Visit of Hassan II University to SPbPU

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) hosted a delegation from Hassan II University (Casablanca, Morocco), led by Vice-President for Research Professor Mustapha Lkhider. This is the only Moroccan university included in the prestigious Shanghai Academic Ranking (ARWU). The visit marked an important milestone in the partnership within the framework of the Russia–Africa Network University (RAFU) consortium, coordinated by SPbPU.

The delegation comprised leading representatives of the university, including deans and department heads, as well as directors of key engineering schools.

The programme began with a tour of the Main Building and a visit to the Fundamental Library, where the parties agreed on mutual access to electronic library resources. The guests then familiarised themselves with the university's research and educational infrastructure — the Open Education Centre, where cooperation in VR was discussed, and the Graduate School of Technological Entrepreneurship at the Technopolis-Polytech research complex — and held talks with the leadership of the Institute of Energy.

Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitry Arsenyev noted the active development of cooperation with the Moroccan university. He recalled the first visits to Casablanca in 2024 and the joint conference on sustainable development. During the meeting, proposals were put forward: sending lecturers from the Institute of Energy to give lectures and establish scientific contacts, inviting young Moroccan researchers to a week-long programme on technological entrepreneurship, and developing joint master's programmes, including double-degree tracks.

The Moroccan side proposed a reciprocal faculty exchange and invited a postgraduate student from the Graduate School of Technological Entrepreneurship (PIŠ SPbPU) to participate in its 2026 summer school. The availability of Hassan II University's five technical platforms (biotechnology, materials science, engineering, and other fields) for partners was also highlighted.

"We have made significant investments in creating five technical platforms — in biotechnology, materials science, engineering, and other areas. These platforms are available to our partners. We are open to expanding cooperation with St. Petersburg Polytechnic and see great opportunities for the development of our universities and countries," concluded Professor Mustapha Lkhider, Vice-President for Research, Cooperation and Development of Hassan II University in Casablanca.

The meeting resulted in an agreement to continue online dialogue on additional areas (economics, IT, biotechnology, architecture), which, in the words of Vice-Rector Dmitry Arsenyev, will mark "the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration."

Hassan II University joined the RAFU consortium in December 2024. In April 2026, a delegation from SPbPU and other Russian RAFU universities visited Morocco to take part in the International Student Forum in Casablanca and hold RAFU Days at Hassan II University. The current visit was a reciprocal step, confirming the mutual interest of both sides in long-term and fruitful cooperation.