How Morocco Has Successfully Combined Diversity, Memory, and Modernity, Says André Azoulay

André Azoulay. Photo Credit: Juanta Informa/ Wikimedia.org

The city of Tetouan hosted, on Friday, the meeting of the Board of Directors of the International University of Cultural and Heritage Sciences Tetouan–Essaouira, chaired by André Azoulay, Advisor to His Majesty King Mohammed VI and Founding President of the Essaouira-Mogador Association.

This meeting is part of the ongoing momentum to establish this major academic and cultural project, which aims to promote the cultural and civilizational heritage of Tetouan and Essaouira, strengthen their position as reference hubs for intercultural dialogue, and enhance their national and international influence.

A Moroccan Model Recognized Worldwide

Speaking on the occasion, André Azoulay stressed that the creation of this university marks a major milestone. He emphasized that the time has come to deconstruct, explain, and teach how and why Morocco’s leadership on the global stage has not only been consolidated but is now widely recognized by the international community.

According to Azoulay, Morocco’s model has become a benchmark, made possible by the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, which has enabled the Kingdom to embrace its diversity as a source of strength. In terms of coexistence, openness, and the interaction of spiritualities and histories, Morocco remains a unique example of unity and inclusiveness.

Diversity as the Foundation of National Unity

“Our unity is nourished by the fact that each of our civilizations, spiritual traditions, and identities has contributed depth, resilience, and meaning to our national cohesion,” Azoulay stated, underlining that this singularity is what defines Morocco.

Within this framework, the future university will serve as a space for rational thought and research, dedicated to explaining how Morocco has managed to harmonize diversity, collective memory, and modernity. The institution aims to consolidate past achievements while preparing younger generations to further develop this unique model.

Azoulay recalled that Tetouan and Essaouira, thanks to their rich historical and cultural heritage, provide the ideal territorial foundation for this university, while also giving it a vocation to radiate at the national, African, and international levels.

A Shared Project Rooted in Openness and Coexistence

For his part, Abderzak El Manssouri, Governor of the Province of Tetouan, welcomed the initiative, highlighting the fundamental significance of this shared project between Tetouan and Essaouira. He noted that it reflects a collective capacity to convey a strong message of openness, coexistence, tolerance, and living together.

He added that this initiative embodies the Kingdom’s determination to promote its cultural and civilizational values internationally, transforming long-standing reflection and ambition into concrete action through research, education, creativity, and cultural development.

An Innovative Academic and Cultural Institution

The President of the Center for Studies and Research on Hebrew Law in Morocco, Abdellah Ouzitane, described the Board meeting as a decisive phase in the construction of the university. The session allowed for the official establishment of the Board of Directors and the validation of the institution’s organizational and strategic foundations.

Ouzitane emphasized the unprecedented nature of the project, describing it as a civic initiative rooted in civil society and reflecting the DNA of an open, plural, and modern Morocco, where culture occupies a central role.

Meanwhile, Bouchta El Moumni, President of Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, highlighted that this institution is not a conventional university but one with a specific mission: to highlight the shared cultural and historical elements linking Tetouan and Essaouira, while conveying to the world a message of tolerance, diversity, and shared civilization.

The meeting concluded with the presentation of the university’s academic offer, research programs, and continuing education initiatives, as well as the signing of a partnership agreement for the governance and financing of this ambitious cultural and academic project.