Summary of the Address of Speaker of House of Representatives Habib El Malki on Concluding Agreement on Partnership and Scientific Cooperation with Moroccan Universities

<p style="text-align: justify;">On the occasion of concluding an agreement on partnership and scientific cooperation between the House of Representatives and Moroccan universities on Tuesday, January 28th, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Habib El Malki considered the meeting exceptional for it takes place in such distinguished place, and it gathers deputies alongside university presidents.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In his address, the House’s Speaker thanked the Minister of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research, as well as Minister Delegate in charge of Higher Education and Scientific Research for their positive feedback on the agreement. The latter would start a new page in cooperation between the House and Universities through its regulation and institutionalization, which would consolidate it, contributing to its longevity and efficiency. It will also provide new perspectives of research for Moroccan universities, mainly ones related to parliamentary work and democracy. He also noted that the agreement would allow mutual benefit, as the House will take advantage of academic productions, while university students can use the documents, books, and magazines provided by the House, in addition to conferences it organizes.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Additionally, Mr. Habib El Malki stressed the urgent need for academic advice, as it will assist deputies in performing their duties by providing them with precise information and data, especially considering the new competences conferred to the House in the 2011 Constitution. Said constitution added new powers relative to legislation, government control, evaluation of public policy, and examination of reports of newly established governance bodies and councils, which require hiring highly qualified human resources. Mr. El Malki also highlighted the importance of utilizing academic advice to provide public opinion with precise information, and to face the fallacies that circulate on social media. In this respect, Speaker of the House commended the efforts of deputies in overcoming the obstacles they face, noting that most of them have advanced degrees, and also praising the enormous efforts of the highly experienced House’s staff.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Mr. El Malki pointed out that the agreement involves all Moroccan universities to get varied contributions that would meet the multiple needs of the House and democracy, namely new laws that comply with the present context, efficient and influential government control, as well as an evaluation of public policy that would improve the productivity of public institutions. He added that the agreement also aims at improving the House’s work, in parallel to the creation of the Parliamentary Center for Research and Studies, whose role is to prepare research papers and studies relative to parliamentary practice. In this respect, researchers and experts from universities will be asked to prepare relevant research papers following criteria set by the House to ensure their quality.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Mr. El Malki added that the agreement also aims at promoting scientific research regarding parliamentary work through organizing joint forums, symposiums, and conferences and offering internships for M.A and Ph.D. students at the House of Representatives. In this respect, Mr. El Malki also announced the organization of an annual conference in cooperation with universities with the participation of the concerned governmental bodies, in addition to thematic meetings held in universities. He also revealed the launch of a prize rewarding the best research paper tackling parliament-related topics, in addition to the release of an academic journal devoted to parliament matters and the publishing of scholarly articles of the same interest.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Habib El Malki concluded his address by urging universities to create research units specializing in parliamentary practice, noting that academic expertise would allow politicians, especially parliamentarians, to make appropriate decisions, given the geostrategic challenges Morocco faces. He also mentioned that this step follows the directives set by HM King Mohammed VI, who is keen to preserve democracy and get a positive impact of development and reforms on citizens.</p>