Moroccan Scientific Diaspora: between Transfers of Knowledge and Development Dr Abdelkader Latreche International Migration Expert
Introduction Transformation of Moroccan International Migration New destination New Profiles New links with country of Origin Emergence of Moroccan Scientific Diaspora Configuration Organization of Moroccan Scientific Diaspora Activities Moroccan Scientific Diaspora as Agent of Development or/and Agent of Knowledge Transfers Morocco and its Scientific Diaspora Realities and Challenges of Moroccan Scientific Diaspora
Introduction The main objective of this paper is to demonstrate how with the mondialisation and transformations of Moroccan International Migration, Moroccan abroad became real agent of transfer of knowledge and contribute in the development of their country of origin, without any intervention of State. Through the analysis of the activities of Moroccan Scientific Diaspora in France, Belgium, USA, Canada we ll inventory the area and specialties of actions of Moroccan Scientist, researchers, engineers and their implications of the modernization of their origin society.
Transformation of Moroccan International Migration With the mondialisation of international migration, Moroccan international Migration know different transformation. These transformations concern in the same time the destination of Moroccan abroad and their profiles and also the nature of their relation of their country of origin. Today the configuration of Moroccan abroad make a rupture with the traditional representation of Moroccan International Migration. Moroccan abroad are attracted by new regions and countries and these concern different types of migrants. Migration it s not also a rupture with the country of origin but Moroccan abroad maintain permanent and strong relationship with their country of origin.
New destination - Today, geographical fields of mobility of Moroccans abroad are not limited to traditional and historical fields, specially those resulting of colonial period. On the contrary, they are diversified and they concerned both old and new destination. - If France stay the privileged destination of Moroccan migrant new near and far destination attracted more and more Moroccan Migrants as Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Canada, USA, Gulf and African countries. - The official statistics estimate that around 4 millions Moroccan live Abroad
New Profiles With the transformation of international labor market needs, international migration recruit various profile of migrants. These concern also Moroccan international migration. Moroccans migrants are present in various component of labor market of their countries of residence, specially the qualified and skills person as scientist, researcher and engineers who became more and more visible in Moroccans migratory currents. Who legitimates for certain the use of Moroccan Scientific Diaspora. This new age of Moroccan international migration who concern migration of skilled and qualified person, for the first time, result of the extension of higher education in Morocco and the failure of professional insertion of new generations of graduates.
New links with country of Origin If Moroccans migrants have maintains permanent relations with their country of origin thought their remittances, today with the diversification of the profiles of Moroccans Migrants news relation was observed. This concern birth and multiplication of large professional, social and cultural association thought the world. Today, we count different active Moroccans association in Europe North and America. Association involved in different forms of transfers: like transfers of knowledge,social transfers, transfers of best practices.
Emergence of Moroccan Scientific Diaspora With the increasing of the visibility of Moroccans scientists and researchers abroad these two decades and the permanence of the bonds with their country of origin, which they leave for study abroad, Moroccans expatriates researchers develop social structures which maintain permanent contact between countries of residence and country of origin. These attitudes confirmed the emergence of Diaspora practices between Moroccans abroad: new Moroccans migrants are inbetween.
Configuration The configuration of Moroccans Diaspora take two form of organization 1- Professionals organization: organization which they gathers people sharing the same socioprofessional category: like association of Moroccans biologists, association of Moroccans engineers, association of Moroccans scientists, association of Moroccans entrepreneurs Association witch they have their web side, members, board, budget.these association can have appendices in different countries (we ll focused on these kind of association) 2- Global association: Association witch gather Moroccans migrants without any specific socioprofessional criteria
Activities The activities of Moroccan Professionals organization in Morocco are various and dense. They concern: 1- Training 2- Research 3- Capacity building 4- Transfers of knowledge 5- Expertise 6- Assistance 7- Participation of local and regional development 8- Investment
Moroccan Scientific Diaspora as Agent of Development or/and Agent of Knowledge Transfers - Thought their dense and various activities Moroccan Scientific Diasporas take part at the same time in the development and the transfers of knowledge in Morocco. - This double participation depend on the activities of each Moroccans professional association and its implications and relations with Moroccans institutions (universities, ministries, local and regional administrations, private sector.) - Each Moroccan Professional Association can play both function
Morocco and its Scientific Diaspora Morocco as sending country always expressed thought political declaration its wish to see Moroccans Diaspora more implicated in the development of Morocco and it s modernization. These wish was concretized by the installation of FINCOME, gate dedicate to recruit Moroccan expatriates scientist. Experience who lasted just few time. Morocco is still researching an effective processes to implicate its Diaspora
Challenge of Contribution of Moroccan Scientific Diaspora in the Development of Morocco - All the activities of Moroccan Scientific Diaspora depend on personal or associative initiatives, this characteristic can limit the implication of Moroccan Diaspora in the development of their country if Morocco and its Expatriates scientists don t elaborate global and common policy. Policy who determine clearly the need of Morocco and what can offer the expatriates scientist.