Agadir – Morocco’s Mohammed VI Academy of Civil Aviation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK’s Lincoln College to strengthen cooperation in aviation training, engineering, research, and skills development.
The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration in education, applied research, innovation, and professional training, with a particular focus on aeronautics, civil aviation, engineering, and digital technologies.
Lincoln College Managing Director James Foster said the agreement falls under the British Council’s Going Global Partnership Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme.
“This agreement is part of the British Council’s Going Global Partnership TVET programme and means we can further our long-term collaborations in aviation training, student and staff mobility, professional development, research, innovation and knowledge exchange,” Foster said.
He added that the partnership builds on Lincoln College’s international education experience and strengthens its position among the United Kingdom’s Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTEC).
“This also strengthens our status as one of the UK’s Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTEC), something we are immensely proud of,” he said.
Partnership to promote women’s participation in aviation
Penny Taylor, head of Lincoln College’s Newark Campuses, attended the signing ceremony alongside Jason Pimborough, curriculum director at the Air and Space Institute (ASI).
Taylor said the agreement builds on Lincoln College’s existing cooperation with Morocco’s Institut des Métiers de l’Aéronautique (IMA), which provides training for the aviation industry.
“To be able to visit Casablanca and sign this significant agreement is truly special. This builds on our already successful partnership with the Institut des Métiers de l’Aéronautique (IMA), who we have already collaborated with,” she said.
The new partnership also aims to encourage more women to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace, supporting efforts to build a more diverse workforce in both sectors.
“What is really exciting about this MoU is that the partnership also aims to encourage greater participation of women in aviation and aerospace, helping to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce for the future,” Taylor added.
British Council supports UK-Morocco cooperation
During their visit to Morocco, the Lincoln College delegation toured the Mohammed VI Academy of Civil Aviation’s facilities, including its air traffic control simulators and specialised aviation training infrastructure.
Former Lincoln College and ASI learner Elle Barnaby also joined the delegation. Barnaby studied aeronautical engineering and now works as an apprentice software engineer while serving as a regional ambassador for apprenticeships in the East Midlands.
Alexandra Balafrej-Dhorne, the British Council’s country director in Morocco, said international partnerships help institutions develop skills and strengthen connections between education and industry.
“At the British Council, we believe international partnerships are a powerful catalyst for skills development,” she said.
“By connecting UK and Moroccan institutions, we help strengthen links between education and industry, support innovation, and equip young people with the skills needed to thrive in high-growth sectors,” Balafrej-Dhorne added.
The agreement strengthens cooperation between Moroccan and British institutions in technical and vocational education, particularly in sectors that require specialised training and closer links between education providers and industry.
