In a strategic effort to deepen international academic cooperation and enhance interdisciplinary education, a delegation from the College of French Studies, Sichuan International Studies University (SISU), traveled to Morocco from May 20 to 27, 2025. The delegation, led by Professor Yang Shaolin, Academic Dean and Director of the Center for Francophone Studies, along with Associate Dean of the College of French Studies, Liu Shuaifeng Liu and Deputy Director Wang Ya, visited Mohammed V University in Rabat, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez, and Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra.

 

The visits were marked by productive discussions and the signing of inter-university exchange agreements, setting the stage for future collaboration in language instruction, legal studies, and cross-cultural research.

 

Building Bridges Between French and Legal Studies

 

At Mohammed V University, the SISU delegation met with Vice Presidents Omar Khenniche (Research) and Kassou Ousmer (International Relations), as well as Dean Mostafa Mahlafi of the Salé Campus School of Economics, Law, and Social Sciences. The meetings brought together faculty and administrators across disciplines for in-depth conversations on curriculum development, academic exchanges, and joint research opportunities.

 

SISU introduced its “French + Law” program, an interdisciplinary initiative designed to train students in both French language proficiency and legal expertise. Moroccan faculty and administrators expressed strong interest in the program and offered insights on strengthening its practical application and extending it into graduate-level education. Discussions focused on student exchange frameworks, mutual credit recognition, and the development of legal terminology modules in French.

 

Moroccan partners recommended adapting elements of the EU’s Erasmus+ credit transfer model to support bilateral student exchange, while also exploring the possibility of establishing a dual-degree program. Both institutions also agree to pursue faculty exchange and team-teaching initiatives aimed at expanding sharing teaching resources and enhancing the program’s global orientation.

 

Meeting the Needs of a Global Legal Workforce

 

To address the linguistic challenges of delivering legal education in French, SISU and its Moroccan partners discussed implementing pre-program language training in collaboration with language departments and digital platforms. The objective is to prepare students to work confidently and professionally in legal contexts where French is the primary language.

 

A key outcome of the visit was the agreement to jointly develop a “Comparative Law” module, designed to foster mutual understanding of Chinese and Moroccan legal systems. This collaboration is particularly timely as demand grows for legal professionals who can support Chinese enterprises engaged in business operations across Africa.

 

 

Expanding Multidimensional Partnerships and Strengthening the Foundation for International Exchange

 

At Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, the SISU delegation held in-depth discussions with University President Mustapha IJJAALI, Vice President Abdelrhani Elachqar, and senior leaders from the Faculty of Letters and Humanities, the Faculty of Law, and other departments. The dialogue focused on academic collaboration and student exchange.

 

The Moroccan representatives highlighted the strong local interest in Chinese traditional festivals, calligraphy, and traditional Chinese medicine, noting a growing demand among students for Chinese language education.

The university has already launched a multilingual proficiency program open to all students, offering courses in French, English, Chinese, and other languages. The initiative has been widely welcomed by students and aims to foster mutual cultural understanding and two-way communication.

 

Professor Yang Shaolin responded by emphasizing the deep historical ties between China and Morocco. As early as the 13th century, Chinese Yuan Dynasty traveler Wang Dayuan visited Morocco, while in the 14th century, the great Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta undertook an arduous journey to reach Quanzhou in China. In 1963, Premier Zhou Enlai chose Morocco as one of the destinations on his first official visit to Africa—an event with lasting political significance. In recent years, bilateral high-level engagement has intensified, especially following King Mohammed VI’s state visit to China in 2016 and his meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, which further deepened cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

 

Professor Yang expressed her hope to establish an inter-university partnership with Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University and to launch flagship cultural exchange programs.

 

 

At Ibn Tofail University, the SISU delegation engaged in in-depth discussions with President Kakkab, Vice President for International Cooperation Aikchel, as well as deans and faculty members from the Faculty of Letters and Humanities and the Faculty of Law and Political Science. The talks centered on China-Morocco educational collaboration and cultural exchange.

 

A major focus of the dialogue was the proposed joint establishment of the “China-Morocco Cultural House,” a Chinese-style cultural center envisioned to integrate Chinese language instruction, cultural exhibitions, short-term training programs, and hands-on exchange activities. Both sides expressed a strong commitment to leveraging their respective strengths in language education and cultural outreach to advance this flagship initiative. The center is expected to serve as a vital platform for faculty, students, and the broader local community to engage directly with the richness of Chinese and Moroccan cultures.

 

In addition to cultural exchange, the two institutions also agreed to promote academic collaboration in the fields of linguistics, literature, and pedagogy. Key areas of cooperation include developing equivalent academic modules, exploring joint degree programs, and enhancing cross-border faculty training through online teaching seminars and shared digital teaching resources.

 

On the research front, both sides committed to organizing academic forums and facilitating two-way exchange through scholarly journals. In cultural studies, they plan to collaborate on African cultural research and jointly host events on intercultural translation theory and practice.

 

In the area of legal education, the two universities reached a consensus on developing a cooperative framework focused on legal French and comparative regional legal systems. This includes designing structured coursework to improve students’ proficiency in legal French while advancing studies in international and regional legal practice. The feasibility of launching co-hosted summer programs in these areas was also explored.

 

The SISU delegation’s visit reflects the university’s continued commitment to internationalization and interdisciplinary education, and lays important groundwork for deeper engagement with Francophone institutions in North Africa.