Success Stories Widad Laoufir, UIR: Making Talents a Lever for Excellence
An HR Vision in Service of Excellence
Director of Human Capital at the International University of Rabat since 2020, Widad Laoufir has transformed her financial rigor into a strategic asset to manage an organization of over 600 employees. A portrait of an HR professional who places people at the heart of performance.
At the head of human capital at the International University of Rabat (UIR) since 2020, Widad Laoufir manages an organization of over 600 employees and makes talent management a strategic lever to support the University's development.
She began her career in finance, in audit and management control, before making a real turning point when she discovered her passion for human resources. This change of direction allowed her to use the analytical rigor and strategic vision acquired in her early professional experiences to serve the women and men she supports.
A Path Guided by People
Holder of a master's degree in human resources from the Hassania School of Public Works and EM Strasbourg, she later enriched her background with "Essentiels MBA" programs at ESSEC and HEC Montreal, consolidating her skills in strategic management and leadership.
Her career path illustrates the richness and diversity of HR experiences in Morocco. She started at Siemens, a German multinational, where she discovered the complex challenges of international organizations, before joining Sadet, a leading Moroccan SME in pre-stressed concrete. She then dedicated ten years to the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Horse (SOREC), a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries.
Varied Paths, The Same Constant
From these experiences, she draws a strong conviction: "In all sectors, the key remains respect, professionalism, and listening." For her, accessibility and the ability to truly understand others, their expectations as well as their constraints, pave the way for consensual solutions. It is this climate of trust that, in her eyes, allows for constructive dialogue and lasting collaboration.
Since 2020, at UIR, Widad Laoufir has been working in a unique environment where two worlds coexist. On one hand, academic careers, guided by academic excellence, innovation, scientific publications, and research. On the other hand, administrative paths, driven by training, performance, and mobility logics. A duality that calls for constant adaptation of HR practices and processes.
Human Capital to Build the Future
This year, UIR celebrates its 15 years of existence, marking an important milestone in its journey. At the head of human capital, Widad Laoufir thus works to build an organization that is both high-performing and inclusive, by supporting skills development through the "UIR Talent Place" academy and by fostering a fulfilling and stimulating work environment.
For her, human capital management is not just about simple administrative processes. It is based on "the art of combining strategic vision, performance, and a culture of innovation and creativity", she insists.
Today, she deploys this holistic approach at UIR, combining performance and kindness, at the heart of an institution recognized for its academic excellence, its spirit of innovation, and its international openness.
