Morocco Education and Training
Last published date:

Capital:  Casablanca
Population:  35,561,654 (July 2020 est.)
GDP:  $280.811 billion (2019 est., Purchasing Power Parity)
Currency:  Moroccan Dirham
Language:  Arabic (official), Berber languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)

 UNESCO Student Mobility Number:
Morocco has 52,500 students studying abroad according to UNESCO.

CIA World Factbook:
43.59% of the population in Morocco is under 24 years old. 

OVERVIEW

Morocco’s educational system currently requires the study of Philosophy, English, French, Arabic, Math, Science, Economics (depending on your Baccalaureate), Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.  Currently, instruction is conducted in Arabic and French, however English will be added next academic year with the new reform.

The Ministry of Higher Education recently announced plans to open 34 new higher education institutions.  There are currently 12 public universities in Morocco in eight different regions.  The universities include 145 higher education establishments, including 61 open-access and 84 limited-access institutions.  As part of their national strategy, the Ministry of Higher Education announced that a 4-year bachelor will replace the 3- year License Master Doctorate (LMD) system, but this was delayed one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Morocco had roughly 1,578 students studying in the United States during the 2019/2020 academic year.  Most students sought educational opportunities in five main states: New York, Massachusetts, California, Florida, and Illinois.

SUB-SECTORS

Students in U.S by Academic level

%

Number

% Change (2019 to 2020)

 

Undergraduate

45.8%

687

-10.1%

Graduate

28.2%

422

2.4%

Non-degree

8.7%

130

62.5%

OPT

17.3

260

26.8%

Major Field of Specialization

2019/2020

Business and Management

11.23%

Education

23.27%

Engineering, Technologies& Technical Science

5.47%

Fine and Applied Arts        

NA

Health Professions

12.10%

Humanities & Social Sciences

3.50%

Intensive English

NA

Opportunities

A large portion of Moroccan students interested in studying in the U.S. are at the undergraduate level and are seeking a traditional Bachelor’s degree or 2+2 path through community colleges.  There is a growing interest in graduate studies abroad for Master’s and MBAs.  There is also a growing interest for technologies and engineering programs. The International Baccalaureate system was recently introduced in select public schools where cohorts are taught fully in English.  These students represent a good target population for U.S. Study.

Digital Marketing Strategies

Most Moroccan students use Zoom and Google platforms.  The most popular social media sites for students are Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn.  Usually Moroccan students use Google to search for topics.  For job opportunities, students use internet to connect to specialized job websites, in addition to using business-oriented newspapers and magazines and companies’ websites. YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram are the most popular for streaming videos in the country.  In-country schools and other competitor countries particularly Europeans use blogs, Facebook and amazing videos on YouTube to attract Moroccan students.

Moroccan students and their parents use a Google search engine to find information on foreign universities.  They also connect with specialized recruiting agencies and English language centers for assistance.  Education fairs and events are another means for parents and students to inquire about foreign universities.

There were 25.32 million internet users in Morocco on January 2020.  The numbers of internet users has increased by 13% between 2019 and 2020.  There are 18 million social media users in Morocco and the social media penetration in Morocco stood at 49% in January 2020.  The number of mobile connections in Morocco in January 2020 was equivalent to 118% of the total population.  The majority of internet and social media users in Morocco are young people aged 18-25.  It is important for U.S. universities to target Moroccan students through digital contents and platforms.  Online recruitment becomes today the first and most important channel for attracting and enrolling international student.  It is recommended for U.S. universities and educational institutions to start advertising on social media with targeted messaging to build awareness for their organizations.  They should start placing ads on specific websites to reel in prospects.  Universities should also improve their presence in the internet best search sites. In Morocco, students typically begin looking for options online with broad Google searches for universities in the U.S.

Upcoming Events

  • Forum de l’Etudiant (Student Forum), March 2021 (TBD)

Best Prospects

It is recommended for U.S universities and colleges to build more partnerships with Moroccan universities, educational institutions, students’ recruitment agencies and alumni associations. Joint events with U.S. Mission in Morocco and local educational institutions could also be beneficial for U.S. universities and colleges

Resources

U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE CONTACT

Redouane Ghadouna, Commercial Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service – Casablanca, Morocco
Email: Redouane.Ghadouna@trade.gov
Phone: +212 661 29 13 70