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Technology-Driven Climate Resilience Research and Innovation
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Technology-Driven Climate Resilience Research and Innovation: UK and MA
(opens in a new tab)A UK–Morocco partnership advancing technology-driven research and innovation for climate resilience.
🎥 Our UK–Morocco Capacity-Building Workshop Series has now been completed, and all four workshop recordings are available on YouTube.Delivered as part of our British Council Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments project, the series brought together expertise from Cardiff Metropolitan University and University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) across key areas of research capacity building:• Ethics, Responsible Innovation and Emerging Technologies – Dr Fiona Carroll• Strategic Grant Writing and Research Positioning: Bridging Academia and Industry – Dr Imtiaz A. Khan• Communicating Your Research: Publishing, Peer Review, and Reaching Your Audience – Dr Youssef Iraqi• Research Methods for Evidence Synthesis: Systematic and Scoping Reviews for the Digital Age – Dr Issam W. DamajThe recordings are now available as an open resource for researchers and colleagues interested in strengthening research practice, collaboration and impact.🎬 Full workshop series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUqBwmic2AVo&si=ilJUKTLIl-vFbI9I 🌐 Project website: techclimatemorocco.org/ Many thanks to our speakers, participants and partners for contributing to the series.#GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncil #UKMorocco #ResearchCapacityBuilding #ClimateResilience #ResearchCollaboration
UK–Morocco Climate Resilience – Capacity-Building Workshop Series 2026
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This virtual capacity-building workshop series was delivered as part of the British Council Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments project: “Stren...
🎥 Workshop recording now availableResearch Methods for Evidence Synthesis: Systematic and Scoping Reviews for the Digital AgeSpeaker: Dr Issam W. DamajHead of Department – Computer Science and Co-Director, Centre for Engineering Research in Intelligent Sensors and Systems (CeRISS), Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityThis session introduces the principles and practical application of systematic and scoping review methodologies for rigorous evidence synthesis.It covers protocol development, literature searching, screening, data extraction, synthesis and reporting, together with the responsible use of selected digital and AI-assisted tools while maintaining methodological rigour and research integrity.This workshop formed part of our British Council Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments project, delivered in partnership between Cardiff Metropolitan University and University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P).▶️ Watch the recording: youtu.be/Zzob_dVA2x0?si=1JvM1qM2GQwAd15B🎬 Full workshop series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUqBwmic2AVo&si=ilJUKTLIl-vFbI9I🌐 Project website: techclimatemorocco.org/#GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncil #ResearchEthics #ResponsibleInnovation #EmergingTechnologies #UKMoroccoDr Issam Damaj, UK Project Lead, Cardiff School of TechnologiesDr Youssef Iraqi, MA Project Lead, UM6P College of Computing
Evidence Synthesis: Systematic & Scoping Reviews for the Digital Age | Dr Issam W. Damaj
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Research Methods for Evidence Synthesis: Systematic and Scoping Rev...
🎥 Workshop recording now availableCommunicating Your Research: Publishing, Peer Review, and Reaching Your AudienceSpeaker: Dr Youssef IraqiAssociate Professor and Director, MANARA Lab, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)This session explores the research publication journey, from preparing a high-quality manuscript and selecting suitable publication venues to navigating peer review and responding effectively to reviewers.It also considers responsible publishing practices, collaborative academic writing and approaches to communicating research findings to wider academic and non-academic audiences.This workshop formed part of our British Council Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments project, delivered in partnership between Cardiff Metropolitan University and University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P).▶️ Watch the recording: youtu.be/CWMtr04CDoA?si=XO1yo8VYta4crIHw🎬 Full workshop series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUqBwmic2AVo&si=ilJUKTLIl-vFbI9I🌐 Project website: techclimatemorocco.org/#GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncil #ResearchEthics #ResponsibleInnovation #EmergingTechnologies #UKMoroccoDr Issam Damaj, UK Project Lead, Cardiff School of TechnologiesDr Youssef Iraqi, MA Project Lead, UM6P College of Computing
Communicating Your Research: Publishing, Peer Review & Reaching Your Audience | Dr Youssef Iraqi
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Communicating Your Research: Publishing, Peer Review, and Reaching ...
