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Marrakech – Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI) has achieved a milestone by becoming the first international institution to join the prestigious LearningWell Coalition, a network of prominent American universities dedicated to student-centered education.
The coalition includes renowned institutions such as Georgetown, MIT, Tufts, University of Southern California, and Arizona State University. This historic membership advances AUI’s commitment to excellence in the American “liberal arts & sciences” model.
AUI joined the coalition through its “Paths to Purpose” program, a campus-wide initiative offering students ongoing opportunities to explore their vocations throughout their academic journey. The holistic approach aims to enhance academic success, employability, and preparation for a fulfilling life.
“Young professionals (and not-so-young ones) sometimes realize that their choices in education, career, or life don’t align with what makes them happy, and they decide to change course, often quite late in life, frequently because they never had the opportunity to reflect in a structured way and make deliberate choices,” stated AUI President Amine Bensaid.
He noted that “this kind of course correction can be avoided by integrating preparation into education.”
The university has implemented a comprehensive strategy to align student success with well-being. Bensaid stressed the university’s commitment to equipping Generation-Z students through best practices and experiential campus training, contributing to their lifelong pursuit of well-being in terms of both employability and personal fulfillment.
The “Paths to Purpose” initiative adopts a developmental approach with intentional touchpoints throughout AUI’s four-year educational program.
These include vocation-centered academic support, integration of “Design Your Life” principles with human-centered design thinking in the “First Year Experience” program, and civic engagement with structured reflection.
Additional elements include vocation-focused modules integrated into AUI’s e-portfolio system and exit interviews. Interdisciplinary courses, “Honors Program” seminars, and capstone projects allow students to reflect on ethical questions, life goals, and broader societal impact.
Keith Buffinton, Executive Director of LearningWell, welcomed AUI’s inclusion: “We are honored to welcome Al Akhawayn University to the LearningWell Coalition.”
“AUI’s commitment to student flourishing based on a holistic, values-driven approach with rigorous assessment perfectly illustrates the type of innovation and vocation-centered education that the Coalition seeks to promote,” he added.
Read also: AUI, AUS Sign Partnership to Boost Research in Arabic Language, Ethical AI
Founded by royal dahir (decree) in 1993, AUI opened in January 1995 as an English-medium, American-style university. The name “Al Akhawayn” (“the two brothers”) honors its founding patrons, the late King Hassan II of Morocco and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.
AUI is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), with its status continued in September 2022. Located in the Middle Atlas resort town of Ifrane, the residential campus spans approximately 75 hectares with seven academic buildings, the Mohammed VI Library, and various facilities.
The university follows a liberal-arts core curriculum through three schools: Business Administration; Science & Engineering; and Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities. As of Fall 2023, AUI reported about 3,750 students, with women comprising 54% of the student body.
AUI’s mission emphasizes diversity, global outlook, and human solidarity, delivered in English within an American university model. The institution appears in Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings and features in QS Arab Region listings.
Through this collective initiative, the coalition aims to provide each student with a solid foundation in well-being and promote personal and academic growth.
