Latest news with #AbdellatifJouahri
Morocco World
26-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Bank Al-Maghrib, Ministry of Youth Join Forces to Expand ‘Pass Jeunes' Benefits
Rabat –The Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication and Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM) signed a new partnership agreement on Friday aimed at providing young people with additional benefits through the ' Pass Jeunes ' program. The agreement, signed by Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid and Bank Al-Maghrib Governor Abdellatif Jouahri at BAM's booth during the 30th International Book and Publishing Fair, seeks to improve youth access to cultural resources and the history of Moroccan currency while promoting financial literacy. Thanks to this partnership, holders of the ' Pass Jeunes ' will enjoy free admission to Bank Al-Maghrib's museums and receive discounts on books and other merchandise sold at the museum shops. Bank Al-Maghrib also pledged to actively support the promotion and communication efforts surrounding the 'Pass Jeunes' within its museum spaces. This collaboration is part of the larger 'Pass Jeunes' initiative, reaffirming Bank Al-Maghrib's commitment to encouraging financial inclusion and enriching young people's access to cultural experiences. Speaking to the press, Minister Bensaid said that the initiative aims to address one of the biggest challenges facing Morocco's youth — enhancing their employability. He praised Bank Al-Maghrib's efforts and emphasized the government's broader strategy to equip young Moroccans with the skills needed to succeed in the job market. Governor Jouahri, for his part, stressed that Bank Al-Maghrib is making its museums, resources, and expertise accessible to young people, describing it as an investment in Morocco's future. He added that the partnership would extend the cooperation between the two institutions through the Moroccan Foundation for Financial Education, with the aim of boosting services that already target youth, women, and rural populations. ' Pass Jeunes ' is a national digital initiative designed for young Moroccans aged 16 to 30, offering them a single platform to access a variety of cultural, educational, social, and professional opportunities — ultimately promoting mobility, inclusion, and cultural engagement. Tags: BAMBank Al-MaghribPass jeunes
Gulf News
17-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf News
AUS and Al Akhawayn forge academic alliance to promote Arabic scholarship and ethical AI
Rabbat: The American University of Sharjah (AUS) and Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote Arabic and Islamic studies, digital humanities, language pedagogy, and the ethical development of emerging technologies. The agreement was formalised on April 16 at the Central Bank of Morocco, in the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of AUS, and Abdellatif Jouahri, Governor of Bank Al Maghrib and Chairman of AUI's Board of Trustees. 'This MoU with Al Akhawayn reflects the deep-rooted ties between the Emirate of Sharjah, the UAE, and the Kingdom of Morocco, and highlights our shared commitment to advancing higher education and preserving cultural identity,' said Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi. 'Through this partnership, we look forward to enriching academic exchange and strengthening collaboration between our institutions and our nations.' Abdellatif Jouahri said that the MoU as a symbol of enduring relations between the two nations: 'This agreement seeks to empower our universities to collaborate on scientific research and academic initiatives across multiple fields of shared interest.' Wide-ranging academic engagement The collaboration paves the way for wide-ranging academic engagement, including faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects, and co-developed academic programs. At its core, the partnership will explore the intersections of Arabic and English language pedagogy, the advancement of critical academic literacies, and the future of Arabic studies in a technology-driven era. Dr Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, described the alliance as a model for global higher education: 'Together with Al Akhawayn University, we are expanding opportunities for collaborative research, reimagining Arabic studies, and contributing to the ethical evolution of artificial intelligence. This partnership is rooted in culture, guided by purpose, and focused on global impact.' Joint centre A major goal of the initiative is to establish a joint centre for pedagogy and digital humanities — a hub for research in Arab and Muslim literatures, cultural communication, and interdisciplinary innovation. The partnership will also foster scholarship in translation studies, Arabic liberal arts education, and the development of inclusive digital tools. Dr Amine Bensaid, President of AUI, welcomed the partnership as an opportunity to integrate heritage and innovation: 'We are delighted to launch this collaboration with AUS. It continues our founding vision — one that is rooted in cultural identity and enriched through cross-cultural exchange. We aim to prepare graduates who bridge technology and cultural understanding.' Open-source Arabic dataset Beyond humanities and social sciences, the agreement also includes collaboration in science, engineering, business, architecture, design, and archival research. One ambitious element of the partnership is the creation of an open-source Arabic data set — including literary works, media content, and academic publications from both countries — to support culturally inclusive AI development. The MoU also outlines shared efforts in student mobility, faculty development, joint supervision of graduate students, and the co-hosting of academic events such as seminars and technical workshops. Both institutions are exploring the creation of a collaborative fund to support ongoing joint initiatives aligned with their academic missions. This agreement is part of AUS's broader global strategy to build partnerships with leading institutions worldwide — strengthening interdisciplinary research, global engagement, and innovation to tackle regional and global challenges.
