Rabat – Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane and the Deloitte Morocco Cyber Center signed a cooperation agreement this week to boost synergies between academia and the cybersecurity industry. The agreement, initially set for three years and renewable, was formalized during this year’s GITEX Africa, which took place from April 14 to April 16, 2025, in Marrakech.
Under the agreement, the center will allow exporters to contribute to the design and delivery of courses, mentorship, and knowledge sharing. This collaboration aims to enhance Al Akhawayn University’s cybersecurity specialization track and the Master’s program. University students and graduates will benefit from access to internships and job opportunities within the Deloitte Cyber Center, while both partners plan to create a joint certification to boost student employability.
Moreover, the partnership aims to co-organize events such as cybersecurity days to strengthen ties between academia and industry players, promoting shared cybersecurity initiatives. Amine Bensaid, president of Al Akhawayn University, expressed satisfaction with the new agreement, emphasizing his institution’s commitment to academic excellence and the development of its students. “Cybersecurity, at the heart of digital transformation, is now a strategic issue for higher education,” he noted. He added that the partnership with the Deloitte Morocco Cyber Center reflects Al Akhawayn’s desire to strengthen its connection with the professional ecosystem.
On the other hand, the consulting firm Deloitte has also been making waves in the payment industry. According to a research paper published last month, pay-by-bank could dramatically alter the way we pay in the U.S. by decreasing costs for businesses and easing the payment process for shoppers. The paper was posted online on March 11, 2025, and was authored by Deloitte Managing Director Chris Allen, Senior Manager Tanmay Agarwal, Senior Manager Shalina Vadivale, and Manager Amol Kumar.
As the name suggests, pay-by-bank allows shoppers to pay for goods or services by withdrawing money from a bank account and sending it directly to a merchant. This method often utilizes electronic payment rails such as same-day ACH or the RTP Network. By adopting pay-by-bank, merchants could potentially bypass interchange fees charged by card networks, which typically range from 2% to 4% of a transaction.
The payment method also reduces the risk of chargebacks due to its stronger authentication mechanisms. Additionally, it provides consumers with another payment option and enables banks to extend their services to previously underbanked populations. “While consumers in the U.S. can pay for their bills, subscriptions, and loan repayments today using their bank account, this option is largely unavailable when it comes to the online or point-of-sale checkout experience,” the paper states.
However, Deloitte highlighted several obstacles to widespread adoption of pay-by-bank, particularly consumers’ comfort with credit cards. Major card networks have established rewards systems that entice shoppers to use their cards at the point of sale. For instance, American Express offers some cardholders exclusive access to high-end restaurant reservations and events such as concerts.
To make pay-by-bank more appealing, banks could offer consumers additional services, including lines of credit or rewards points similar to those given to credit card users. On the merchant side, pay-by-bank must provide a cost-effective alternative to credit cards and be easy to integrate with existing payment systems.
Due to ongoing pressure on card networks to reduce interchange fees, banks may need to lower the costs incurred by merchants by ensuring that pay-by-bank remains a cheaper option. Despite this potential, Deloitte acknowledged that interchange fee regulation seems unlikely under the current presidential administration.
Nonetheless, banks could compensate for any lost revenue through various strategies. For example, financial institutions could leverage transaction data to enhance their marketing efforts. They could also offer merchants who utilize pay-by-bank additional services, such as bulk bill pay, and expand checkout options to include other payment methods like buy now, pay later.
Overall, the cooperation between Al Akhawayn University and the Deloitte Morocco Cyber Center represents a significant step toward bridging the gap between academia and the cybersecurity industry. At the same time, the pay-by-bank initiative could reshape the payment landscape in the U.S., presenting both challenges and opportunities for consumers, merchants, and financial institutions alike.
