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University Mohammed VI Polytechnic

Coordinates: 32°13′08″N 7°56′08″W / 32.2188°N 7.9355°W / 32.2188; -7.9355
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University Mohammed VI Polytechnic
Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique
جامعة محمد السادس متعددة التخصصات التقنية
ⵜⴰⵙⴷⴰⵡⵉⵜ ⵎⵓⵃⵎⵎⴷ ⵡⵉⵙⵙ ⵚⴹⵉⵚ ⴰⴳⵜⵉⵇⵏⵉ
MottoEmpowering minds
TypePrivate non-profit research university
Established2013; 12 years ago (2013)
Parent institution
OCP Foundation
Academic affiliations
Endowment$213.5 million (2023)[1]
ChairmanMostafa Terrab
PresidentHicham El Habti
ProvostDriss Ouazar
Students7,229[2]
995[2]
Address
Lot 660, Hay Moulay Rachid
,
Benguerir
,
Morocco

32°13′08″N 7°56′08″W / 32.2188°N 7.9355°W / 32.2188; -7.9355
CampusUrban (main in Benguerir; second in Rabat)
Websiteum6p.ma
Map

University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P; French: Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique) is a Moroccan non-profit private research university. Its main campus is located within the Green City of Benguerir. Centered on African development, the university is oriented towards applied research and innovation and is engaged in regional economic and human development. The university has a second major campus in Rabat (in the municipality of Salé),[3] and antennae in Laâyoune, Paris, and Montreal.[4][5] A suburban campus is set to open in El Jadida in 2034.[6]

UM6P places a strong emphasis on experiential learning, entrepreneurship, and collaboration with industry. Its educational model integrates academic instruction with practical training through living laboratories, pilot projects, and fieldwork, particularly in areas such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and digital technologies.[7][8] The institution also supports innovation and technology transfer through incubators, startup accelerators, and partnerships with both local and international companies.[9][10]

The university federates a number of schools and research institutes, some of which predate its establishment. It maintains numerous international partnerships with leading academic institutions worldwide, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia Business School, the Max Planck Society, HEC Paris, Mines ParisTech, EPFL, McGill University, and Sciences Po.[11]

UM6P is ranked among the Top 500 in the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. As the best-ranked university in Morocco & North Africa, this achievement highlights its dedication to research, innovation, and academic excellence.[12]

History

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Early days

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The University Mohammed VI Polytechnic project is part of the Green City of Benguerir, launched in 2009 by King Mohammed VI. It is an initiative led by the OCP Foundation, aiming to create a hub of academic, scientific, and technological excellence in Morocco.[13][14] The university was officially established in 2013 and inaugurated on January 12, 2017, by the King.[15][16]

Inauguration of UM6P Benguerir in 2017

Expansion

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Over the years, UM6P has experienced steady growth through the creation or integration of several institutions. In 2013, it launched the School of Industrial Management (EMINES), followed in 2014 by the integration of the Faculty of Governance, Economics and Social Sciences (FGSES). In 2015, it established the School of Agriculture, Fertilization and Environmental Sciences (ESAFE), and launched its first research departments, notably MSN (Materials Science) and SIMLAB (modeling and simulation).[17][18]

Africa Business School was inaugurated in 2016. In 2018, the university expanded its scientific activities with the creation of the Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation (IST&I). The following year saw the opening of the School of Architecture, Planning and Design (SAP+D), as well as the School of Collective Intelligence.[19]

Africa Business School, located on the Rabat campus

In 2020, several new entities were launched, including the Green Tech Institute, the School of Computer Science (UM6P-CS), the School of Hospitality Business and Management, and a Doctoral School. The following year, the university inaugurated the African Supercomputing Center, hosting the Toubkal supercomputer, ranked among the global TOP500.[20][21]

In 2021, as part of its national expansion, UM6P opened a new campus in Rabat. Designed by the Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura firm, as is the Benguerir campus, this site hosts programs in humanities and social sciences, governance, public policy, and management sciences. It is also home to the Policy Center for the New South, a Moroccan think tank specializing in geopolitics, development, and public policy. The campus aims to offer an academic complement to the Benguerir site, aligned with the economic and institutional challenges of the country and the African continent. The campus's main auditorium (French: centre de congrès) was officially opened in September 2023.[22][3]