Morocco World
17-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
AUI, AUS Sign Partnership to Boost Research in Arabic Language, Ethical AI
Rabat – Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI) and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in digital humanities, Arabic and Islamic studies, and ethical artificial intelligence. The agreement aims to promote collaboration in research, teaching, and technology development, particularly in areas that connect Arabic and English language education, Islamic studies, and modern technologies like artificial intelligence. The goal is to empower both Moroccan and Emirati students and citizens to engage with AI tools while staying rooted in their cultural identity, according to a press release. The signing ceremony took place on Wednesday at the headquarters of Bank Al-Maghrib in Rabat. It was attended by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of AUS's Board of Trustees, Abdellatif Jouahri, Chancellor of AUI , Amine Bensaid, President of AUI, and Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS. Speaking at the event, Bensaid said that the partnership 'reflects AUI's founding vision of balancing cultural identity with openness to advanced technologies.' He added that through this agreement, AUI and AUS aim to 'promote scientific research, rethink Arabic studies in the age of AI, and create tools that strengthen cultural identity and serve the youth.' The signing of the partnership Meanwhile, Laursen said that this partnership 'fully supports' AUS's vision of a 'borderless higher education system built on intellectual cooperation.' 'Together with AUI, we are expanding opportunities for collaborative research and contributing ethically to AI development,' he added. The collaboration also focuses on the educational link between the Arabic and English languages to help students improve academic and critical thinking skills. In addition, it supports the development of liberal arts education in both institutions. One major goal of the partnership is to create a joint center for digital humanities and pedagogy, which will use AI to support research in Arabic and Muslim literature, cultural studies, and communication systems. The signing of the partnership Beyond languages and humanities, the MoU also opens the door for cooperation in science, engineering, management, architecture, arts, design, and archival research. It includes plans to build an open-source Arabic database of literary works, media content, and academic publications that reflect the cultural and linguistic richness of Morocco and the UAE. The agreement also includes faculty and staff exchanges, student mobility programs, shared teaching resources, co-developed courses, and joint research projects. It also supports co-supervision of master's and doctoral theses, joint conferences and workshops, and the creation of a fund for academic initiatives. The statement concluded that the partnership fits into the global strategies of both universities, which aim to build knowledge ecosystems, foster innovation, and respond to major regional and international challenges through interdisciplinary research.
