The internationalization, a transversal component of the development strategy of the IMU

VISION  :  

UMI’s internationalization strategy is shaped by the rapid globalization and global interdependence in which higher education operates.

Internationalization is seen as a central theme across all activities undertaken by UMI and is also reflected on all the ambitions of the university strategy of the UMI.

Moulay Ismail University (UMI) has chosen today to commit to international openness, which is to be considered as a cross-cutting and main component of the image of higher education in Morocco.

This commitment in fact reflects the will of the higher authorities to create a multilateral framework to address international opportunities and challenges. To this end, an alignment of the UMI is essential, especially since the diversity of its components and the coordination of actions require special attention and care, with a view to the overall conduct of an internationalization strategy.

In this context, the establishment of an ICP division: “International Cooperation and Partnership’’ aims to meet the need for international cross-functionality, it is a service that is available to all university components and intervenes in all actions and activities that could be the subject of inter-university partnerships:

  • First point of contact for any institution that wishes to collaborate with UMI but is unfamiliar with the university. It is regarded as the preferred channel for any collaboration with the university. Their job is to direct them to the appropriate department or institution.
  • Centralization of all information related to the cooperation initiated by institutions, joint centers, research laboratories, teacher-researchers, etc.
  • Provision of a certain number of services to assist the initiators of cooperation projects in their efforts: making contact, networking, drafting of agreements, formulation of projects, etc.
  • Management of some cooperation projects.

 

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS  : 

UMI’s Internationalization Strategy sets out four goals to advance the internationalization agenda. Among these are key strategic opportunities to deliver:

  • A commitment to creating international opportunities to establish an institution that is truly connected and responsive to change.
  • A commitment to integrating international themes, including sustainability and global citizenship, into all of our curriculum, teaching, research and innovation.
  • A commitment to offer UMI students the opportunity to have an international experience – whether through the Erasmus programs, Intra-Africa Mobility Scheme (2017-2022), the Institutional University Cooperation program with universities Flemish people of Belgium (2017-2027),  ARES PRD Projects (2 in progress), German Cooperation with Achaen, Integrated Actions (x in progress with y countries), agreements and supervision of students applying individually to international organizations and representations diplomats in Rabat.
  • Recognize that world-class universities have international reach and impact and that it is essential to ensure the highest quality of our international activities and relations.

On the strength of increasingly fruitful international cooperation, the ICP Cluster has set itself a new challenge, that of quadrilingualism, Arabic-French-English-German. The aim is to promote the learning and practice of English, for students but also for staff, and to attract international students wishing to benefit from lessons in English and/or German while improving their practice. French and their immersion in an Arabic context. Partnerships with English-speaking universities are therefore a new priority for the ICP Cluster.

Thanks to the credit harmonization project and improvement of the ECTS system of grading scale. The UMI will optimize quality exchanges with universities from all over the world by attempting to expand its mobility network through the signing of agreements, particularly with American and African universities.

Define preferred target universities and institutions and rationalize bilateral exchanges by maintaining agreements that promote reciprocal promotion of mobility (Win-Win approach), particularly when supplemented by dual degrees (Aachen in Germany or Flemish universities in Belgium, for example), without excluding other universities with which the UMI has various links.

Another geographical area, Africa, combines a disciplinary and socio-political dimension that allows the development of the most targeted partnerships, mainly around themes such as agriculture, energy, the environment, health, or even statistics. The goal is to integrate these partners (Moroccans, Congolese, Ethiopians, South Africans, Mozambicans, and others) into larger cooperation projects and networks, most often through centralized actions focused on e-learning platforms and the sharing of best practices (in the readability of training through the development of “Diploma Supplement” type documents for which the UMI is committed through the intra-African academic mobility program MOUNAF) (2016-2021).

Furthermore, the international strategy of the ICP division has the intent to be consistent with national and international institutional partnerships (regions that host UMI establishments or even within the framework of the Institutional University Cooperation Program (CUI) with the Flemish cooperation of Belgium and German cooperation).

In this context, these aspects of sharing and South-South cooperation will be present in the “international cooperation” with Africa, where the sharing of practices in curriculum reform will be prioritized. The modernization of teaching programs and the use of new teaching methods (via e-learning) will intersect with thematic priorities shared by the UMI and these regions (for example, agriculture/agri-food, energy, or environmental issues). These training projects, which will be adapted to socioeconomic realities, will include an employability component.

The UMI’s ICP division will house the Association of African Universities’ (AAU) Focal Point Office (Convention signed in July 2017). The two Parties have defined the following actions for this office:

  • Promoting cooperation among higher education institutions in Africa
  • The assembling, classifying, and disseminating of information on higher education and research, particularly in Africa.
  • Promoting collaboration between its members and the international academic community
  • Research, academic publication, and advocacy for the needs of African educational institutions
  • Facilitating the exchange of information and experiences among academic community members and promoting best practices
  • Learning and employing various African languages,
  • Promoting gender equity in higher education policies.

To support UMI’s commitment to these projects, a quality charter for mobility was developed and approved by the European Union and the Intra-Africa Mobility Programme.

The Mobility-UMI Charter, like the European Charter, serves as a reference document for individuals who are in mobility (students or university staff members) in order to ensure a positive experience.

Its scope is restricted to learning, research, and/or professional development. It provides guidelines that tend to meet the expectations of the individuals who are in mobility. It also accounts for the legitimate requirements of the universities that will receive these individuals.

In terms of incoming mobility, the charter addresses the stays of European or African students and staff at the UMI with the same considerations. The UMI’s International Relations Department will adapt this charter to create a reference document for all incoming and outgoing mobility at the UMI beginning in January 2019. This charter addresses ten issues:

  • Guidance and information,
  • Education and training plan,
  • Customization,
  • General preparation,
  • Linguistic aspects,
  • Logistical support,
  • Tutoring,
  • The gratitude,
  • Reintegration and assessment,
  • Commitments and responsibilities.