Partnerships

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UM6P has developed a diverse network of partnerships and connections around the world with higher education institutions, research centers, organizations, and companies, among others. These collaborations are based on the principles of sharing best practices, excellence, and mutual benefit, and target cooperation in research, education, innovation, and entrepreneurship across all areas of focus.[23]

As a higher education and research university, UM6P sees these partnerships as opportunities to respond to the needs of its ecosystem and accelerate its contribution to national development plans. The university continues to forge meaningful links aligned with its development objectives and aspirations at local, regional, and international levels.[24]

Academic partnerships

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UM6P maintains academic and scientific partnerships with several institutions across the globe. These collaborations span countries such as Morocco, the United States, Canada, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Spain, China, Malaysia, Brazil, Australia, Finland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Côte d’Ivoire. Its academic partners include:[23]

Industrial and technological partnerships

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In 2022, the university established a partnership with Oracle Corporation and the Moroccan government to create the first Oracle Lab in Africa, located in Casablanca. This collaboration focuses on research in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing, while also supporting skills development through training programs and internships. The partnership aims to strengthen digital innovation and contribute to Morocco’s technology ecosystem.[25]

The university also entered into a collaboration with Microsoft Africa Transformation Office to provide training resources, cloud computing access, and support for entrepreneurship. As part of this initiative, a Microsoft Sustainability Core and a Digital Innovation Center of Excellence were launched at the university.[26]

In November 2024, the Africa Center of Manufacturing Excellence (ACME) was created by UM6P in Nouaceur, in partnership with the Moroccan government and Boeing. Announced during the Marrakech Air Show, the center focuses on research and training in advanced manufacturing, including automation, Industry 4.0, and materials engineering.[27][28] In June 2025, during the Paris Air Show, Boeing expanded this partnership to support skill development and technological innovation in Morocco’s aerospace sector.[29]

In July 2025, UM6P formalized a maritime R&D collaboration with Naval Group and Maghreb Steel in Rabat. A framework agreement was signed to launch research and development projects in the naval domain, including the design, construction, and maintenance of maritime structures.[30]

Mission

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The mission of UM6P is strongly centered on advancing research and innovation, with a particular focus on supporting development across Africa. The university collaborates with numerous institutions throughout the continent and has established experimental platforms and applied research laboratories in partnership with other universities. Among its key research centers is MSDA (Modeling, Simulation, and Data Analysis), which specializes in mathematical and phenomenological modeling, numerical simulation, and data analysis.[31]

Pan-African engagement

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The university positions its work within a pan-African dynamic by establishing partnerships with universities and research centers, and by supporting collaborative programs aimed at helping address the continent’s development needs. These initiatives focus on applied research, innovation, doctoral training, and capacity building.[32]

Among its recent initiatives is the Excellence in Africa program, developed in collaboration with the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), which supports the development of young African teacher-researchers, the training of 100 PhD students, and the creation of competence centers in digital education.[33] In 2025, UM6P also launched a scholarship program with the Mastercard Foundation, aiming to train 575 young African women over a ten-year period.[34]

Other initiatives such as NextAfrica, a GreenTech and AgriTech acceleration program between Station F and UM6P, as well as the Youth Tech Challenge Africa, focused on the co-design of future African cities, further demonstrate the university’s practical commitment to innovation on the continent.[35]

Gallery: Benguerir campus

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  • Main entrance
    Main entrance
  • Central canopy viewed from above
    Central canopy viewed from above
  • Central canopy viewed from beneath
    Central canopy viewed from beneath
  • Conference center
    Conference center

Gallery: Rabat campus

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  • Central monumental axis
    Central monumental axis
  • Central canopy
    Central canopy
  • Academic buildings
    Academic buildings
  • Main auditorium
    Main auditorium