🎥 Workshop recording now availableStrategic Grant Writing and Research Positioning: Bridging Academia and IndustrySpeaker: Dr Imtiaz A. KhanAssociate Professor of Data Science and Founding Director, Centre for Industry 4.0 and Blockchain Research, Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityThis session provides practical insights into developing competitive research proposals, positioning research for funding opportunities, and building effective collaborations between academia and industry.The workshop also considers research strategy, knowledge transfer, multidisciplinary collaboration and the demonstration of academic, commercial and societal impact.This workshop formed part of our British Council Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments project, delivered in partnership between Cardiff Metropolitan University and University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P).▶️ Watch the recording: youtu.be/MCSVKa7xVsY?is=fPC7DTbjcOE17IFc 🎬 Full workshop series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUqBwmic2AVo&si=ilJUKTLIl-vFbI9I🌐 Project website: techclimatemorocco.org/#GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncil #ResearchEthics #ResponsibleInnovation #EmergingTechnologies #UKMoroccoDr Issam Damaj, UK Project Lead, Cardiff School of TechnologiesDr Youssef Iraqi, MA Project Lead, UM6P College of Computing
Strategic Grant Writing & Research Positioning: Bridging Academia and Industry | Dr Imtiaz A. Khan
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Strategic Grant Writing and Research Positioning: Bridging Academia...
🎥 Workshop recording now availableEthics, Responsible Innovation and Emerging TechnologiesSpeaker: Dr Fiona CarrollReader in Human–Computer Interaction, Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityThis session explores how ethical thinking and responsible innovation can be embedded into the development and use of emerging technologies, including AI and data-driven systems.Key themes include transparency, accountability, fairness, inclusivity and societal impact.This workshop formed part of our British Council Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments project, delivered in partnership between Cardiff Metropolitan University and UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic.▶️ Watch the recording: youtu.be/6n3BEQS7lrs?is=KHwYfGxpDO9rSO36 🎬 Full workshop series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUqBwmic2AVo&si=ilJUKTLIl-vFbI9I🌐 Project website: techclimatemorocco.org/#GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncil #ResearchEthics #ResponsibleInnovation #EmergingTechnologies #UKMoroccoDr Issam Damaj, UK Project Lead, Cardiff School of TechnologiesDr Youssef Iraqi, MA Project Lead, UM6P College of Computing
Ethics, Responsible Innovation and Emerging Technologies | Dr Fiona Carroll
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Ethics, Responsible Innovation and Emerging TechnologiesSpeaker:...
We are pleased to announce the launch of the official website for our UK–Morocco Climate Resilience project:🌐 techclimatemorocco.org/ The website provides a dedicated platform for sharing the project’s activities, research outputs, events, resources and ongoing UK–Morocco collaboration in technology-driven climate resilience.We are also pleased to recognise Omar I. Damaj, who has supported the project as a Volunteer Junior Developer and contributed to the design and development of the website. Omar is a Computer Science with Security and Forensics student at Cardiff University, and we greatly appreciate his contribution to strengthening the project’s digital presence.We look forward to continuing to develop the website as the project progresses and to sharing further activities, outputs and resources with our wider community.This project is funded under the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments programme, which supports universities, colleges, and wider education stakeholders worldwide to build stronger, more equitable, inclusive, and internationally connected systems in higher education, science, and TVET (British Council HE and TVET).Project Leads:• Dr Issam Damaj (Cardiff Met - Cardiff Metropolitan University)• Dr Youssef Iraqi (UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic)Collaborators:• Dr Loubna Mekouar (UM6P)• Professor Elizabeth (Liz) Redmond, Dr Fiona Carroll, Dr Chaminda Thushara Hewage, Dr Imtiaz Khan (Cardiff Met)Research and Innovation External Expert:• Dr Mehmet Aydin (University of the West of England, UK)Associate Partners:• Environment Platform Wales (UK)• Menter Môn Ltd (UK)• Al Moutmir (Morocco)• Moroccan Coalition for Climate Justice (Morocco)#ClimateResilience #ResearchAndInnovation #UKMorocco #DigitalInnovation #GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncilUM6P College of ComputingCardiff School of Technologies
techclimatemorocco.org
A collaborative initiative between Cardiff Metropolitan University and University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, funded through the British Council Going Global Partnerships Research Environments Programme.
