sum of approximately $145 million into an initiative aimed at revolutionizing the Moroccan university into a modern, digitally-driven, and inclusive institution. Dubbed UM4.0, this ambitious program is set to unfold over a period of five years, spanning from 2024 to 2028. Its primary objectives are to elevate the standard of human capital and empower young individuals by providing equitable access to advanced and innovative higher education, in collaboration with local stakeholders.

UM4.0 is strategically structured around three pivotal pillars: enhancing educational offerings and environments, digitalizing the university landscape, and fostering excellence, entrepreneurship, and employability. With an estimated budget allocation of around $78 million (53.47%), the program aims to enrich educational facilities and surroundings, while approximately $62 million (42.35%) is designated for the digital transformation of the university infrastructure. Additionally, approximately $6 million (4.18%) is earmarked to nurture excellence, entrepreneurship, and employability among students.

The disbursement of funds will be contingent upon achieving specific benchmarks gauged by seven performance indicators. These benchmarks include metrics such as the enrollment of new students in critical fields like medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry, as well as the establishment and equipping of essential facilities such as the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Beni Mellal. Moreover, the creation of university residence halls in various regions, along with the implementation of digital infrastructure and career development centers, are key components of the program’s success criteria.

In response to the pressing issue of high unemployment rates, UM4.0 will roll out targeted measures aimed at developing employability-focused programs. These programs will offer pathways to excellence and certifications tailored to enhance the marketability of young graduates. Aligned with the national agenda for higher education reform, UM4.0 seeks to enhance access to higher education, upgrade student-centric infrastructure, and improve the overall quality of higher education across the country.

Furthermore, UM4.0 is poised to support the AfDB’s gender strategy, which focuses on enhancing women’s access to social services through infrastructure development. Recent data indicates a significant representation of female students in public universities, particularly in fields such as medicine and pharmacy. However, challenges persist, including a notably higher unemployment rate among female graduates compared to their male counterparts. The program aims to address these challenges by promoting gender equality and fostering an environment conducive to female empowerment and entrepreneurship within the university ecosystem.