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "€82 million injected into UM6P Endowment (formerly OCP Foundation)". AfricaBusiness+. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  2. ^ a b "Official website of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University". um6p.ma. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  3. ^ a b Leopoldo Villardi (13 August 2024). "In Morocco, Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura Designs a Lecture Hall with a Deep-Green Auditorium at Its Core". Architectural Record.
  4. ^ "L'université Mohammed VI polytechnique s'implante en France". Le Figaro (in French). 2024-01-28. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  5. ^ "University Mohammed VI Polytechnic launches its new branch UM6P Canada to strengthen ties between Africa and North America". Newswire. 2025-01-16. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  6. ^ "Première. Pôle urbain de Mazagan: l'OCP se positionne en aménageur". Le 360 Français (in French). Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  7. ^ "Our Labs | Impulse". impulse.ocp.lnet.ma. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  8. ^ "UM6P, OCP Fertilizantes, OCP Nutricrops, and Embrapa forge partnership to advance sustainable agricultural innovation". World Fertilizer. 2025-02-25. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  9. ^ "The Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2024". startupgenome.com. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  10. ^ Toutate, Issam (2025-02-19). "UM6P's Bet on Entrepreneurship, Innovation Is Driving Morocco's AI Leadership". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  11. ^ "International Collaborations|Collaborations with institutions of excellence". um6p.ma. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  12. ^ "Mohammed VI Polytechnic University - Times Higher Education". Times Higher Education. 2025.
  13. ^ "La nouvelle ville de Benguérir, la première ville verte en Afrique | Challenge.ma". www.challenge.ma. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  14. ^ "Enquête. Le miracle Benguerir". Telquel.ma (in French). Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  15. ^ "Inauguration de l'université Mohammed VI Polytechnique à Benguerir". Médias24 (in French). 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  16. ^ "HM the King Inaugurates Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Benguerir Green City | MapNews". www.mapnews.ma.
  17. ^ "Emines - Mohammed VI Polytechnic University". www.emines-ingenieur.org. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  18. ^ "Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique - WHED - IAU's World Higher Education Database". www.whed.net. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  19. ^ "L'UM6P lance l'Ecole d'intelligence collective". Medias24 (in French). 2019-06-28. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  20. ^ "Toubkal - PowerEdge C6420, CRC-StackHPC, Xeon Platinum 8276L 28C 2.2GHz, Mellanox InfiniBand HDR100 | TOP500". top500.org. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  21. ^ "Morocco's UM6P university launches Africa's most powerful supercomputer; MapNews". www.datacenterdynamics.com.
  22. ^ Tobias, Souleyman (2022-07-20). "UM6P à Rabat : le Groupe OCP reçoit un appui de la MIGA". CIOMAG (in French). Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  23. ^ a b "Collaborations Internationales | Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique". www.um6p.ma. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  24. ^ jihane-rahhou (2024-02-27). "UM6P, AMMC Partner to Boost Financial Education in Morocco". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  25. ^ "R&D : lancement de « Oracle Lab » en partenariat avec le gouvernement et l'UM6P". Le Matin.ma (in French). 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  26. ^ souad-anouar (2022-11-24). "Microsoft, UM6P to Support Moroccan Student Developers, Startups, and SMEs". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  27. ^ "Boeing to build excellence engineering center in Morocco – The North Africa Post". Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  28. ^ "Aéronautique et défense : l'embryon de R&D au sein de l'UM6P officialisé avec Boeing". Le Desk (in French). 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  29. ^ "Aéronautique et défense : l'embryon de R&D au sein de l'UM6P officialisé avec Boeing". Le Desk (in French). 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  30. ^ Daoudi, Asmae (2025-07-17). "UM6P Teams Up With Maghreb Steel and France's Naval Group to Bolster Maritime Technologies". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  31. ^ "MSDA (Modeling, Simulation & Data Analysis)". msda.um6p.ma.
  32. ^ "L'UM6P réaffirme ses ambitions africaines". LesEco.ma (in French). 2019-03-05. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  33. ^ "Excellence in Africa Initiative". EPFL. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  34. ^ "The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Accelerates Impact With Three New Partnerships In Africa". mastercardfdn.org. 2025-05-09. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  35. ^ Faouzi, Adil (2025-02-27). "UM6P Inaugurates Presence at STATION F, Launches NextAfrica Program". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
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