Al Akhawayn University
Al Akhawayn University is a public, independent, not-for-profit university located in Ifrane, Morocco. It was officially inaugurated on January 16, 1995, by King Hassan II, following its founding by royal decree in 1993.
Situated in the Middle Atlas Mountains, approximately 70 km from the imperial city of Fez, Al Akhawayn University follows an American-style liberal arts curriculum, with English serving as the primary language of instruction.
History
King Fahd of Saudi Arabia largely funded the creation of Al Akhawayn University from an endowment intended to cleanup an oil spill off the coast of Morocco. The cleanup was never realized as the wind blew the oil spill away and the endowment was used to create the university.Al Akhawayn University was founded by Royal Decree in 1993 and officially inaugurated by the former King Hassan II of Morocco on January 16, 1995. The Arabic name al-akhawayn, literally the "two brothers," refers to the two respective kings.
Academics
Al Akhawayn University enrolls over 3,000 full-time students on its residential campus in Ifrane. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs through three main schools: the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Science and Engineering, and the School of Business Administration.All programs are structured around a common core curriculum inspired by the American liberal arts tradition. The university also maintains international partnerships and provides opportunities for exchange programs.
Notable alumni
Among the institution’s alumni are:- Maha Laziri
- Soufiane El Khalidy
- Mohamed Tessoumi
- Hatim Aznague
- Youssef Ksiyer
- Ayoub Makroz
- Mohammed Benouarrek
- Réda Dalil
- Soukaina Ouaddar
- Aomar Boum - anthropologist
- Samir Lebbar - CEO of Procter and Gamble's North Africa branch
- Omar Lahkim
- Zaynab El Bernoussi - political scientist