As part of our UK–Morocco Climate Resilience project, we were pleased to co-organise a networking event on 16 September alongside SNGC - 2026 at Cardiff Metropolitan University, bringing together researchers, students and colleagues interested in climate resilience, technology and research innovation.The event provided an opportunity to showcase emerging outputs from the project, including the work of our affiliated researcher Imonikhe Ayeni (MBCS, AphA), “Towards Climate-Resilient Smart Cities in Morocco: An Open Geospatial Framework for Spatial Decision Support”, which develops an open-data Climate-Technology Vulnerability Index to support place-sensitive climate adaptation planning in Morocco.Full reference:Ayeni, I., Namwila, M., Iraqi, Y. and Damaj, I. (2026). “Towards Climate-Resilient Smart Cities in Morocco: An Open Geospatial Framework for Spatial Decision Support.” Poster presented at the International Conference on Synergies in Next-Generation Cyber-Physical Systems (SNGC 2026), IEEE, 16–18 September 2026, Cardiff, UK.We also shared an early preview of the project website. We are pleased to recognise Omar Damaj, who is supporting the project as a Volunteer Junior Developer, contributing to the development of its digital presence. Omar is a Computer Science with Security and Forensics student at Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd, and his contribution provides valuable practical experience while supporting the communication and visibility of the project.Many thanks to everyone who joined the networking event and contributed to the discussions.This project is funded under the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments programme, which supports universities, colleges, and wider education stakeholders worldwide to build stronger, more equitable, inclusive, and internationally connected systems in higher education, science, and TVET (British Council HE and TVET).Project Leads:• Dr Issam Damaj (Cardiff Met - Cardiff Metropolitan University)• Dr Youssef Iraqi (UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic)Collaborators:• Dr. Loubna Mekouar (UM6P)• Professor Elizabeth (Liz) Redmond, Dr Fiona Carroll, Dr Chaminda Thushara Hewage, Dr Imtiaz Khan (Cardiff Met)Research and Innovation External Expert:• Dr Mehmet Aydin (University of the West of England, Bristol, UK)Associate Partners:• Environment Platform Wales (UK)• Menter Môn Ltd (UK)• Al Moutmir (Morocco)• Moroccan Coalition for Climate Justice (Morocco)#ClimateResilience #ResearchAndInnovation #UKMorocco #SNGC2026 #SmartCities #GeospatialAnalytics #GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncilUM6P College of ComputingCardiff School of Technologies
On 15 September 2026, our UK–Morocco Climate Resilience project brought together researchers, practitioners and partners at Cardiff Metropolitan University and online for a hybrid stakeholder engagement event focused on strengthening technology-driven research, innovation and collaboration for climate resilience.The event provided an important opportunity to reflect on insights from our stakeholder engagement activities, explore the UK research and innovation landscape, and consider how academia, industry, communities and other stakeholders can work together to strengthen climate resilience and future UK–Morocco collaboration.We were delighted to welcome contributions from:• Ms Kenza El Mohajir, Education Programme Manager, British Council Morocco – Opening Remarks• Dr Mehmet Aydin, Project External Expert, University of the West of England – Industry Engagement and Commercialisation• Dr Chaminda Thushara Hewage, Associate Dean Research, Cardiff School of Technologies – Research Governance, REF and Institutional Impact• Andy Schofield, Environment Platform Wales – Industry Innovation and Technology Transfer• Professor Carolyn Hayles Hayles – Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Scaling ImpactMany thanks to all our speakers, contributors and participants who joined us in Cardiff and online and shared their experience and perspectives.This project is funded under the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments programme, which supports universities, colleges, and wider education stakeholders worldwide to build stronger, more equitable, inclusive, and internationally connected systems in higher education, science, and TVET (British Council HE and TVET).Project Leads:• Dr Issam Damaj (Cardiff Met - Cardiff Metropolitan University)• Dr Youssef Iraqi (UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic)Collaborators:• Dr. Loubna Mekouar (UM6P)• Professor Elizabeth (Liz) Redmond, Dr Fiona Carroll, Dr Chaminda Thushara Hewage, Dr Imtiaz Khan (Cardiff Met)Research and Innovation External Expert:• Dr Mehmet Aydin (University of the West of England, UK)Associate Partners:• Environment Platform Wales (UK)• Menter Môn Ltd (UK)• Al Moutmir (Morocco)• Moroccan Coalition for Climate Justice (Morocco)#ClimateResilience #ResearchAndInnovation #UKMorocco #StakeholderEngagement #GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncilUM6P College of ComputingCardiff School of Technologies
