The International University of Rabat (UIR) and Cisco have launched Morocco's first Cisco EDGE Centre, a facility that will concentrate on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, training, certification, and research. UIR President Noureddine Mouaddib described it as the first center of its kind in North Africa and Francophone Africa. This initiative is part of Cisco's global Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program and marks the first Moroccan project under the scheme.
The center's mission is to provide training, certification, innovation, and research opportunities for students across Morocco, not only those enrolled at UIR, but also faculty members, researchers, and companies. The project follows two years of collaboration with Cisco teams in San Francisco. UIR's engineering school currently trains around 300 students in AI, cybersecurity, and Big Data in each graduating class. The university also collaborates with France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) on research projects, including Frugal AI.
Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Minister Azzeddine El Midaoui emphasized that the center supports Morocco's efforts to build digital sovereignty by developing local skills and technological capacity. He stated that digital sovereignty is not decreed but built through the training of talent and the adoption of technologies by institutions. The ministry has prioritized AI and digital technology in higher education, including new degree programs in AI, data science, and cybersecurity.
Minister El Midaoui also announced a new university teaching framework that will introduce a mandatory AI module for students across all disciplines, starting this academic year. He believes that AI should no longer be the preserve of computer scientists. The center will offer international certification pathways through Cisco Networking Academy, along with high-performance computing infrastructure for AI experimentation.
Cisco Executive Vice President Fran Katsoudas highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in driving progress and praised UIR's collaboration with Cisco. She mentioned that Cisco is looking to bring the region's first AI pod to the center and identified cybersecurity, networking, and collaboration as key areas for cooperation. Cisco Morocco Country Leader Meryem Mdaghri Alaoui stated that the EDGE Center will bring together technology, education, and innovation to prepare Moroccan talent for opportunities linked to AI.
According to Cisco's FY2026 Morocco report, the Networking Academy has reached 245,000 learners since its launch, including 33% women. In fiscal 2026, the program trained 51,000 learners, of whom 26% were women. The program has 193 active instructors, including 19% women, and 104 partner entities offering courses. Cisco reported $41.3 million in in-kind contributions to the program in Morocco since its inception.
The launch of the Cisco EDGE Centre has been supported by various stakeholders, including the CDG, which manages nearly MAD 370 billion ($37.7 billion) in assets and pursues a transformation strategy through 2030. UIR's director highlighted the university's achievements, including over 11,000 students, over 13,000 graduates, and more than 80 patent filings, with a 95% graduate employability rate. A US Embassy representative described the project as another investment in the Morocco-US relationship, bringing American technology together with UIR's research and student talent.
Key points
- The Cisco EDGE Centre will focus on AI, cybersecurity, and research, providing training and certification opportunities for students and professionals in Morocco.
- The center is part of Cisco's global Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program and marks the first Moroccan initiative under the scheme.
- The project has been supported by various stakeholders, including the Moroccan government, CDG, and the US Embassy.
