Bridging The Skills Gap Through Virtual Reality

Speeches Shim

Innovative virtual reality solutions will strengthen vocational programs, education, and industry.

Analyses undertaken by the African Economic Outlook point out that in many middle-income countries, high job vacancy rates prevail despite large scale unemployment, suggesting that the skills gap also drives youth unemployment in countries like Morocco.

Morocco has recently embarked on an ambitious strategy to reform vocational training throughout the country in an effort to boost youth unemployment. New and emerging technologies must be integrated within curricula to provide critical skills development, ensuring youth and entrepreneurs gain the credentials they need to compete in the modern workforce.

USAID RESPONSE

FACTS & FIGURES
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS:
  • EON Reality
  • The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P)
  • The Agency of Digital Development (ADD)
  • Mohammed V University in Rabat
HOST-COUNTRY PARTNERS:
  • The Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoE)
  • The Moroccan Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy (MoI)
BUDGET: $28,951,500, of which the United States is providing $3 million.
LOCATION: Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Marrakesh-Safi region
DURATION: 2019-2024

Solving structural and youth unemployment requires innovative and diverse solutions. USAID seeks to increase employability by providing innovative and affordable learning solutions for skills development, in order to help reduce youth unemployment, promote entrepreneurship, and potentially increase industrial productivity.

Through a Public-Private Partnership, the Interactive Digital Center (IDC) is designed to train the new generation of experts in the emerging field of Augmented and Virtual Reality (AVR) and provide technology-forward solutions for various vocational skills and professions, education providers, and industrial companies.

The Interactive Digital Center will provide access to state-of-the-art AVR technologies including a virtual showroom, a development lab, and a research and development hub for products and applications. The IDC will contribute to bridging the skills gap afflicting Morocco by providing innovative and advanced learning solutions that respond to the labor market demand.

USAID is supporting the Interactive Digital Center program by:

  • ESTABLISHING THE VIRTUAL REALITY INNOVATION ACADEMY, complete with state-of-the-art equipment, trained teachers, and developed curricula.
  • COLLABORATING WITH ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS to expand the provision of AVR solutions, allowing fields such as architecture, product visualization, and multimedia design to incorporate this innovative technology into their academic programs.
  • SUPPORTING PRIVATE SECTOR AND NEW START-UPS by providing solutions to respond to labor market demands, reduce unemployment, and increase industrial productivity. anticipated results
  • Contribute to the Moroccan Government’s Strategy for Digital Transformation, Industry 4.0, BOOSTING INNOVATION AND EMERGING ECOSYSTEMS in digital economy.
  • Deploy the WORLD’S LARGEST LIBRARY of 3D and AVR material.
  • TRAIN EXPERTS in AVR-based knowledge transfer in Morocco through the AVR Platform.
  • Enable CREATION OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES for Moroccan youth and build entrepreneurship opportunities in digital economy.
  • Upskill workers for JOBS OF THE FUTURE.
  • Support SKILLS DEVELOPMENT of persons with disabilities through innovative programs.