First Cohort: Evaluated Institutions and Stages of the Evaluation
Academic Year 2020-2021
Introduction
Since it began implementing its mandates in 2017, the National Agency for the Evaluation and Quality Assurance of Higher Education and Scientific Research has been evaluating training programs with a view to their accreditation or the renewal of their accreditation. In implementation of the Agency’s strategic plan (2020-2024), the Agency launched institutional evaluation in the form of a first pilot covering seventeen university institutions, of which twelve are public institutions and five belong to partner universities. This document sets out the context of the operation, the evaluated institutions, and the stages the evaluation went through until its report was published.
Reference Framework
- The decree relating to quality standards was issued in 2019 (decree of July 23, 2019).
- These standards were developed with the active participation of Moroccan universities, through the consultations and regional meetings held between November 2016 and November 2017, within the framework of the European Union’s technical support project for the Agency.
- The Agency’s Board of Directors, meeting on January 13, 2020, decided to approve the strategic plan (2020-2024), which provides for the launch of the institutional evaluation mission.
- The reference document containing the standards can be downloaded from the Agency’s website : www.aneaq.ma
Launch of the Operation
On June 3, 2020, a letter was sent to the presidents of public universities and the presidents of partner universities, in order to identify the institutions that would be evaluated by the Agency. The letter provided for the following:
- First pilot: evaluation of one institution per university, proposed by the university presidency as the most suitable for this pilot, with the operation to later cover all higher education institutions.
- External evaluation based on an internal evaluation: the institution first carries out a self-evaluation, then the Agency carries out the external evaluation.
- Self-evaluation guide: the Agency prepares a guide to support institutions in producing their reports, and it is sent to the universities.
- Timeline: submission of the self-evaluation report in September 2020; start of site visits and external evaluation from October of the 2020-2021 academic year.
Evaluated Institutions
The universities’ proposals resulted in the selection of seventeen university institutions, distributed as follows:
A. Public university institutions (12 institutions)
| No. | University | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohammed V University of Rabat (UM5) | Higher School of Technology of Salé |
| 2 | Hassan II University of Casablanca (UH2) | Faculty of Sciences Ben M’Sick |
| 3 | Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University of Fez (USMBA) | Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Fez |
| 4 | Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech (UCA) | Faculty of Sciences Semlalia |
| 5 | Moulay Ismail University of Meknes (UMI) | National Higher School of Arts and Crafts of Meknes |
| 6 | Hassan I University of Settat (UH1) | National School of Business and Management of Settat |
| 7 | Abdelmalek Essaadi University (UAE) | Multidisciplinary Faculty of Larache |
| 8 | Ibn Zohr University of Agadir (UIZ) | Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences of Agadir |
| 9 | Chouaib Doukkali University (UCD) | National School of Business and Management of El Jadida |
| 10 | Mohammed I University of Oujda (UMP) | Higher School of Technology of Oujda |
| 11 | Ibn Tofail University of Kenitra (UIT) | National School of Business and Management of Kenitra |
| 12 | Sultan Moulay Slimane University of Beni Mellal (USMS) | Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Beni Mellal |
B. Institutions belonging to partner universities (5 institutions)
| No. | University | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez (UEMF) | Euro-Mediterranean School of Architecture, Design and Urban Planning (EMADU) |
| 2 | International University of Rabat (UIR) | Rabat Business School |
| 3 | Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) | School of Industrial Management (EMINES) |
| 4 | Abulcasis International University of Health Sciences | Abulcasis Faculty of Medicine |
| 5 | Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences of Casablanca | International School of Public Health |
Stages of the Evaluation
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| June 3, 2020 | Letter sent to the presidents of public and partner universities to propose the institutions that would be evaluated. |
| June 2020 | The self-evaluation guide prepared by the Agency was sent to the universities. |
| September 2020 | Institutions complete their self-evaluation reports and send them to the Agency. |
| October 2020 | Site visits to the institutions concerned, as part of the external evaluation. |
| August 2021 | Publication of the institutional evaluation report for the first cohort. |
First-cohort outcomes
This first pilot culminated in the publication of the “Synthesis Report 2020-2021”, which brings together the conclusions of the institutional evaluation process and records the main findings regarding the evaluated institutions. It was published on the Agency’s official website (www.aneaq.ma) to be available to universities, institutions and the public, and it serves as a reference to draw on in future cohorts of institutional evaluation.
The Agency renews its thanks to all the universities and institutions that contributed to the success of this first pilot, and reaffirms its commitment to continuing institutional evaluation in support of a culture of quality and continuous improvement in the higher education and scientific research system.
Synthesis Meeting
The Ministry emphasises that institutional evaluation is an essential tool for improving the quality of higher education in Morocco, building on institutions’ self-evaluation and external expertise. The pilot exercise identified good practices and areas for improvement in governance, teaching, scientific research, student life and social responsibility. The Ministry stresses the importance of clear, prioritised recommendations followed by concrete action plans. The aim is to establish a process of continuous improvement rather than a punitive approach.
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