Day 6 started with an early arrival at the CCCL for us to depart for Casablanca, and then head on our way to Marrakesh!
Although today wasn’t my site visit day, I still learned along the way what I can connect to my work with Association Nationale du Développement Digital (ANDD). Our first stop was the Technopark at Casablanca, where we learned about the process for startups and how Technopark provides the resources needed to ensure that they are successful and growing. Technopark proved to us that grouping SMEs and startups under one roof creates a crucial micro-economy. This had me planning ahead for my group presentation, as Technopark demonstrates how providing subsidized workspaces and direct access to a network of corporate clients in Morocco’s economic capital enables early-stage companies to scale. A lot to think about as we toured the facility, which I thought was expansive and niche, catering to several different types of work and activities.
We concluded the morning with lunch at the Calfornie Mall, where I was able to get my hands on an iced coffee! One thing I’ve noticed about the caffeine culture here in Morocco is that it’s slim in everyday life, with even cappuccinos being the size of a free sample size cup (a hard lesson I learnt the first day here). So an iced mocha along with some fudge cake was a nice change for the afternoon from the daily teas. Following lunch, we continued our journey to Marrakech!
Our next site visit was at the Mohammad VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), where we begun our tour at the 1337 Coding School, and it was a revelation. 1337 is an entirely peer-to-peer, tuition-free coding academy that lacks traditional teachers or curriculum. We learned that they have a strict and rigid application process, carefully selecting their pool of students to admit. Following that, students determine their own pace of their education, with no room or system for failure, only growth. A theme of my report will focus on closing the digital skills gap, and 1337 proves that alternative, gamified education models are successfully bypassing traditional versions to produce highly skilled, globally competitive tech talent right here in Morocco. UM6P serves as the ultimate academic anchor for this, proving that world-class R&D and future-focused education are being prioritized locally.
Our last site visit was just on the opposite side of the UM6P campus, StartGate, the University’s startup campus and incubator. What I think my presentation should address is how talent actually translates into economic growth. StartGate acts as the crucial bridge, incubating student ideas and connecting them to investors and mentors. It showed me that Morocco isn’t just trying to export tech talent to Europe; the country is actively building the infrastructure to keep that talent home.
Looking ahead, I want to take a deeper dive into Morocco’s digital transformation. If places like UM6P and Technopark are the engines driving the startup ecosystem, ANDD is the track they run on. Going into this meeting, my focus will shift from how startups are built to how they are governed, regulated, and supported at the national level. As well as, weaving in how they make opportunities more accessible to women and children. A focus on these communities is crucial for long-term growth and success, as well as, reshaping their futures.
At last, we made it to Marrakech! We wrapped up the evening with dinner at the resort and got a chance to explore more of the city. Despite the long day of travel, today was successful in making me wonder what I want the outcome of our project to look like, as well as the impact we are trying to make. All the same, I am excited to venture a new city and see more of the vibrant life and culture Morocco has to offer!