Project R-13802

Agreement for the implementation of an IUC Partnership Transition Phase as part of the "Higher Education & Science For Sustainable Development" (HES4SD) of VLIR (Education)

The IUC program, in its first phase, has enabled UMI to better equip itself with the means and skills to conduct quality training and research programs that meet the needs of its region. Its teams have been able to develop a portfolio of important partnerships with local, national and international actors. The IUC program has been able to create and develop synergies and complementarities between its components. The intrinsic transversality of the projects and of the program has led to cross-fertilization between teacher-researchers, co-supervision of theses, exchanges of teaching practices, sharing of equipment and connections with scientific networks. The sub-projects of the IUC project, in spite of their diversity, have the common objective of serving the interests of the territory, on complex development themes, calling for multidimensional responses both scientific and practical. A convergence of interests and cooperation modalities, and a co-adaptation between Flemish and Moroccan partners, is gradually taking place with new requirements for communication and sharing. The recommendations of the evaluation mission, which widely involved the actors at the UMI (teachers-researchers, students and administrators) as well as the partners and beneficiaries of the IUC program in the Fez-Meknes region, are integrated as priorities for action in this second phase: 1. Strengthen the managerial capacity of UMI (information, participation, financial and administrative management) 2. Strengthen the quality culture and evaluation indicators (Performance and impact indicators) 3. Equip UMI with a system and instruments for internal quality assurance and consider engaging UMI in institutional certification (A twinning process will be considered with a university known for its mastery of quality assurance with the support of NVAO (Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatie Organisatie). 4. Arrangements for the technical (maintenance) and financial sustainability of the equipment and the Master and Doctorate training programs. 5. Promote Moulay Ismail University's scientific and innovation ranking on a national scale and its commitment to the environment and SD (THE Impact Ranking). 6. Support the transformation of UMI into an entrepreneurial university.

01 September 2022 - 31 December 2023