Morocco University First in Africa to Join Elite Network

A Moroccan university has shattered a geographic barrier in global education, becoming the first institution from Africa and the Middle East to join an elite network of the world's top international affairs schools.

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University's Faculty of Governance, Economics and Social Sciences in Rabat joined the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs this week. The network counts just 40 full members worldwide, including Georgetown, Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton, and the London School of Economics.

The achievement matters beyond prestige. For decades, conversations about global policy have happened largely without direct African institutional voices at the table. UM6P now holds voting rights and leadership eligibility in shaping how the next generation of international leaders gets trained.

"Diverse perspectives are essential for creating sustainable solutions to global issues," said Michelle Reddy, APSIA's Executive Director. She highlighted Morocco's unique position connecting North Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa as crucial for enriching the network's thinking.

Karim El Aynaoui, Dean of the faculty, emphasized the university's commitment to bringing knowledge from "the perspectives of Morocco, the African continent, and the broader New South." The faculty runs programs from undergraduate through doctoral levels, training future policymakers with an African lens.

The Ripple Effect

This membership signals a shift in how global institutions recognize excellence beyond traditional Western centers. UM6P's rapid rise supports the case: established in 2013 and inaugurated in 2017, it already ranks first in North Africa and 14th across the Arab world in Times Higher Education rankings.

The university's research output backs up its academic standing. Between 2020 and 2025, UM6P produced over 6,600 scientific publications, with 85% appearing in top-tier journals. That research firepower now feeds into a network training leaders who shape international policy worldwide.

With campuses spanning Benguerir, Rabat, and Laayoune in Morocco, plus international hubs in Paris, Montreal, New York, and Cambridge, UM6P bridges continents literally and figuratively. Its Public Policy School already trains decision-makers across public and private sectors throughout Africa.

The door UM6P just opened won't stay singular for long—Reddy expressed hope for more Global South schools to follow, enriching international affairs education with the perspectives of billions.