Rabat – The Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA) held a panel discussion in Rabat on Wednesday as part of its fact-finding mission to Morocco, aimed at expanding scientific collaboration and building stronger institutional partnerships between Germany and Arab countries.
The event brought together researchers, academics, and representatives of strategic institutions to discuss the current state and future of scientific cooperation between Morocco, Germany, and the wider Arab region.
The Rabat gathering formed part of AGYA’s broader mission organized from February 10 to 13, which includes meetings with key Moroccan institutions such as the Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology, Ibn Tofail University, Mohammed V University, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), and Al Akhawayn University. The visit seeks to foster dialogue, identify areas of mutual interest, and strengthen ties with local stakeholders.
Talking to Morocco World News (MWN) on the sidelines of the panel, Julia Leib, co-president of AGYA and political scientist at Leipzig University in Germany, described the academy as “the first bilateral academy, young academy, between Germany and Arab states.”
AGYA members are postdoctoral researchers, all between three and 10 years after completing their PhDs, she explained. “What we do in the academy is contribute to collaborative research across disciplines, across countries, to really tackle current challenges that we are facing in the world and that need collaborative research between the disciplines,” Leib told MWN.
Leib added that AGYA focuses on interdisciplinary cooperation and cross-border research to address global and regional challenges. The academy brings together early- and mid-career researchers to work on joint projects that combine different fields of expertise.
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She also expressed AGYA’s desire to expand its presence in Morocco and have new Moroccan members join their network. AGYA is currently accepting applications for new members, with a call open until the end of March. Addressing potential candidates, Leib said: “If you are yourself a postdoctoral researcher in Germany or in any Arab country, please feel free to apply.”
Beyond academic collaboration, Leib stressed the importance of engaging with the public and communities. “What we try to do is bring people together to collaborate and do research, but also to exchange with communities, with the public, and also to bring research out to the broader audience,” she noted.
Also speaking to MWN, Lahcen El Youssfi, professor of agro-environment at Ibn Tofail University and member of AGYA’s steering committee, described the Morocco visit as an opportunity to deepen institutional ties and discuss concrete pathways for collaboration.
He said the AGYA delegation organized many visits to different universities alongside the Rabat panel. The goal, he added, was to discuss “the future and the current state of collaboration between Germany and Arab countries in terms of scientific research, and also how we can impact and involve early career scientists in the process of development.”
El Youssfi described AGYA as “a model of young academies that helps to develop and foster collaboration between researchers in Germany and Arab countries.” Members within the academy work through thematic working groups focused on areas such as energy, environment, and dynamics of transformation.
The goal is to contribute to finding solutions to challenges both Germany and the Arab world face, he said. El Youssefi indicated that this approach relies on cross-disciplinary cooperation, engagement with communities on the ground, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
Both speakers reiterated their commitment to strengthening ties with Moroccan institutions and creating more opportunities for mobility and joint research initiatives.
“We are looking forward to receiving applications and also looking forward to developing and fostering more collaboration with the institutions in Morocco and in the Arab world,” El Youssfi said. He added that AGYA aims to “create more bridges of collaboration with Germany, German institutions, and also create more mobility and more activity in terms of scientific research.”