We are pleased to share another research output from our UK–Morocco Climate Resilience project.Our newly published review, “Advancing Climate Resilience through Artificial Intelligence: A Comprehensive Review Across Urban and Climate-Sensitive Sectors in Morocco,” examines 80 studies published between 2020 and 2025 and explores how Artificial Intelligence is being applied to climate resilience across seven sectors in Morocco.The study highlights the growing potential of AI in areas such as agriculture, water resources, energy, and urban planning, while also identifying important challenges related to data availability, model interpretability, generalisability, and the transition from research prototypes to practical solutions.This work contributes directly to the project’s wider aim of strengthening evidence-based, technology-driven research and innovation for climate resilience in Morocco.📄 Full reference:Benzouitine, Z., Mekouar, L., Iraqi, Y. and Damaj, I. (2026). ‘Advancing climate resilience through artificial intelligence: A comprehensive review across urban and climate-sensitive sectors in Morocco’, City and Environment Interactions, 100461. Elsevier. 🔗 Read the article: doi.org/10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100461This project is funded under the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments programme, which supports universities, colleges, and wider education stakeholders worldwide to build stronger, more equitable, inclusive, and internationally connected systems in higher education, science, and TVET (British Council HE and TVET).Project Leads:• Dr Issam Damaj (Cardiff Met - Cardiff Metropolitan University)• Dr Youssef Iraqi (UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic)Collaborators:• Dr Loubna Mekouar (UM6P)• Professor Elizabeth (Liz) Redmond, Dr Fiona Carroll, Dr Chaminda Thushara Hewage, Dr Imtiaz Khan (Cardiff Met)Research and Innovation External Expert:• Dr Mehmet Aydin (University of the West of England, UK)Associate Partners:• Environment Platform Wales (UK)• Menter Môn Ltd (UK)• Al Moutmir (Morocco)• Moroccan Coalition for Climate Justice (Morocco)#ClimateResilience #ArtificialIntelligence #ResearchAndInnovation #UKMorocco #Morocco #GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncil
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Welsh university helps Morocco combat climate change
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Martin Shipton A Welsh university is leading two international research and innovation initiatives aimed at empowering women to address the impacts of climate change through technology, research and i...
It was a pleasure to welcome Dr Youssef Iraqi from UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic to Cardiff Metropolitan University on Tuesday, 21 July, as part of our ongoing UK–Morocco Climate Resilience collaboration.The visit offered an important opportunity to reflect on the project's progress, reinforce collaboration between our teams, and discuss our shared vision for the next phase of the partnership. These conversations will help shape the continued delivery of the project, the development of the UK–Morocco Climate Resilience Research and Innovation Hub, and future collaborative research and innovation initiatives between the UK and Morocco.The visit also provided an opportunity to engage with members of the wider project team and reinforce the collaborative relationships that underpin the success of this UK–Morocco partnership.This project is funded under the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments programme, which supports universities, colleges, and wider education stakeholders worldwide to build stronger, more equitable, inclusive, and internationally connected systems in higher education, science, and TVET (British Council HE and TVET).Project Leads:• Dr Issam Damaj (Cardiff Met – Cardiff Metropolitan University)• Dr Youssef Iraqi (UM6P – University Mohammed VI Polytechnic)Collaborators:• Dr. Loubna Mekouar (UM6P)• Professor Elizabeth (Liz) Redmond, Dr Fiona Carroll, Dr Chaminda Thushara Hewage, Dr Imtiaz Khan (Cardiff Met)Research and Innovation External Expert:• Dr Mehmet Aydin (University of the West of England, Bristol, UK)Associate Partners:• Environment Platform Wales (UK)• Menter Môn Ltd (UK)• Al Moutmir (Morocco)• Moroccan Coalition for Climate Justice (Morocco)#ClimateResilience #ResearchAndInnovation #UKMorocco #GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncilUM6P College of Computing Cardiff School of TechnologiesHani Samadi