Sharjah 24
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Sharjah 24
AUS, Al Akhawayn University partner to advance Arabic scholarship
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said: 'The MOU with Al Akhawayn reflects the deep-rooted ties between the Emirate of Sharjah, the UAE and the Kingdom of Morocco, and highlights our shared commitment to advancing higher education and preserving cultural identity. AUS and Al Akhawayn University share a common academic vision—one that values Arabic and Islamic studies, supports research in heritage and identity and embraces innovation in knowledge creation. Through this partnership, we look forward to enriching academic exchange and strengthening collaboration between our institutions and our nations.' His Excellency Abdellatif Jouahri said: 'The memorandum of understanding between American University of Sharjah and Al Akhawayn University represents an additional link in the framework of the historical brotherly relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Morocco. It aims to enable the two universities to develop scientific research and academic cooperation in several areas of mutual interest.' The signing ceremony was also attended by His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Toufiq, Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco; and His Excellency Dr. Azzedine El Midaoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation of the Kingdom of Morocco, along with other senior officials from both institutions. Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, stated: 'This partnership is a powerful expression of our vision for higher education that transcends borders and builds bridges through scholarship. Together with Al Akhawayn University, we are expanding the possibilities for collaborative research, reimagining the future of Arabic studies and contributing ethically to the evolution of artificial intelligence. This agreement reflects the very best of international academic cooperation—deeply rooted in culture, guided by purpose and focused on global impact.' The collaboration's scope includes research on the intersections between Arabic and English language pedagogies, with a particular focus on developing academic and critical literacies. It also encompasses efforts to advance the teaching of Arabic as a foreign language, facilitate translation across scholarly disciplines and promote Arabic liberal arts education. The two universities will explore the potential establishment of a joint center dedicated to pedagogy and digital humanities, providing a shared platform for research in Arab and Muslim literatures, cultural dynamics and communication systems. Dr. Amine Bensaid, President of AUI, said: "We're delighted to launch this partnership with our colleagues at AUS. This new partnership continues the founding vision that has inspired Al Akhawayn University since its inception thirty years ago, combining an anchoring in identity with deep cross-cultural collaboration. Through this ambitious new partnership with AUS, we will launch initiatives to advance collaborative research, reimagine and contribute to the future of Arabic Studies in the era of AI, cross-fertilize with best practices in English Studies and strengthen our shared liberal arts traditions to prepare globally-minded graduates who can bridge technology and cultural understanding in an increasingly interconnected world. It's a privilege for us to have an opportunity to contribute to—and to enjoy— the mutual admiration between the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Morocco." The MoU also provides avenues for cooperation in science, engineering, business, architecture, art, design and archival research. A particularly ambitious objective of the agreement is the development of an open-source Arabic dataset comprising literary works, media content and academic publications that reflect the linguistic and cultural richness of both Morocco and the UAE. By making this resource openly accessible, AUS and AUI aim to promote more inclusive and culturally representative training data for large language models, contributing to the ethical advancement of artificial intelligence. The partnership also paves the way for a wide range of collaborative activities, including faculty and staff exchanges, student mobility programs, shared academic resources, co-developed courses and joint research projects. Opportunities for joint supervision of graduate students, co-hosted conferences, seminars and technical training programs are also envisioned. Both institutions have expressed strong interest in establishing a collaborative fund to support joint initiatives aligned with shared academic priorities. This agreement forms part of AUS' broader commitment to building strategic partnerships with leading institutions around the world. Through such collaborations, AUS aims to expand its global reach, foster innovation across disciplines and contribute to the development of knowledge ecosystems that address regional and global challenges. To learn more about AUS and its partnerships, visit
Morocco World
19-03-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
BAM Launches New Finance Program for Micro-Businesses
Raba – Morocco's central bank, Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), has introduced a new program to support bank financing for micro-businesses. This new plan is set to offer participating banks refinancing at a preferential rate. BAM Governor Abdellatif Jouahri made the announcement during a press conference on Tuesday, detailing that the program features a rate set 25 basis points below the key policy interest rate to improve credit access for micro-businesses to strengthen their contribution to job creation. These businesses represent nearly 88% of Morocco's economic fabric, Jouahri explained , following the central bank's first quarterly meeting of 2025. He also recalled that BAM, commercial banks, and Tamwilcom held a meeting on March 6 to examine measures that could facilitate micro-business financing. The consultation addressed several focus areas, including improving banking procedures, application review processes, response times, and revisions to the Intelaka program. The Governor further informed that a tripartite meeting is scheduled for the first half of the year with the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), sector federations, and banks. Read also: Abdellatif Jouahri Named Africa's Central Banker of the Year 2024 This upcoming meeting is set to enhance the understanding of challenges that micro-businesses face and adapt support mechanisms accordingly. Similar consultations had taken place in 2016 and 2019 before being interrupted by the health crisis. BAM's Council decided to set a 25 basis point reduction in its key interest rate to 2.25%, marking the second consecutive reduction and the third since last June. This decision considers the projected fluctuation of inflation to levels aligned with price stability objectives and is also set to strengthen the needed support for economic activity and employment. The initiative reflects Morocco's ongoing efforts to bolster its small business, which form the backbone of the national economy, but often struggle with access to formal banking services and credit opportunities. Tags: Bank Al-MaghribeconomyMicro-businesses
