Presentation of IRCAM - Institut Royal de la Culture Amazighe

Presentation :
The Royal Institute of the Amazigh Culture (Fr
Fr : IRCAM)
The IRCAM, in conformity with the provisions of the articles of the Dahir dealing
with its creation and organisation, is an academic institution which is “endowed
with full legal competence and financial autonomy” (Article1). It is under the
direct authority and tutelage of His Majesty the King. Its mission is to provide His
Majesty with “advice about the measures that are likely to preserve and promote
the Amazigh culture in all its expressions” (Article 2).
The Institute is made up of an administrative structure (comprising the Board of
Trustees, the Rectorate, the General Secretariat and other departments and services)
and of an academic structure (comprising different centres and research units).
The IRCAM is a scientific research institute which carries out and publishes studies
on the Amazigh language and culture. It is run by a Rector, helped by a General
Secretary (at the administrative level). Its creation comes as the satisfaction of one of
the demands of the Amazigh Cultural Movement in Morocco.
In addition to preserving and promoting the Amazigh language and culture, its
main mission lies in contributing to the implementation of the policies adopted by
His Majesty, policies “which will allow for the introduction of the Amazigh in the
educational system and ensure the spread of its influence in the social, cultural,
media, national, regional and local contexts” (Article 2).
This contribution of the IRCAM should be in collaboration with governmental
bodies and institutions concerned by the aforementioned fields. Furthermore, its task
is to “reinforce the status of our Amazigh culture…” in these spaces, as well as in
“the management of local and regional affairs” (Motive n° 8). To this end, the
IRCAM has, as concerns the scientific level, seven research centres and
administrative departments (see the Organisational Chart below).
The Institute officially started its work at the end of July 2002. The first ordinary
session of its Board of Trustees took place on July 25 th and 26 th , 2002. The Board’s
task lies in laying out the general orientations of the Institute which will be put in
concrete form through the scientific research carried out within the different centres.
The beginning of the IRCAM’s activities on August 27 th , 2002 had been preceded by
a period of reflection followed by the elaboration of the organising texts (Nov.2001-
June 2002), texts which deal with the administrative as well as the academic
conception and organisation of the Institute, i.e. the Internal Regulations and Staff
Status.
In addition to the missions assigned to it on the national level, the IRCAM should
develop cooperation with international and foreign institutions and organisations,
working in the field of its interest. Its ambition is to progressively become an
institution that serves as a reference in the field of the Amazigh language and culture
at the national, North African and international levels.

Organisational Chart
Administrative Structure
Board of Trustees
Presidency : The Rector
Committees :
• The special Committee for Nominations and
Representations.
• Permanent and Provisional Committees.
o The Committee for Financial and Administrative
Affairs and for the Budget.
o The Committee for Cultural, Scientific and
Educational Affairs and for Communication.
o Ad Hoc Committees (set up when necessary).
Administration of the Institute
The Rector
The Administrative Committee.
The General Secretariat.
Department of Human Resources and General Affairs.
• Staff Affairs Office
• General and Legal Affairs Office
Department of the Budget, Accounts and Equipment
• The Budget and Management Accounts Office
• Accounting Office
• Equipment and Logistics Office

Academic Structure
The Rector.
The Scientific Committee
The General Secretary (Reporter)
The Research Centers :
• The Center for Language Planning:
o RSU in Lexical Development ;
o RSU in Grammar.
• The Center for Didactic Research and Educational
Programs:
o RSU in Didactic Research ;
o RSU in Educational Programs.
• The Center for Historical and Environmental Studies:
o RSU in Historical Studies ;
o RSU in Environmental Studies.
• The Center for Sociological and Anthropological Studies:
o RSU in Sociological Studies ;
o RSU in Anthropological Studies.
• The Center for Artistic Studies, Literary Expressions and
Audiovisual Production
o RSU in Artistic Studies
o RSU in Drama and Audio-Visual Production
• The Center for Translation, Documentation, Publishing and
Communication:
o RSU in Translation ;
o RSU in Information and Communication ;
o RSU in Documentation, Publishing and
Distribution.
• The Center for Informatics Studies, Information Systems and
Communication:
o RSU in Information Systems and Networks ;
o RSU in Information Management and
Communication.
(This Document is elaborated and translated by Prof. A. CHAÂBIHI)