📢 Registrations are now open!We are delighted to launch our UK–Morocco Climate Resilience Workshop Series, delivered as part of the British Council-funded project:Strengthening Climate Resilience in Morocco through Technology-Driven Research and Innovation in Smart Cities, Urban Edges, and Rural AreasThrough four online workshops, participants will explore key themes in technology-driven research and innovation for climate resilience, including responsible innovation, strategic grant writing, research positioning, scholarly publishing, peer review, and evidence synthesis.Designed primarily for postgraduate students and researchers from Morocco and the United Kingdom, from early career researchers to research leaders, the series aims to strengthen research capacity, promote knowledge exchange, and support international research collaboration. Researchers and professionals from other countries are also warmly welcome to participate.Workshop Programme🌍 Workshop 1 – Ethics, Responsible Innovation and Emerging Technologies🎙️ Dr Fiona Carroll📅 3 September 2026 | 🕐 1:00–2:00 pm (UK & Morocco)💡 Workshop 2 – Strategic Grant Writing and Research Positioning: Bridging Academia and Industry🎙️ Dr Imtiaz A. Khan📅 10 September 2026 | 🕐 1:00–2:00 pm (UK & Morocco)📚 Workshop 3 – Communicating Your Research: Publishing, Peer Review, and Reaching Your Audience🎙️ Dr Youssef Iraqi📅 30 September 2026 | 🕐 11:00 am–12:00 pm (UK) | 10:00–11:00 am (Morocco)🔬 Workshop 4 – Research Methods for Evidence Synthesis: Systematic and Scoping Reviews for the Digital Age🎙️ Dr Issam Damaj📅 8 October 2026 | 🕐 11:00 am–12:00 pm (UK) | 10:00–11:00 am (Morocco)Participation is free of charge.🔗 Register: forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=HMadGJt2SECLD23gdLuibIyywl7OQk5Duz2o5TkWy6RUQllS...This project is funded under the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments programme, which supports universities, colleges, and wider education stakeholders worldwide to build stronger, more equitable, inclusive, and internationally connected systems in higher education, science, and TVET (British Council HE and TVET).Project Leads: • Dr Issam Damaj (Cardiff Met - Cardiff Metropolitan University) • Dr Youssef Iraqi (UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic)Collaborators: • Dr. Loubna Mekouar (UM6P); • Professor Elizabeth (Liz) Redmond, Dr Fiona Carroll, Dr Chaminda Thushara Hewage, Dr Imtiaz Khan (Cardiff Met)Research and Innovation External Expert: • Dr Mehmet Aydin (University of the West of England, UK)Associate Partners: • Environment Platform Wales (UK) • Menter Môn Ltd (UK) • Al Moutmir (Morocco) • Moroccan Coalition for Climate Justice (Morocco)#ClimateResilience #ResearchAndInnovation #UKMorocco #GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncil
On Wednesday, 24 June 2026, Dr Issam Damaj welcomed Dr Mehmet Aydin (University of the West of England, Bristol) to Cardiff Metropolitan University for a partnership development meeting. Dr Youssef Iraqi (UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic) joined the discussions remotely.The meeting formed part of the project “Strengthening Climate Resilience in Morocco through Technology-Driven Research and Innovation in Smart Cities, Urban Edges, and Rural Areas.”Discussions focused on the development of a sustainable framework to strengthen long-term UK–Morocco collaboration in technology-driven research and innovation for climate resilience. Topics included partnership development, governance and sustainability considerations, stakeholder engagement, innovation pathways, and mechanisms to support future collaborative research, capacity building, and knowledge exchange.We thank Dr Mehmet Aydin for his continued strategic support and valuable contributions to the project. His expertise continues to play an important role in shaping the project's long-term vision and collaborative ambitions. We also extend our thanks to Mr Hani Samadi for his support during the meeting.This project is funded under the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments programme, which supports universities, colleges, and wider education stakeholders worldwide to build stronger, more equitable, inclusive, and internationally connected systems in higher education, science, and TVET (British Council HE and TVET).Project Leads:Dr Issam Damaj (Cardiff Met)Dr Youssef Iraqi (UM6P)Collaborators:Dr. Loubna Mekouar (UM6P)Professor Elizabeth (Liz) Redmond, Dr Fiona Carroll, Dr Chaminda Thushara Hewage, and Dr Imtiaz Khan (Cardiff Met)Research and Innovation External Expert:Dr Mehmet Aydin (University of the West of England, Bristol, UK)Associate Partners:Environment Platform Wales (UK)Menter Môn Ltd (UK)Al Moutmir (Morocco)Moroccan Coalition for Climate Justice (Morocco)#ClimateResilience #ResearchAndInnovation #UKMorocco #InternationalCollaboration #KnowledgeExchange #CapacityBuilding #GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncil #ClimateInnovation
