The opening ceremony for the Class of 2023 of Morocco Yiwu Business School, the first overseas branch of the university, was grandly held by the school on the afternoon of November 16th. The ceremony was attended by Ma Guang, the president of the school, Fan Yao, a member of the Party Committee and vice president, Sheng Xiangjun, vice president, representatives from the International Office, Academic Affairs Office, and College of Foreign Languages and International Trade, teaching representative from Morocco Yiwu Business School, Su Man, the president of the Mundiapolis University in Morocco, Prof. Mohammed Barkaoui, the vice president, Prof. Samar Mouchawrab, and the dean of the School of Business, Prof. Lamia Wakrim, as well as over 150 participants, including new students majoring in International Economics and Trade from Morocco Yiwu Business School of the Class of 2023, representatives of Chinese and foreign students from our university. The opening ceremony was hosted by Fan Yao.
During the opening ceremony for the Class of 2023 of Morocco Yiwu Business School, Dean Ma Guang warmly welcomed the 26 new students majoring in international economics and trade and expressed sincere gratitude for the strong support from the overseas school's construction partners, the Mundiapolis University in Morocco and the North Africa International Education Innovation Alliance. He pointed out that this year marks the tenth anniversary of the "Belt and Road" Initiative. The co-construction of the "Belt and Road" Initiative has achieved mutual benefits for participating countries. Morocco is the first North African country to sign a cooperation document on the "Belt and Road" Initiative with China. The frequent economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between Yiwu, known as the "World's Small Commodity Capital," and Morocco. Based on the educational positioning of "rooted in Yiwu, serving the region, and reaching out to the world," our university has cultivated a large number of innovative and entrepreneurial talents and international business and trade professionals. The establishment of Morocco Yiwu Business School fully integrates the resources of Yiwu Small Commodity Market and the educational resources of both universities, providing a bridge for education cooperation and student exchanges between the two places, as well as language and culture, market procurement, cross-border e-commerce, and entrepreneurial incubation courses and practical platforms for young students who are eager to engage in international trade and innovation and entrepreneurship activities, cultivating international talents for the development of Sino-Moroccan economic and trade relations.
Professor Mohammed Barkaoui, President of Mundiapolis University in Morocco, expressed gratitude for the strong support from our university in promoting close cooperation between the two universities. He pointed out that in the era of globalization, international educational exchange and cooperation are crucial for students' growth. The establishment of the Morocco-Yiwu Business School is a good start to the cooperation between universities in Morocco and China and will promote cultural exchange and improve the cross-cultural growth and skills of young students in both countries. The "2+1 program (studying in Morocco for 2 years and in Yiwu for 1 year)" carried out by the Morocco-Yiwu Business School will promote mutual understanding and trade between the two countries. We look forward to in-depth cooperation between the two universities in talent cultivation, faculty exchanges, scientific research, and other areas, which will yield fruitful results.
In her speech, Representative of the Teaching Team Su Man expressed great honor and a sense of responsibility for participating in the construction of the Morocco-Yiwu Business School, developing and teaching courses. Faced with the strong desire for knowledge and high expectations of the international economics and trade majors of the 2023 level at the Morocco-Yiwu Business School, the teaching team will carefully craft and rigorously teach courses to enhance students' "Chinese language + international trade skills." This will promote educational and cultural exchange between the two countries and contribute to the cultivation of international trade talents needed for the economic and trade development of China and Morocco.
Representative of the international economics and trade majors of the 2023 level at the Morocco-Yiwu Business School, Benzyat Rabab, expressed great excitement at becoming the first group of students enrolled in the Morocco-Yiwu Business School. China is a fast-growing economic power with an abundant amount of vitality. This project not only allows students to learn about Chinese language and culture but also enhances their international trade skills, providing a good platform for expanding career development channels. The students cherish this learning opportunity and will strive to acquire knowledge, improve their skills, and create a better future.
Finally, Dean Ma Guang announced that the Morocco-Yiwu Business School is officially opened.
The Morocco-Yiwu Business School is the first overseas branch campus established by our university and has enrolled 26 international economics and trade students in the first phase. In the future, it will offer courses in advantageous specializations such as e-commerce and big data technology for Moroccan students. The Morocco-Yiwu Business School aims to train international talents through "Chinese language + vocational skills" training, output professional teaching standards, serve the national "Belt and Road" Initiative and the construction of the "World's Small Commodity Capital." Based on talent cultivation, it will expand comprehensive cooperation in teacher and student exchanges, professional co-construction, and cooperative research, and create a China vocational education brand with international influence.
