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Rabat – A new cohort of Moroccan Fulbright grantees gathered in Rabat today for a pre-departure orientation organized by the Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE), marking the start of an academic and personal journey that will take them across the United States in the coming weeks.
The session brought together 41 participants selected for the 2026-2027 cycle. As departure dates approach, the orientation was a practical briefing and a moment of reflection, offering participants the opportunity to connect, share their ambitions, and prepare for the transition ahead.
A diverse cohort with global academic ambitions
The grantees represent a wide range of disciplines and institutions, reflecting the diversity of Moroccan talent selected for the Fulbright program. From artificial intelligence and bioinformatics to journalism, business, and environmental research, each participant outlined a distinct academic path.
During the session, grantees delivered brief presentations introducing their fields of study, host universities, and personal objectives. Many spoke of their desire to deepen their expertise, engage with new academic systems, and build international networks that extend beyond their time in the US.
Rebecca Geffner, Executive Director of MACECE, described the cohort as accomplished and representative of Morocco’s academic breadth.
“Today is a very exciting day because we are celebrating the selection of 41 Moroccans who have been nominated for the very competitive and prestigious Fulbright Award,” she told Morocco World News (MWN) on the sidelines of the event.
“They are coming from all over Morocco to pursue various fields and disciplines, everything from sports journalism to bioinformatics to AI and computer science and everything in between.”
Cultural ambassadors
While the Fulbright program is widely known for its academic component, organizers placed equal importance on cultural exchange and representation.
Geffner stressed that grantees carry a broader responsibility during their time abroad. “Not only will they be pursuing academic initiatives, but also they are chosen to be ambassadors of Morocco and their home communities, here to show Americans what Morocco is all about,” she said.
She added that the impact of the program continues after participants return home. “We’re so excited to see what they will accomplish over the next year to two years, and then when they come back, to be able to share what they learned about American culture and the education system back here in Morocco and also contribute to Morocco’s national development.”
This dual dimension – academic and cultural – remained central throughout the orientation, shaping both the discussions and the expectations set for the cohort.
Personal aspirations and professional goals
For many grantees, the opportunity represents a turning point in their academic and professional trajectories.
Ayoub Oulhaj, selected for the Fulbright Study Grant program, will pursue an MBA at Duke University. He spoke of both excitement and a clear sense of purpose.
“I’m really looking forward to this opportunity. I’m very excited about it,” he told MWN. “I’m looking forward to learning about US culture, networking there, and knowing people.”
Oulhaj also sees the experience as a two-way exchange. “As much as I’m going to be a cultural ambassador of Morocco in the US, I’m also looking forward to sharing my expertise when coming back,” he added. “This is something that will help in my professional development, and I believe I can use it to participate in Morocco’s national development goals.”
Hamza Zidane, a Hubert Humphrey Fellow and head of digital communication at the Ministry of Industry, will attend Arizona State University. His project focuses on strengthening communication practices within public institutions.
“I’m planning to strengthen my communication and journalism skills,” he told MWN. “That experience will help me come back to Morocco to help develop communication through my position at the ministry.”
Zidane also pointed to his engagement with emerging creative communities. “I’m helping young talents in photography to use their skills to express and defend causes that matter to them,” he said. “I’m sure this experience will help me think differently and return with ideas to propose communication that is more accessible to everyone.”
Research with direct impact in Morocco
For researchers, the Fulbright program offers access to tools, training, and academic environments that can directly support ongoing work in Morocco.
Chaimaa Rhattas, a PhD student specializing in marine ecology, is currently conducting research on sea turtle strandings along Moroccan coasts. Her work examines causes of death through necropsy analysis, a method she describes as relatively new in this field.
“My research focuses on sea turtle strandings in Morocco, mainly the causes of death through necropsies,” she explained to MWN. “It’s a very new way to assess this issue.”
Through the Fulbright Joint-Supervision program, Rhattas plans to expand her research to include live population monitoring, a critical gap in current data.
“In Morocco, we don’t know how many sea turtles there are in our waters, so we can’t really assess how severe the problem is,” she further added.
Her training in the US will focus on habitat assessment techniques. “I’m looking to get training on assessing sea turtle habitats through snorkeling methods,” she said. “If we get this information, we can contribute to conservation strategies and identify areas where interactions with fishing activity may occur.”
She added that her long-term goal is to apply this knowledge locally. “We want to start with the northern part of Morocco to assess habitats and identify hotspots, which will help us better understand the stranding issue.”
Learning from experience and building community
A key component of the orientation involved contributions from Fulbright alumni, who shared insights into academic life in the US, cultural adaptation, and everyday challenges.
These exchanges provided practical advice and reassurance to participants preparing for their first long-term stay abroad. Program-specific discussions enabled grantees to address detailed questions about their respective tracks and destinations.
Beyond the formal sessions, the gathering also fostered early connections among participants. Conversations continued informally over lunch, as the cohort began to form a network that would extend across universities, cities, and disciplines.
For many attendees, the orientation marked more than a logistical step. It signaled the beginning of a new chapter shaped by academic ambition, cultural exchange, and personal growth.
As the group prepares to depart in the coming weeks, the experience ahead carries both opportunity and responsibility to learn, to represent, and to return with knowledge that can contribute to Morocco’s evolving academic and professional landscape.
