University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad

Established in 1978, the University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad is a relatively young institution, but despite its short history has become a major university in Morocco. It has grown substantially since its founding, and substantially expanded its student numbers in the early 2010s.

The university is comprised of 13 academic institutions, the majority of which are located in Marrakech, the capital of Morocco. Outside of Marrakech are the Faculty of Technology in Essaouira, the University Cente in Kelaa of Essraghna, and the Technology, Multidisciplinary and Applied Sciences Schools in Safi.

While the number of physical places at the university continues to grow, the University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad has also developed an e-learning program, offering a number of courses online and helping increase access to education for some of the poorest and most remote areas of Morocco. With the e-learning program, the number of students currently enrolled at the University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad has grown significantly.

Scientific research is a great source of pride for the university, and with more than 1,400 research professors and 146 research facilities it has become a leading scientific and technological centre in Morocco. The MOSS Project, run by a French-Moroccan-Swiss partnership, is a university-linked observatory in the Atlas Mountains. This project has been responsible for the discovery of two major comets and one near-Earth object (NEO), and as such the project is generally considered a great source of prestige for the university.