On Thursday, 18 June 2026, Dr Issam Damaj and Dr Youssef Iraqi, members of the project team, visited the Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de Fés (FST Fès), USMBA - Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah - Fès -, where they met with academic leaders, laboratory directors, faculty members, researchers, and students.The visit was conducted under the project “Strengthening Climate Resilience in Morocco through Technology-Driven Research and Innovation in Smart Cities, Urban Edges, and Rural Areas.”During the visit, the project team presented the objectives and activities of the British Council-funded initiative, including its research, capacity-building, stakeholder engagement, and international collaboration components. Discussions explored opportunities for future cooperation in areas including technology, interdisciplinary research, research capacity strengthening, and international funding opportunities.A particular highlight of the visit was attending presentations by final-year students. The quality of the projects, the enthusiasm of the students, and the vibrant research environment at FST Fès were highly impressive and provided valuable insights into emerging talent and innovation.We would like to thank everyone at FST Fès for their warm welcome and valuable contributions throughout the visit. This project is funded under the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments programme, which supports universities, colleges, and wider education stakeholders worldwide to build stronger, more equitable, inclusive, and internationally connected systems in higher education, science, and TVET (British Council HE and TVET).Project Leads:- Dr Issam Damaj (Cardiff Metropolitan University)- Dr Youssef Iraqi (UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic)Collaborators:- Dr. Loubna Mekouar (UM6P)- Professor Elizabeth (Liz) Redmond, Dr Fiona Carroll, Dr Chaminda Thushara Hewage, and Dr Imtiaz Khan (Cardiff Met)Research and Innovation External Expert:- Dr Mehmet Aydin (University of the West of England, Bristol, UK)Associate Partners:- Environment Platform Wales (UK)- Menter Môn Ltd (UK)- Al Moutmir (Morocco)- Moroccan Coalition for Climate Justice (Morocco)#ClimateResilience #ResearchAndInnovation #UKMorocco #InternationalCollaboration #HigherEducation #ResearchPartnerships #KnowledgeExchange #GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncil #ClimateInnovationBritish Council Morocco
On Thursday, 18 June 2026, Dr Issam Damaj and Dr Youssef Iraqi, members of the project team, visited Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco, to meet with Prof Houssain Kettani as part of our ongoing institutional engagement and collaboration activities.The visit was conducted under the project “Strengthening Climate Resilience in Morocco through Technology-Driven Research and Innovation in Smart Cities, Urban Edges, and Rural Areas.”Discussions focused on climate resilience challenges and opportunities in Morocco, technology-driven research and innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, research capacity strengthening, and potential avenues for future cooperation between institutions in Morocco and the United Kingdom. The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on stakeholder engagement, knowledge exchange, and pathways for translating research into societal impact.We are grateful to Prof Kettani and the University for their warm welcome and valuable discussions. Building strong academic partnerships is an important part of creating sustainable networks that can contribute to addressing climate resilience challenges across diverse communities and environments.This project is funded under the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships – Research Environments programme, which supports universities, colleges, and wider education stakeholders worldwide to build stronger, more equitable, inclusive, and internationally connected systems in higher education, science, and TVET (British Council HE and TVET).Project Leads:- Dr Issam Damaj (Cardiff Metropolitan University)- Dr Youssef Iraqi (UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic)Collaborators:- Dr. Loubna Mekouar (UM6P)- Professor Elizabeth (Liz) Redmond, Dr Fiona Carroll, Dr Chaminda Thushara Hewage, and Dr Imtiaz Khan (Cardiff Met)Research and Innovation External Expert: - Dr Mehmet Aydin (University of the West of England, Bristol, UK)Associate Partners:- Environment Platform Wales (UK)- Menter Môn Ltd (UK)- Al Moutmir (Morocco)- Moroccan Coalition for Climate Justice (Morocco)#ClimateResilience #ResearchAndInnovation #UKMorocco #InternationalCollaboration #HigherEducation #ResearchPartnerships #KnowledgeExchange #GoingGlobalPartnerships #BritishCouncil #ClimateInnovationCardiff School of TechnologiesUM6P College of Computing
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