The multi-disciplinary college project in Sidi Benour, Morocco, has been a long-standing demand of the region's residents. The project aims to bring higher education closer to the local population and alleviate the daily commute or need to stay in the city of El Jadida to pursue university studies. Despite the project's importance, its implementation has been delayed. The university institution was established in 2019, and a land plot was allocated for it, but the project remains stalled.
A statement released by the University of Chouaib Doukkali on June 18, 2026, reignited discussions about the project's future. The statement followed a visit by university officials to Sidi Benour, during which they discussed the possibility of revising the project's original plan and establishing two separate university institutions: a college of economics and management and a college of sciences and technologies. This development has sparked concerns among local residents and prompted parliamentary questions.
Parliamentarian Abdel Karim Amin has submitted a question to the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation regarding the project's status and the proposed changes. The question seeks clarification on the project's future, the progress of studies and preparations for the university campus, and the fate of the previously announced financial allocation of 63.4 million dirhams. Amin also requested information on the academic programs and specializations that will be offered at the proposed institutions.
The project's delay has significant implications for the local community. Residents are eagerly awaiting official clarification on the project's status, which has become a necessity for the region's development and education. The project's implementation is expected to promote equal opportunities for local students and reduce the financial and social burdens on families who currently have to send their children to study outside the region.
The possibility of establishing two separate university institutions has raised questions about the project's financial and academic viability. The proposed colleges of economics and management and sciences and technologies are expected to offer a range of academic programs and specializations. However, concerns have been raised about the project's funding, with some questioning whether the previously allocated funds have been reprogrammed.
Local residents are calling for transparency and clarity on the project's status. They emphasize that the project's implementation is crucial for the region's development and that it has become a pressing need for the local population. The project's delay has already had a significant impact on local students, who continue to pursue their university studies in El Jadida.
The project's future remains uncertain, pending a response from the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation. The outcome will have significant implications for the local community, and residents are eagerly awaiting a resolution to the project's long-standing delays.
Key points
- The project's implementation is expected to promote equal opportunities for local students and reduce the financial and social burdens on families.
