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The train towards success began its journey, the question is: will we hop on it?
In a fast-moving and highly competitive world, university research plays a pivotal role in a county’s socio-economic and educational development. While some universities choose to be study centered, others opt for research-driven education. If we look into AUI’s mission statement, there is a clear emphasis on the educational aspect rather than the research element. There is no doubt that learning is important and crucial to developing cognitive and analytical skills. However, acquiring these skills can only happen in an environment where an intellectual stimulus is provided through research.
Engaging Students in Research
It is true that most of Al Akhawayn’s faculty have a respectable ratio of publications per year. However, we notice little to no involvement of students in these research pieces. In the absence of well-structured research entities, it is very difficult to form and promote research among students. Being a researcher doesn’t come as an innate talent. But it requires supervision and mentoring from skilled researchers.
Many companies, governmental units, and non-state actors are moving towards long term collaborations with universities through investment in research funds. These bodies believe in the importance of research in the creation of economic growth both on a regional and national level. Companies can also invest in postdoctoral research programs in their areas of interest. Accordingly, the university will remain connected to the market and its innovation while contributing greatly to the development of its environment. In this case, AUI should be no exception.
Al Akhawayn’s leadership in the Middle Atlas
AUI’s identity is built on its leadership assets and ethical standards for promoting excellence, equity, and social responsibility. Its location makes it in the heart the Middle Atlas, a region suffering from socio-economic disparities and environmental damages. The university’s imprint on the development of its entourage will be of a greater impact as it will be in line with the objectives of Morocco’s New development model commissions. AUI can use its connections and the liberal arts universities’ network to collaborate and work on projects led by national agencies and international ones. This will enable students not only to acquire research and fieldwork experience but also to enhance the social responsibility aspect of learning.
Study cases can be conducted at Azrou centers and expand throughout the whole region. The university may use its connection to partner with International development companies, NGOs, and UN entities. Organisms such as the UN encourage such actions and foster these projects. They are able to provide financial means in addition to their expertise. In the 2030 Agenda, the UN recognizes that sustainable development is important to achieve peaceful societies. UNDP is one of these entities. Therefore, the creation of sustainable development and environmental units will boost interdisciplinary research. It will also help the collaboration of students and faculty from different schools to operate on projects.
It is true that AUI already hosts entrepreneurial initiatives such as the Ifrane forum and MENAPAR conference in coordination with the International Institute of Administrative sciences. However, these events are either poorly mediatized or don’t rely on student participation. Thus, the main issue to target is the inclusiveness of different spheres in research and innovative experiences.
Finally, promoting Ifrane as a cultural, educational, and research hub should be the university’s top priority. Situated in a competitive environment of research, think-tanks and technological innovation became crucial in the race towards excellence and leadership. Therefore, the university must consider it a promising long-term investment that not only will better shape the student’s educational experience, but it would help AUI attract promising profiles. In addition to investing in PR campaigns, AUI must maintain its sustainable reputation and engaging experience.
