SASTA-Educational And Research Initiative (A Pilot Case Study In Morocco)
01
Summary
This is a pilot program aimed at promoting the active engagement of AES in partnership with scientists, academic institutions and local governments in the Arab world to advance higher education, R&D in the region. Morocco is selected as a pilot case study to launch such a partnership. The proposal provides a vision and mechanisms for effective partnership initiatives and programs that leverage the knowledge, expertise, resources and networks of the AES community to help Universities and local agencies in Morocco meet the national objective of advancing higher education and prepare new generation of skilled and highly trained scientists and professionals. This is intended to be a model program that can be replicated in other countries in the region.
SASTA through its Moroccan members has established the first conference with the Moroccan Authorities namely the Ministry of Moroccan expatriates under the leadership of His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ameur in Rabat, Morocco- May 23-24, 2011.
02
The Program
Objectives: The objectives of this project is to establish a lasting partnership between the Arab Expatriate Scientists (AES) with their counterpart in Morocco and also with the Moroccan authorities to capitalize on the network of AES and mobilize their expertise, networks and remedies for advancing higher education, science, discovery, innovation, technology, research and development in Morocco.
Specific Deliverables: At the conference, several topics will be discussed. The immediate and long term deliverables are:
Immediate and short-term plans include
1. Communicate and identify partners from Morocco in the higher education and academic sectors to establish a joint team to identify local needs in Higher education, science, discovery, innovation, technology, research and development.
2. Establish exchange programs that would enable the expatriates to contribute to the education system by lecturing in Morocco with support from industry or Moroccan government;
3. Establish and use existing scholarship mechanisms in Morocco to train Moroccan students, academics and researchers in AES laboratories and Institutions;
4. Assist in the establishment of doctoral programs (post- graduate studies) with Moroccan academic institutions whose program is still limited to Masters degrees.
Long term plans,
1. Provide mechanisms where the network of AES is utilized to help reverse the brain drain in Morocco, by supporting returning scientists through collaborative research and participation in the exchange programs described above;
2. Through the partnership, assist the Moroccan Universities to establish and achieve their strategic goals and objectives in the field of Higher education, science, discovery, innovation, technology, research and development.