alm: Al Akhawayn University maintains relations with NASA, how was this collaboration born?

Driss Ouaouicha: The collaboration of Al Akhawayn University with NASA does not date from today. Indeed, we have carried out several projects together, the most important of which are the visit of Dr. Kamal Oudrhiri with three of his colleagues from NASA to the university and the facilitation of workshops and conferences with students and pupils of Ifrane; the discovery of three meteorites and the confirmation of several others by students of the University's Astronomy Club within the framework of the "Potentially Hazardous Asteroids for NASA and the Killer Asteroid Project"; the invitation of Dr. Buzz Aldrin, a NASA astronaut, who was the first to walk on the moon with Neil Armstrong in 1969 (Apollo 11) as well as the organisation at the university of the "International Space Apps Challenge" competition with the participation of students from the universities of Fes, Meknes, and Ifrane. This competition was held at the same time in 75 cities around the world and virtually.

So you received Dr. Kamal Oudrhiri, the Moroccan who made NASA vibrate...

Absolutely, and he will be back at Al Akhawayn on Wednesday, 15 May 2013, to give a lecture and share his unique experience since the landing of the "Curiosity" Rover in August 2012 on the planet Mars and the main role he played, as head of the NASA Radio Science team, in the monitoring and success of this mission. A lecture that will focus on overcoming difficulties in the academic path, the importance of innovation in education, project management and achievement, the development of leadership skills, and other innovative ideas that will serve as models for Moroccan students.

Al Akhawayn University is the first and only institution to offer training in Sustainable Energy Management. Why the choice of this field?

The Master's in Sustainable Energy Management at the university was born in a context where energy supply has become a real strategic choice. It offers students with a scientific background knowledge in the field of energy management and its impact on the environment. The objective is to equip students with the skills necessary for the development and deployment of the energy policies of their company and their country in liaison with international actors.

How was this programme designed?

The approach is based on theoretical training, allowing for the understanding of physical phenomena necessary for engineers, technological training, explaining the functioning of industrial systems, and digital training, allowing students to model and simulate complex energy processes using industrial calculation codes. Al Akhawayn University also has various experimental stations dedicated to cutting-edge research in the field of solar energy, wind energy, biomass, energy storage, and energy efficiency. These research and development projects allow students to see the practical aspects related to energy production and management.

How do you assess the need for profiles trained in sustainable energy in the job market?

The need for engineers mastering energy source management, renewable energies, energy diagnostics, energy balances, digital simulation, and the use of industrial calculation codes for thermal transfers, metrology in engineering sciences, is visible today in the national, regional, and international job market. According to a study by the Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water, and Environment on the specification of skills needs in the renewable energy sector, the national need for training in this field has been estimated at nearly 1,000 graduates. The graduates of Al Akhawayn University, by the nature of this training, are equipped to occupy positions in multinational companies and develop within multicultural work environments in Morocco and abroad.

Couldn't this programme be considered "very specific" and consequently limit hiring opportunities for its graduates?

What you need to know is that an important part of this training focuses on an in-depth knowledge of the business world in its entirety, both large multinational groups and SMEs. Furthermore, because the general training offered by Al Akhawayn University focuses on communication techniques in several languages (English, French, and Arabic) and project management, in addition to the specialised training of this master's, graduates develop the skills allowing them to integrate into various national and international industries, not necessarily those related to the energy sector. Some of them may also choose to continue doctoral studies in the field.

Are there any public or private stakeholders who have accompanied this master's?

Of course! Several institutions in the energy field both in Morocco and abroad have partnered with this programme; I would cite ONEE, SIEP, MASEN, IRESEN, OCP, Lafarge, NOVEC, a subsidiary of the CDG Group, Al Omrane, and many others. This demonstrates the enthusiasm of companies for this type of programme and their need for qualified profiles trained in this field.

What are the development prospects for AUI for the coming years?

The university has made significant progress in recent years thanks to the implementation of a large number of educational and research programmes. It continues the implementation of its second strategic plan 2010-2014, the completion of institutional accreditation, in addition to the accreditations already obtained for programmes and units from renowned international organisations, and the improvement of institutional efficiency using international indicators.