Brussels – In a symbolic step towards deepening intercultural understanding and academic cooperation, the University of Cordoba and the Moroccan Embassy in Madrid announced on Monday the launch of the “Fatima Al-Fihri Chair for Moroccan-Spanish Relations.”
The initiative aims to create an academic platform dedicated to strengthening historical, cultural, and scholarly ties between Morocco and Spain.
The launch ceremony, held in Cordoba, brought together Morocco’s Ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, the University of Cordoba’s rector, Manuel Torralbo, as well as academics, researchers, and civil society representatives from both countries.
The academic chair is named after Fatima Al-Fihri, the Moroccan woman who founded the University of Al Quaraouiyine in Fez, widely recognized as the world’s oldest operating university.
The initiative draws inspiration from her legacy to promote knowledge-sharing, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence across the Mediterranean.
Ambassador Benyaich emphasized that the creation of the chair reflects Morocco’s ongoing commitment to intercultural dialogue and regional cooperation.
“This academic space honors the values of knowledge, coexistence, and peace through the legacy of figures such as Fatima Al-Fihri,” she said. She also highlighted the central role of Moroccan women in transmitting knowledge and promoting tolerance across generations.
The chair will serve as an interdisciplinary academic hub, engaging in research and dialogue on themes such as history, culture, scientific exchange, and social dynamics, while also exploring new horizons for cooperation between Rabat and Madrid.
University rector Torralbo expressed pride in hosting the initiative, noting that Cordoba has long been a symbol of coexistence and openness.
He said the University of Cordoba is committed to transforming the chair into a vibrant platform through conferences, seminars, community outreach, and joint research projects.
The Fatima Al-Fihri Chair aspires to become a beacon of academic and cultural collaboration and a tool for developing a more cohesive, inclusive Mediterranean space rooted in dignity, justice, mutual respect, and understanding.
