Teaching for the IMM in Algeria

Teaching for the IMM in Algeria

From 9–24 November 2024, I taught at the National Higher School of Mathematics (NHSM) in Algiers, Algeria as part of the International Mathematics Masters Programme (IMM)1. Over the course of two weeks, I taught part of the “Advanced Probability” module, focusing on martingales and branching processes.

The IMM. The IMM programme aims to strengthen teaching capacities to the “global south” and offers students a degree accredited by a European institution. The scheme and its (precursor) has a good track record in elevating talented individuals, many of whom have had a successful research career after, holding permanent positions in academia. After a successful start of the programme in Pakistan, this is the first year it is running in Algeria.

The student cohort was a diverse group of six: four from Algeria, one from Madagascar, and one from Tunisia. The design and execution of the “Advanced Probability” module was a joint effort. Locally, Nour El Houda Rouabah taught the first few lectures, I taught the middle third, and Douglas Coates, who continued with the final third after my departure. I overlapped in Algeria with Anna Miriam Benini who taught as part of the “Complex Analysis” module.

Teaching Experience. With 13 contact hours per week, the teaching was an intense but rewarding experience. The students’ engagement was fantastic; I was asked sharp and insightful questions, and on more than one occasion was challenged to prove claims I had made offhandedly. This made the classroom experience rather dynamic. The pace was also high, given the students’ good background in e.g. functional analysis. In fact, it went so quick that I ran out of prepared material two thirds through the teaching and could add extra material on branching processes.

Teaching in Algeria came with an —at least from my point of view— unusual schedule. My classes ran on Sunday and Monday afternoons and Wednesday and Thursday mornings, with sessions lasting 3 to 3.5 hours. Adapting to Algeria’s working week from Sunday to Thursday was both quick and slow. It felt peculiar to expect work emails on Sunday and odd to receive responses on a Friday, the main rest day of the week. Apologies also to a colleague (who shall remain unnamed), whom I texted on a Sunday whether they are “available right now” for a quick maths chat, only to receive a “not today…” in response.

Algerian Hospitality. One of the most memorable aspects of my time in Algeria was the hospitality I received. From the faculty to the family-run hotel where I stayed, everyone went out of their way to make me feel welcome. The hotel provided great local dishes each evening, complete with a new Algerian soda every day. Arrangements were made for me to see places of interest and everyone was incredibly patient with my (lack of) French language abilities.

This warmth extended to a particularly challenging moment during my last days. I received news of my mother’s passing the day before leaving Algeria. That morning, a whole “condolence committee” arrived at the hotel; it was a rather touching experience.

Looking ahead. I hope my teaching has encouraged some of these talented and motivated students to dive deeper into probability theory and measure theory. Many of them showed great potential, and I hope the IMM programme will allow them to pursue PhDs and academic careers if they so desire. I plan to remain involved with the IMM and am currently exploring ways to contribute further, whether through teaching or in other capacities.


  1. The webpage is under construction/being updated. ↩︎