Al Akhawayn University

What Al Akhawayn University does

Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI) is a public, autonomous, non-profit higher education institution in Morocco, established by royal decree (Dahir) and overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation. It delivers an American-style, English-language liberal arts curriculum across three schools: the School of Business Administration (BBA, MBA, Executive MBA, Part-Time MBA, and the SBA Executive Leadership Academy), the School of Science and Engineering (AI & Robotization, Cloud Computing & Big Data Analytics, Computer Science, Renewable Energy, General Engineering), and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. It also operates a Language Center (English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Tamazight, Korean), the Employability & Entrepreneurship Office, and several research centers including the Hillary Clinton Center for Women's Empowerment and the Social Science Research Institute. Supporting technology is standard academic infrastructure: Canvas LMS, Microsoft 365/Outlook, and video conferencing for international exchange, rather than proprietary platforms. The university serves undergraduate, graduate, and executive students from 39 nationalities, with 72% experiencing one to two semesters abroad through 400+ partner institutions, and tracks a 7,000+ alumni network across Morocco and 20 countries.

AUI's revenue model is tuition-driven and subscription-style, with annual billing across undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs, plus professional-services revenue from language and corporate training. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is sales-led: direct admissions, campus visits, educational fairs, and partnerships with media and feeder institutions. The university is the first non-US institution to hold NECHE accreditation (renewed 2022-2032), and additionally holds EFMD EPAS, ABET, CEA, and UNESCO recognition, creating a regulatory moat that is highly unusual in the African higher-education market and that supports placement of graduates into Harvard, Oxford, and ESSEC.

Name

Al Akhawayn University

Legal name

Al Akhawayn University

Website

https://aui.ma

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco is a public non-profit university delivering American-style English-language liberal arts education across business, science & engineering, and humanities, serving undergraduate, graduate, and executive students from 39 nationalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities (EDAHABAG), Business & Management Research Universities (EDAHABAE), Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Liberal arts programs
• Executive education
• Language training programs
• Undergraduate graduate degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Ifrane

HQ country

Morocco

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: Tuition fees for undergraduate degree programs including Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees across Business Administration, Sciences, Engineering, and Humanities
2. Graduate Programs Tuition: Tuition for Master's programs including MBA, Executive MBA, Part-time MBA, and specialized Master's degrees
3. Executive Education: Executive MBA and Executive Leadership programs targeting working professionals; includes immersive experiences and international trips
4. Language Center Programs: Professional English, French, Spanish and other language training programs for students and external clients

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Al Akhawayn University is a public, autonomous, non-profit higher education institution that delivers English-language liberal arts education modeled on the American university system. It offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across three schools (Business Administration, Science and Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences), executive education through the SBA Executive Leadership Academy, and professional language training through its Language Center. The university serves both individual students and working professionals on its 75-hectare campus in Ifrane, Morocco, with 39 nationalities represented and 400+ international academic exchange partnerships.

Product overview

Al Akhawayn University offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and services across three main schools: the School of Science and Engineering (offering undergraduate and graduate programs in AI, Computer Science, Cloud Computing, Big Data Analytics, Renewable Energy, and Engineering), the School of Business Administration (with EPAS-accredited BBA, MBA programs including Executive and Part-Time options, and the SBA Executive Leadership Academy for professional development), and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (providing programs in International Studies, Communication, Environmental Studies, Psychology, and a Master of Arts in AI and Human Society). The university also operates a Language Center, Hillary Clinton Center for Women's Empowerment, and an Employability & Entrepreneurship Office. The institution's technology-focused offerings include Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Robotization, Cloud Computing & Big Data Analytics, and various AI-enhanced business programs, positioning it as a leading English-language liberal arts institution in Morocco with American-style education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• School of Business Administration (SBA): The School of Business Administration at Al Akhawayn University, offering BBA, MBA, Executive MBA, and other business programs, accreditated by EFMD.
• School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS)
• School of Science and Engineering (SSE)
• Language Center
• Employability and Entrepreneurship Office (EEO)
• Azrou Center for Community Development
• Al Akhawayn Business Research Center
• Al-Jazari Institute of Industry X.0
• Hilary Clinton Center for Women's Empowerment
• Social Science Research Institute (SSRI)
• Center for Business Ethics

