LMD System (Bachelor’s-Master’s-Doctorate)

The reform of the Moroccan system of education refers to the application of the LMD European system which is a consequence to the « Bologna Process ». This reform of our universities is global. It covers the institutional, the structural and the educational field. The latter remains, however, the most concerned since the whole system has undergone a renewed organization.
In order to back up this reform and implement it successfully, a well built reflection at the national level, in addition to a controlled comparison with the system in other countries were essential to set up the major objectives of the new organisational system and which may be defined as follows:

• The renewal and modernisation of the educational system.
• The implementation of a flexible and efficient education program enabling students to gain access to the world of work at all levels
• The reinforcement of students’ methodological, linguistic and communication skills.
• The permanent capitalization of modules and the possibility of reorientation
• The implementation of a progressive system of Students guidance.
• The introduction of continuous assessment of knowledge.
• Preparation of students for social and economic integration.
• The Organization of continuous training programs.
• The transmission of cultural values.

Designation of national diplomas

• DEUG (General University Studies Diploma) or DEUP (Vocational University Studies Diploma) : 4 semesters of study;
• Bachelor’s degree : 2 semesters of study after the level DEUG or DEUP;
• Master’s degree : 4 semesters of study after the bachelor’s level.
• Doctorate : at least 6 semesters of study, research and/or laboratory/ seminars... etc.

Keywords of the LMD System

The implementation of the LMD system (Bologna Process, 1999) in Moroccan universities in September 2003 is an advancing step towards quality assurance and good governance of higher education sector. The new architecture (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate) offers to students increased flexibility in their programs of study, greater autonomy in their professional career development and more facilities in their mobility at the national and international level.

With the application of this new organisational scheme, new keywords have emerged:

The semester

The semester is the period of time necessary to complete an actual course of study during an academic year. In the new structure, the academic year is divided into two academic semesters. A semester counts 16 weeks of study and assessment, comprises 4 modules in average and includes at least 360 hours of study.

The Module

The module is the basic unit of university education assigned in one semester. It consists of 1 to 2 coherent and autonomous disciplinary elements allowing a smooth assessment of learning outcomes. Each module has a minimum of 75 hours of study (or 20 to 25 days of field work). In a modular program, courses can be taught in the form of theoretical courses and/or directed works and/or practical works and/or practical field activities.
A module is validated after student’s success in continuous assessment or catch-up session.

Course of Study “filière”

A course of study is a training curriculum structured in the form of coherent set of modules organised in one or several disciplinary fields. Its objective is the acquisition of skills and competencies.
The first level of a university study is a three-year program leading to the bachelor’s degree. It corresponds to six semesters: 1 semester of introduction, 1 semester of orientation, 2 semesters of upgrade knowledge, 1 fundamental semester and 1 semester of specialisation The bachelor’s level comprises 24 modules, that is, 2160 hours of study.
National diplomas General University Studies Diploma (DEUG), Professional University Studies Diploma (DEUP) and Bachelor’s give access either to high cycle or to labour market.

Three blocs of modules are comprised in the organisation of a national course of study:

• The bloc of core modules consisting of major modules reflecting the disciplinary nature of the course and minor or complementary modules “ modules of support”,
• The bloc of optional modules, comprising modules of specialization or openness. The modules of this bloc are left to the choice of universities.
• For each course, a list of these modules is given as a rough guide.
• The bloc of transversal modules, composed mainly of modules related to language, communication and computer science. The title of the module reflects the content of its lessons.
• A course of study is attached to an academic institution and its lessons are given in one or more departments of this institution or in other institutions affiliated to the university. The application of modular system within a course facilitates the establishment of ramps between study programs giving, hence, to the student the opportunity to construct, at all levels, his personal career according to his competencies and aptitudes.
  

Accreditation

Within the framework of the pedagogical reform, the elaboration of a course should obey to academic rules and fulfil the requirements of insertion in the economical field in order to be accredited. The modules, which are the components of a course of study, should meet standards established by the higher education community and be structured according to educational objectives enhancing, thus, the quality of student learning.
The pedagogical supervision and logistic means, implemented for the fulfilment of university training, are the first criterion for a course accreditation.
The process of accreditation is applied to each course according to the following steps: Approbation of institution council (Faculty or school), approbation of university council and accreditation by the National Commission for Accreditation and Coordination of Higher Education (CNACES).

Validation

The assessment of knowledge, skills and competencies are the key cornerstone of the new educational system.
In the LMD architecture, the assessment of student’s acquisition and learning Is semestrial and not annual. This mode of evaluation is more rational on the educational level, since it gives more emphasis to the interactive relationship during the course rather than the simple exercise of memory. Such a method of assessment equips the student with the required tools since it is organised in a wide range of exams namely tests, presentations reports……etc in addition to a possible catch up test.

In order to progress in his university studies, the student should validate modules. A module is validated if its global mark is superior or equal to 10 out of 20 and without any mark lower than a given threshold(5/20 in general) in its composing elements.

A course is validated if:
- All its modules are validated,
- All its semesters are validated
A validated course gives right to acquisition of the corresponding graduate diploma.

Capitalization

The capitalization is an innovative educational principle which consists of lifelong recognition of student’s ownership of a validated module. The lifelong accumulation of credits allows, on the one hand, a more rational management of student’s stages of university progress and, on the other hand, the establishment of functional links between the university and the professional career by giving the student a ceaselessly possible return to the university.

Characteristics of standard national courses

Standard national courses are drawn up in a way to:
- Cover all disciplines currently assigned in universities,
- Meet the conditions required for a minimum core curriculum (70%),
- Consist of major modules the whole hourly volume is at least equal to 50% of the hourly volume of a course,
- Respect the hourly volume required for languages and communication concerning the first four semesters of bachelor’s degree.
- Provide optional modules left to the choice of universities (regional specificities, local competencies and available human and material resources...)
- Gradually bring students to the 5th and 6th semester’s bachelor’s cycle studies.
- Evolve gradually from the elementary to the thorough.