Academic Partnerships — High Atlas Foundation

Academic Partnerships

We are firm believers in experiential learning, and our research partnerships are no exception. We deeply value research and seek to facilitate immersive avenues of exploration.

Valuable Research Opportunities

Through our partnerships with universities around the world, we host students in master's and PhD programs, provide in-depth knowledge of local context, and support access to villages, programs, and previous research.

Students have conducted in-depth field anthropology studies, examined the intersection of gender, culture, and power, explored the impact of the participatory process in development work, and studied other aspects of the environmental and social sciences. In return, we benefit from the knowledge that touches on our areas of work, helping us continually improve processes and expand our ability to work toward positive change.

Our partnerships strengthen students’ capacities, volunteerism, and employability — all of which impact their abilities and confidence to pursue their chosen endeavors.

As an organization that facilitates a variety of sustainable development projects in different parts of the country, we are an ideal partner for universities interested in providing their students with real-world experience and research opportunities in multiple areas of sustainable development.

“Humility and discovery were the biggest takeaways from this internship, as I was able to find out more about myself as well as learn compassion from others. The High Atlas Foundation created a platform for me to advocate for historically silenced voices and delve deeper into my career interests.”Anya, Intern

“This experience really stuck with me. My time working with the High Atlas Foundation had many good memories: the long bus rides throughout the countryside, the intimate dialogues and beautiful ceremonies with government officials and university students, the meals, the hours at the office. I learned that despite the doubt and failure, nothing will be accomplished without trying.”Ryan, Intern

"Through my research on the work of HAF, Moroccan education policies, and our participatory development course, I’ve learned that you can tackle an array of issues through finding support within the community, and that building from the ground-up can create a long-term effect on the lives of citizens and children."Intern, 2023

"I would be speaking with dishonesty if I said it didn’t sometimes feel small and inconsequential. However, when I put myself into the shoes of the people I’m helping within HAF, I understand my usefulness. At the end of the day, I am a student/intern that is here to learn how to make a change in the world."Intern, 2021

"An unexpected aspect about writing this first article that I found was the flexibility and freedom that I had to incorporate my own personal interests into the research and writing... My writing felt more engaged, the research felt more in-depth, and the article, overall, felt more accurate because I was genuinely concerned with accurately and fully discussing the topic at hand."Intern, 2021

"I love that everything I do with HAF is driven from a deep well of purpose, and from now I choose to focus on this as an opportunity to live from a state of truth, shedding the fear that I might not be enough."Intern, 2021

"Because women’s empowerment and training has been in every corner of my life for as long as I’ve known, it’s something I’ve glossed over or not considered one of my top priorities. However, working at HAF and observing Imagine has shown me the importance of women’s empowerment. It’s a foundational piece to a lot of issues that HAF deals with and is the often glanced over key component to a bottoms-up participatory development approach."Intern, 2023

Our Moroccan Partners

We build networks of empowered, skilled individuals by partnering with Moroccan universities. These partnerships have launched Centers for Sustainable Development — hubs for participatory democratic citizenry tailored to local needs.

Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI)

Supporting student-community engagement by applying participatory approaches and growing an AUI-Community almond and carob tree nursery. The end-purpose is to alleviate poverty among disadvantaged local communities. With community members and students, these efforts reach the Ifrane-Azrou region.

École de Hautes Études Économiques et Commerciales (HEEC) in Marrakech

Building collaboration and synergies between HAF and HEEC in engineering techniques for development projects. Students are afforded real-world learning experiences through volunteering and community service.

Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II (IAV HII) and the Jeunes Leaders Marocains (JLM) in Rabat

Promoting activism among Moroccan youth in sustainable, socio-economic development, building capacities of organic agriculture associations and cooperatives.

University Hassan II, College of Law, Economics, and Social Sciences in Mohammedia

Training facilitators of participatory community planning and project management. This partnership built an innovative Legal Aid Program where students provide legal services for CSOs and marginalized persons, focusing on political, economic, and social areas of law that impact abilities to engage in efficient advocacy efforts for reform.

University Mohamed I, Center for Human and Social Studies and Research in Oujda

Partnering with the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) to build the professional and entrepreneurial capacity of 162 youth and women from regional cooperatives while creating a network of development projects of common interest.

University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah and the Association des Experts Bénévoles pour le Développement in Fes

Promoting networks between researchers and actors of sustainable development. Inspired by the project in Mohammedia, a Law Clinic and Legal Aid Program will be established in 2019-2020 to promote community service learning and cooperation among civil society and universities.

Ecole Supérieure de Management de Télécommunications d’Informatique in Beni-Mellal

Promoting community participation in planning and implementing socio-economic projects, building knowledge of sustainable development policies through applied activities, creating opportunities for youth to build professional skills, and facilitating sustainable human development.

Additional Partners

We are proud to have collaborated with renowned academic institutions from around the world.

University Partners

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Let's Collaborate

Are you looking for ways to expand global learning opportunities with your students? We get excited about designing academic programs, internships, and visits to fit your needs.