Al Akhawayn University
جامعة الأخوين | |
 | |
| Type | Tuition-based public university |
|---|---|
| Established | January 16, 1995[1] |
| Chancellor | Abdellatif Jouahri |
| President | Amine Bensaid[2] |
| Students | 3,500 (2024–2025) |
| Location | , Morocco 33°32′21″N 5°06′20″W / 33.539248°N 5.105553°W |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Green and white |
| Affiliations | Global Liberal Arts Alliance |
| Website | aui.ma |
 | |
Al Akhawayn University (Arabic: جامعة الأخوين; Berber: Tasdawit En Wawmaten) is a public, independent, not-for-profit university located in Ifrane, Morocco. It was officially inaugurated on January 16, 1995, by King Hassan II, following its founding by royal decree in 1993.[3]
Situated in the Middle Atlas Mountains, approximately 70 km from the imperial city of Fez, Al Akhawayn University follows an American-style liberal arts curriculum, with English serving as the primary language of instruction.[4][5]
History
[edit]King Fahd of Saudi Arabia largely funded the creation of Al Akhawayn University from an endowment intended to cleanup an oil spill off the coast of Morocco.[6] The cleanup was never realized as the wind blew the oil spill away and the endowment was used to create the university.[7]
Al Akhawayn University was founded by Royal Decree (Dahir) in 1993 and officially inaugurated by the former King Hassan II of Morocco on January 16, 1995. The Arabic name al-akhawayn, literally the "two brothers," refers to the two respective kings.[7]
Academics
[edit]
Al Akhawayn University enrolls over 3,000 full-time students on its residential campus in Ifrane. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs through three main schools: the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Science and Engineering, and the School of Business Administration.[8]
All programs are structured around a common core curriculum inspired by the American liberal arts tradition. The university also maintains international partnerships and provides opportunities for exchange programs.[8]
Notable alumni
[edit]Among the institution’s alumni are:
- Maha Laziri
- Soufiane El Khalidy
- Mohamed Tessoumi[9]
- Hatim Aznague[9]
- Youssef Ksiyer[10]
- Amina Faouzi Zizi
- Amine Kouame
- Ayoub Makroz
- Fatima Zahra Nouass
- Mohammed Benouarrek[11]
- Réda Dalil[12]
- Soukaina Ouaddar
- Aomar Boum - anthropologist[13]
- Samir Lebbar - CEO of Procter and Gamble's North Africa branch[14]
- Omar Lahkim
- Zaynab El Bernoussi - political scientist
Academic centers and institutes
[edit]The university hosts several academic centers and institutes, including:
- Language Center (LC)
- Leadership Development Institute
- Center for Business Ethics (CBE)
- Institute of Economic Analysis & Prospective Studies (IEAPS)
- Social Science Research Institute (SSRI)
- Executive Education Center (EEC)
- Hillary Clinton Women’s Empowerment Center (HCWEC)
- Azrou Center for Local Community Development
See also
[edit]
- List of Islamic educational institutions
- List of universities in Morocco
- Science and technology in Morocco
- Education in Morocco
References
[edit]- ^ "Al Akhawayn University". Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Archived from the original on 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Qui est Amine Bensaid, le nouveau président de l'AUI ?". Maroc Diplomatique. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "Al Akhawayn University Ranks 1st in Morocco, 44th in Arab World". Morocco World News. 2018-03-03. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
- ^ "Creating new partnerships: ISU group visits Moroccan universities - News - Illinois State". Illinois State University. 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
- ^ "The future of liberal arts may belong to the Global South". THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect. 2025-07-04. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
- ^ "Moroccan Encounter:Letters from a Foreign Land". www.jsu.edu. 2005-07-20. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
- ^ a b "Al Akhawayn University Celebrates its 18th anniversary". Morocco World News. 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
- ^ a b "Al Akhawayn University". Council of Independent Colleges. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
- ^ a b "HATIM AZNAGUE : PORTE-ÉTENDARD DE LA CAUSE ENVIRONNEMENTALE ET AMBASSADEUR DU MAROC POUR LE CLIMAT". Le Monde Infos. January 25, 2024.
- ^ Ouassat, Mehdi. "Youssef Ksiyer : La comédie est un métier où l'on doit être exigeant avec soi-même". Libération (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- ^ "M. Benouarrek rejoint le groupe Promamec - La Vie éco". La Vie Eco (in French). 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- ^ "Communiqué : Reda Dalil succède à Aïcha Akalay en tant que directeur de la publication de TelQuel". Telquel.ma (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- ^ "L'anthropologue marocain M.Boum, nommé à l'Université de Californie". Le Matin (in French). November 16, 2021. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- ^ "Procter & Gamble: Samir Lebbar, nouveau PDG pour l'Afrique du Nord | MapNews". www.mapnews.ma. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
External links
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