Tetouan, Essaouira Launch Africa’s First International University for Culture and Heritage

Culture, memory, and education converge in Morocco’s latest academic initiative.

Fez– In a major step toward reimagining cultural education in Morocco, the city of Tetouan hosted a high-level meeting on Friday to discuss the next phases of the “International University for Culture and Heritage Sciences – Tetouan–Essaouira.”

More than just a project, it’s an ambitious academic initiative with a clear mission: to preserve Morocco’s heritage while turning its rich cultural legacy into a shared educational resource for the world.

The gathering brought together key figures, including André Azoulay, Advisor to King Mohammed VI and President of the Essaouira-Mogador Association, and Abdelrazak Mansouri, Governor of Tetouan.

This initiative isn’t simply about education; it’s about memory, dialogue, and unity.

“This is a turning point,” said Azoulay in a statement to the press. “Once again, Morocco is proving the vitality of its creative energy and the richness of its exceptional heritage. From north to south, east to west, culture is alive in every corner of this country.”

According to Azoulay, choosing to invest in both tangible and intangible heritage and embedding that investment in a strong creative and cultural framework is what makes this university project so significant.

By connecting Tetouan and Essaouira in a joint academic venture, the two cities are offering young researchers a platform to explore, innovate, and expand the boundaries of Moroccan cultural expression, for others, and for ourselves.

He also noted that Morocco’s cultural scene is undergoing a symbolic shift, one that this university could help amplify. His ultimate hope is that the university doesn’t just start a new chapter, but it becomes a long-term engine of cultural transformation.

Abdellah Ouzzitane, President of the Center for Studies and Research on Hebrew Law in Morocco, echoed this sentiment, calling Morocco’s cultural diversity “a national treasure.” He expressed that this isn’t just another academic project, it’s a human one, built by and for civil society, with a strong message of peace, coexistence, and openness to the world.

He described the meeting as an opportunity to outline a future roadmap for the university, one that reflects Morocco’s enduring values of tolerance and cultural pluralism. “It’s a project of hope and resilience,” he said.

Dr. Bouchta Mounir El Moumni, President of Abdelmalek Essaadi University in Tetouan, underlined the strategic vision behind the university.

Grounded in the uniqueness of Tetouan, a Mediterranean city, and Essaouira, an Atlantic one, the project is meant to elevate Morocco’s cultural heritage on both a national and international scale.

Back in December, a memorandum of understanding was signed to transform Tetouan’s former Azhari bus station into the university’s future campus.

The announcement was made during the “Spirit of Al-Andalus” conference, which focused on the historical and cultural ties linking Tetouan and Essaouira.

Once operational, the university will be the first of its kind on the African continent. It aims to strengthen cultural cooperation between Morocco and the wider world, foster academic research in heritage sciences, and preserve the memory and cultural wealth of cities like Tetouan and Essaouira.