Chair of Moroccan Studies

Approved by the Governing Council of the Rovira i Virgili University on October 30, 2025, the Chair of Moroccan Studies is an initiative promoted by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Tarragona, Lleida, and Aragon, the Port Authority of Tarragona, and Kassid Formación. It was created with the aim of offering a rigorous, in-depth, and transformative perspective on the relations between Catalonia and Morocco, highlighting the historical, cultural, social, and human ties that unite us. The Chair aspires to become a space for the generation and dissemination of knowledge, intercultural dialogue, and applied research, structured around three main pillars: research, knowledge transfer, and teaching.

The research promoted by the Chair is characterized by its interdisciplinarity, its grounding in real-world contexts, and its capacity to generate social and cultural impact. It addresses issues such as migration, Mediterranean trade relations, cultural diplomacy, and shared historical memory, while also supporting established research lines such as the paleontological excavations conducted by IPHES in Oujda and studies on Orientalism in northern Morocco.

Knowledge transfer is conceived as a commitment to society that goes beyond the academic sphere. For this reason, the Chair collaborates with public administrations, museums, archives, and other cultural agents to develop projects that highlight shared heritage, and promotes development cooperation and cultural diplomacy initiatives in collaboration with the Moroccan Consulate and other institutions.

Regarding teaching, the Chair organizes thematic seminars, workshops, and lecture series on Moroccan culture, society, and history, open to both the university community and the general public. It also fosters academic mobility by promoting study and research stays that encourage knowledge exchange and the building of a Mediterranean scientific community with a shared and diverse vision.

Ultimately, the Chair of Moroccan Studies is not just an academic project, but a commitment to coexistence, dialogue, and the strengthening of the bonds that unite the two shores of the Mediterranean.

Partners

Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Tarragona, Lleida and Aragon	Port Authority of Tarragona	Kassid Formación