Cadi Ayyad University's distinctive contribution to the WLCA project lies in connecting areas that are often addressed separately: digital capacity-building, women's leadership and cross-sector collaboration.

Through an online learning platform, targeted professional development and the Women For Impact (W4I) workshop, Cadi Ayyad University (UCA) is exploring how women in higher education can strengthen their practical skills while also expanding their professional networks and influence.

At the centre of its capacity-building efforts is an online learning platform developed by ENCG Marrakech, in partnership with UNESCO-ICHEI. As part of the IIOE initiative, the platform is designed to make training accessible to higher education teachers, managers and learning support staff.

The platform draws on IIOE courses and locally relevant content. One French-language course focuses on designing and producing educational audiovisual materials. Over five weeks, participants learn how to design and script instructional videos, use screen-capture tools and apply basic editing techniques. The course was offered in a blended format to 45 participants, 40% of whom were women. A second course, currently in development, addresses how to build and manage effective research teams, including inclusive leadership, collaboration, mentorship and psychological safety.

These online resources are complemented by practical training in digital pedagogy, automated assessment, academic management systems and the use of artificial intelligence in management, research and teaching. This combination allows UCA to approach digital transformation not simply as the adoption of new tools, but as an opportunity to strengthen the wider professional capabilities of university staff.

Design and Production of Educational Capsules, a course on ENCG-UCA online learning platform (© Cadi Ayyad University)

The Women for Impact workshop was held at ENCG Marrakech to mark International Women's Day 2026 (© Cadi Ayyad University)

W4I adds an important leadership and community dimension to this work. Organised on International Women's Day, the workshop brought together 102 participants, including women leaders, experts and entrepreneurs; women accounted for 60% of those attending.

Discussions addressed women's leadership, entrepreneurship and empowerment, as well as the challenges and opportunities involved in strengthening women's role in Moroccan society. The workshop therefore contributes to the WLCA project by creating a space in which professional learning can evolve into peer exchange, networking and collective action.

UCA is also building a cross-sector partnership ecosystem around its work. The prospective partners identified by the university span women entrepreneurs' associations, technology and AI companies, business and engineering schools, a mining group, a banking foundation and digital learning platforms. This range reflects an understanding that the advancement of women in higher education cannot be achieved by universities alone.

By connecting higher education with businesses, social organisations and technology providers, this emerging ecosystem has the potential to broaden women's access to expertise, learning opportunities and professional networks. It may also help to ensure that capacity-building responds to developments beyond the campus and remains connected to wider social and economic needs.

Together, the platform, W4I and the developing partnership network form a mutually reinforcing approach. UCA's experience suggests that digital skills can provide a foundation, while leadership opportunities and cross-sector relationships enable women to turn those skills into wider professional and social impact.