Specialized Masters: Universities Have Found a Winning Formula
Over 300 Masters and professional Bachelor's degrees are taught in various faculties. Besides academic and practical aspects, businesses contribute their expertise, especially to improve training in behavioral areas. Thanks to partnerships with the private sector, most students are almost certain to find a job quickly.
For several years, the observation has been made: unemployment among young graduates is mainly due to the mismatch between education and employment. Statistics from the High Planning Commission clearly show this. At the end of the third quarter of 2010, the unemployment rate was 9%, down 0.1 points compared to 2009. The bulk of the unemployed are graduates. 19.4% of higher education graduates were unemployed, compared to 18.3% at the end of 2009, an increase of 1.1 points. Among graduates with intermediate-level degrees, the rate is 16.4%, slightly down compared to the whole of 2010 (16.7%), but the level remains very high compared to those without diplomas, who only represent 4% reporting no activity compared to 4.4% previously. In short, to get a job, it's better not to pursue lengthy studies. However, Morocco is still far from having the skills needed for its development. Mohamed Horani, president of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), addressed this paradox at a press conference held on Wednesday, February 23 in Casablanca. "While companies have a shortage of human resources, a significant number of graduates are unemployed," he stressed. However, in recent years, higher education institutions have multiplied initiatives to align with the professional world. But the fruits of such actions are not yet visible.
Long discredited and labeled as a "churning out unemployed" factory, the Moroccan university has begun its transformation to restore its image. More precisely, since the 2003 reform on the organization of higher education, it has embarked on a process of diversification of degree programs, including specialized Masters, academic Masters and other professional Bachelor's degrees. For proof, there are now over 300 Masters and professional Bachelor's degrees taught in different institutions across the country.
For example, the Veolia Environnement Maroc group launched a professional Bachelor's degree in urban sanitation in 2005 in partnership with the universities of Limoges, Cadi Ayyad of Marrakech, Abdelmalek Essaâdi of Tangier/Tetouan and Hassan II of Mohammedia. This program aims to train professionals in environmental professions, specifically in urban sanitation. "Sanitation is a relatively new profession. Profiles mastering this field are rarely found," explains M'barek Benchanaa, director of centers of excellence at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech.
In 2007, the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of Hassan II University launched the Banking and Finance Master's degree with the Attijariwafa bank group and other Spanish partners, notably Grupo Santander and the University of Cantabria. Objective: to train students in the most advanced techniques in the financial sector. After two years, graduates can apply for positions in bank risk departments or work in brokerage firms. The Master's is an adapted version of the program taught at the University of Cantabria.
The oldest of these specific programs is undoubtedly the insurance law Master's degree launched by the same faculty in partnership with the Moroccan Federation of Insurance and Reinsurance Companies. "The Master's has existed since 1996 and it's always very popular. Each class is guaranteed a permanent contract before the end of their internships," rejoices Ahmed Essalmi El Idrissi, dean of the faculty.
For the latter, the enthusiasm for university programs is significant. "We receive nearly 1,200 applications for a single Master's program. This shows that candidates have a real interest in these Master's degrees," he emphasizes.
Moreover, for three years, the institution has been organizing its forum for Masters and professional Bachelor's degrees to showcase the plethora of programs it offers, about thirty in total. It must be said that the range of programs offered by local universities is increasingly varied, ranging from classic training in business management, finance, marketing, law to new areas such as environmental and sustainable development management, biodiversity, purchasing and logistics, sports management...
Competition for private schools? "Far from it, we are not looking for competition. On the contrary, the university must provide useful training that meets the socio-economic needs of the country," defends Mr. Essalmi El Idrissi.
The director of centers of excellence at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech agrees. "It's not out of simple altruism that such training programs have multiplied. Firstly, because there is now a roadmap through the emergency program that the State has put in place to revitalize public education, but also to provide the job market with new graduates who are immediately operational. Such an approach helps to remedy the training/employment mismatch that is at the origin of a high unemployment rate among university graduates in particular," he specifies.
And he adds that companies are increasingly involved in the development of curricula, participate in student recruitment and strategic decisions, and make their executives available to the university for a number of disciplines. Managers and executives also complement the academic or theoretical training with their field expertise. They contribute in particular to reducing the gap between the demands of the job market and the disciplines taught. Mandatory internship in a company Besides the academic and practical aspects, companies work on behavioral aspects, which are equally important. An essential aspect for which the university is not yet equipped. Obviously, these programs are complemented by mandatory internships in companies. It is clear that for students who access these programs, access to employment upon graduation is almost guaranteed. Success, however, depends on monitoring. "Often, such projects struggle to last because the monitoring of internships is not done seriously," laments an HR manager. Moreover, at the university level, the sometimes derisory number of participants does not allow for the continuity of such programs. For the dean of the Faculty of Law in Casablanca, "whenever a program doesn't work, we change or modify it. The important thing is that it meets the needs of the professional world." In short, constant adjustments and a good dose of willpower are needed to ensure the quality of training and prove to students that two additional years of sacrifice can be a strong argument for finding a job.
Published March 9, 2011
Posted online March 11, 2011
