Funding Opportunities in Morocco

Students from Middlebury and from other colleges and universities will be eligible to apply. The students selected will receive a $2,000 stipend awarded to them throughout the semester. This stipend is given in order to support students in their research project related to Conflict Transformation. 

Under the supervision of Dr. Hassan Belhiah, Professor of Linguistics and North African Studies, students will become assistants at the Mohammed V University Research Lab. This is a collaborative space focusing on language activism, linguistic and minority rights, and language and social justice. 

Students will be able to select from several topics, including the following:

• Amazigh (Berber) People: A Historical, Cultural, and Linguistic exploration
• Language Conflict in Morocco
• Colonialism, Coloniality, and Linguistic Rights in Morocco
• Language Activism and the Struggle for Linguistic and Human Rights in Morocco
• The Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM): Guardian of Amazigh Cultural and Linguistic Heritage
• Role of Associations, NGOs, and Political Parties in Mitigating Language Conflicts in Morocco
• Moroccan Darija: The Contemporary Linguistic Blend Reshaping Moroccan Society
• Oulad Ali Village: A Case Study of Amazigh Language Integration

During the research assistantship, activities include:

• conducting literature reviews
• gathering and analyzing content from historical documents, legal texts, media reports, and scholarly articles
• investigating language policies and legislation and their impact on language rights
• analyzing the impact of language policies on conflict dynamics
• analyzing social media content
• comparing language conflicts across different regions and time periods
• studying Amazigh language revitalization efforts
• evaluating the strategies employed in language preservation and revitalization programs
• examining how language conflicts are framed in the media
• exploring the historical roots of language conflicts 

Research assistantships will allow students to gain a better understanding of Moroccan linguistic and social issues and actively contribute catalyzing significant linguistic transformation. 

Application Instructions and Requirements 

For consideration in Dr. Belhiah’s research project we are looking for evidence of a strong background in the social sciences and the Arabic language. We encourage you to apply if you have:

• Above average grades (B+ and higher);
• Research or project-based experience; 
• An advanced level in Arabic; and
• Familiarity of a subject within the social sciences such as political science, international studies, or sociolinguistics

For the International Programs Conflict Transformation committee’s consideration, please submit the following:

• A brief (1 page maximum) essay (in English) addressing:
  • How you define conflict transformation;
  • How the topics of language conflict and language rights resonates with your studies or experiences; 
  • Your experience with and interest in research; and
  • What opportunities this might offer that you may not otherwise have experienced.