Today we travelled to Marrakesh, stopping for three site visits along the way. First, we visited the Technopark in Casablanca, and listened to a keynote speaker explain the Technoparks “Startup and Smart Tech”. I enjoyed seeing all of the office rooms and group spaces where these bright minds come up with the future ideas of technology. Then we grabbed a quick lunch and heading towards Marrakesh. On the way over, we stopped in the town of Ben Guerir to visit the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) as well as its neighboring institution, the 1337 Coding School. Both schools are funded by the OCP Group and specialize in giving African students the best possible education for a successful career and future. The entire campus of UM6P was perfectly tailored to student living. Beautiful dorm buildings lay right next to specialized buildings, surrounded by lush landscaping and courts for many sports. Students on campus seem to be very happy at these institutions.
During our site visit to the 1337 coding school in Ben Guerir, we learned how the school prepares students for professional environments through a hands-on, collaborative, and problem-solving approach rather than traditional lectures. Connected to UM6P, the school focuses heavily on applied research, where students work on solving real-world problems for companies like OCP Group, helping students gain practical experience that mirrors professional workplaces. We were also surprised to learn that the school spends very little money on marketing and instead relies mostly on student-run social media to communicate accomplishments after they happen, creating a culture centered around action and results. Another important takeaway was the school’s effort to increase opportunities for women in technology, since women currently make up only about 20% of the student body at 1337 despite women representing around 60% of students at UM6P overall. To address this, the school actively recruits women through outreach campaigns and gives housing priority to female students. We also learned that around 80% of students receive scholarships, with 60% receiving full rides, showing the school’s commitment to accessibility. During COVID-19, although classes stopped temporarily, the school continued providing students with health insurance and monthly financial support while many students still collaborated on projects remotely. Finally, the school explained how it has adapted to AI by adding AI-focused curriculum components, including Python and Java, while also strengthening peer review and student feedback systems to ensure students truly understand their code rather than relying too heavily on AI tools. Overall, the visit showed us how 1337 creates an innovative and supportive learning environment that closely prepares students for real careers in technology.