Products and services

• Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Robotization Undergraduate degree program in the School of Science and Engineering focusing on AI technologies, robotics, and intelligent systems development; designed for students pursuing careers in AI and robotics.
• Bachelor of Science in Cloud Computing & Big Data Analytics Undergraduate program covering cloud infrastructure, big data technologies, and analytics techniques for processing large datasets; intended for students aiming at data engineering and cloud roles.
• Bachelor of Science in Cloud and Mobile Software Engineering Undergraduate degree focusing on software engineering for cloud platforms and mobile application development; for students targeting software engineering roles.
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Traditional computer science undergraduate program covering algorithms, programming, and software development fundamentals; intended for students pursuing software and computing careers.
• Bachelor of Science in Renewable Energy Systems Engineering Engineering undergraduate program focused on renewable energy systems, sustainable technologies, and energy management; for students targeting the sustainable energy sector.
• Bachelor of Science in General Engineering Broad-based engineering undergraduate program covering fundamental engineering principles and disciplines; designed for students seeking general engineering preparation.
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Management Science Interdisciplinary program combining engineering fundamentals with business and management sciences; intended for students targeting engineering-management hybrid roles.
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) EPAS-accredited undergraduate business degree with specializations in Finance, Management, Marketing, Logistics, International Business, and AI & Analytics for Business; for students pursuing business careers.
• Master of Arts in AI and Human Society Graduate program exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence technologies and their societal implications; for graduate students and professionals working at the AI-society interface.
• Master of Science in Software Engineering Graduate program in software engineering covering advanced software development, architecture, and engineering practices; for professionals advancing into senior software roles.
• Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Management Graduate program focused on sustainable energy systems, management, and policy frameworks; for professionals targeting leadership in the sustainable energy sector.
• Master of Science in Digital Marketing and Analytics Graduate program combining digital marketing strategies with data analytics and business intelligence techniques; for professionals pursuing digital marketing and analytics careers.
• Master of Arts in International Studies & Diplomacy Graduate program focusing on international relations, diplomatic studies, and global policy analysis; for students targeting careers in diplomacy and international affairs.
• Master of Arts in Communication Studies and Digital Media Graduate program combining communication theory with digital media production and analytics; for professionals pursuing advanced communication and media careers.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Full-time MBA program preparing students for leadership roles in the global economy with comprehensive business education; for early-to-mid career professionals.
• Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) Immersive executive program with immersive trips to the US and an African country, featuring introductory bootcamp, innovative pedagogy, and capstone experience; for senior executives and managers.
• Part-Time MBA Flexible MBA program allowing professionals to balance studies with personal and professional commitments; for working professionals seeking an MBA without career interruption.
• SBA Executive Leadership Academy (SELA) Custom executive training programs including Executive Leadership Certificate, Executive Briefcase Program, and professional workshops for organizational leadership development; for companies and individual executives.
• Language Center Programs Language programs offering English, French, Spanish, Tamazight, and Korean courses, including Professional English and French programs for the university community and external clients; CEA-accredited since 2009.
• ARANAS - Arab Studies and North African Studies Flexible programs in Modern Standard Arabic, Moroccan Darija dialect, and North African studies, with over 950 participants from 38 nationalities; for students and external learners seeking Arabic and North African studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7000+ graduates working in Morocco and 20 countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Al-Jazari Institute of Industry X.0coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Founding agreement signed to establish the Al-Jazari Institute of Industry X.0 as part of Morocco's 'AI Made in Morocco' initiative under Digital Morocco 2030 Strategy. Al Akhawayn University is one of the participating academic institutions alongside Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University and Moulay Ismail University.
• Silent BelieversminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2025Partnership with FMCG distribution company Silent Believers to host hackathon focused on reimagining distribution models in Morocco. 40 selected students worked with 15 expert mentors over 3 days.
• CIH BANKminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Partnership for annual 'Bankathon' fintech competition focused on digital payment solutions and Morocco's cashless future. Students presented cutting-edge digital payment solutions during 3-day event.
• CAM Leasing (Crédit Agricole)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided expert mentors and judges for Silent Believers Hackathon focused on distribution models
• Riaya IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided expert mentors and judges for Silent Believers Hackathon focused on distribution models

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• INSEAD: INSEAD is a globally dominant business school with a Middle East campus (Abu Dhabi) that competes for the same executive MBA and corporate leadership-training market that AUI's SBA Executive Leadership Academy targets in Morocco and North Africa.

Direct peers

• American University in Cairo (AUC): AUC operates a parallel American liberal-arts model in Cairo with English instruction, US accreditation pathway, and similarly diverse student body — directly comparable to AUI as a non-state-affiliated English-medium institution serving the region.
• American University of Beirut (AUB): AUB is the leading American-style English-medium research university in the MENA region, with liberal arts programs, US accreditation legacy, and a similar international faculty and exchange model — the closest direct comparator to AUI in the region.
• American University of Sharjah (AUS): AUS is a not-for-profit, English-language, American-model university in the Gulf with liberal arts, engineering, business, and sciences programs — a strong regional peer with comparable accreditation standards and student demographics.
• International University of Rabat (UIR): UIR is another private Moroccan university with English/French instruction and partnerships with international institutions, competing with AUI in the Moroccan premium higher-education market for similar student segments.
• Hult International Business School: Hult is a US- and UK-accredited international business school with campuses in Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, and Shanghai; AUI students compete in the same Hult Prize (which AUI's MENA regional program won in 2024), indicating direct competition for global business talent.
• Lebanese American University (LAU): LAU is a US-accredited, English-medium, American-style university in Lebanon offering comparable liberal arts, business, engineering, and sciences programs, with a similar international student mix and exchange-network approach.
• ESSEC Business School (ESSEC & MAN): ESSEC has a Moroccan campus (ESSEC & MAN in Rabat) offering EPAS-equivalent business programs; it directly competes with AUI's School of Business Administration for the same MBA and executive education clientele in Morocco.
• Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P): UM6P is a Moroccan state-backed research-intensive university focusing on applied sciences, AI, and engineering — a high-resource Moroccan peer with overlapping AI/engineering programs and competing for top Moroccan STEM talent.

Regional players

• Université Mundiapolis: Mundiapolis is a Moroccan private university in Casablanca offering bilingual (French/English) engineering, business, and law programs — a domestic Moroccan competitor for the same fee-paying student pool that AUI targets, though smaller and less internationally branded.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights3 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AlAkhawayn
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlAkhawayn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/al-akhawayn-university

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Al Akhawayn University