Dakhla has taken a new step in expanding access to specialized engineering education with the official launch of academic activities at the National School of Advanced Technologies of Dakhla (ENTA).
Affiliated with Ibn Zohr University, the new school is designed to train engineers in fields closely connected to technological change and the development needs of the region.
University President Nabil Hmina described ENTA Dakhla as part of a new generation of engineering schools being developed in Morocco. The Dakhla-Oued Eddahab and Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra regions are among the first areas to host institutions of this type.
The school is built around a training model that gives businesses a stronger role in the education process. Practical training, field experience, applied research and innovation are central to the approach.
ENTA Dakhla will focus on preparing engineers capable of supporting major projects and companies operating in the region. The institution also aims to make high-quality engineering education more accessible to young people in Morocco’s southern provinces.
Its academic programs are expected to cover several technology-driven fields. These include artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, cybersecurity, logistics and Industry 4.0.
The school has introduced a two-year integrated preparatory cycle. Its teaching methods include project-based learning, practical training, the flipped classroom and work-study programs.
This approach is intended to bring engineering education closer to the requirements of the labor market. Students will be exposed to practical projects and professional environments as part of their academic development.
ENTA Dakhla is also expected to play a broader role beyond engineering education. The institution aims to become a platform for academic cooperation with African countries, building on Dakhla’s position as an Atlantic gateway.
The launch marks the arrival of the school’s first cohort of students. Their training will take place within a model designed to prepare engineering professionals for the technological and economic needs of the region.
The new institution is part of a wider expansion of Ibn Zohr University’s academic network. Recent developments include the Faculty of Science and Technology of Guelmim, the National Higher School of Food Industries and Biotechnology of Biougra and the Institute of Sports Professions of Agadir.
The university’s expansion will continue with the launch of ENTA Laayoune, followed by new faculties in Tiznit covering legal and political sciences as well as economics and management.
Together, these institutions are strengthening access to specialized higher education across the territories served by Ibn Zohr University and creating new training opportunities closer to students in southern Morocco.
