Organized in collaboration with Math&Maroc, this remarkable event brought together the most brilliant minds of Moroccan high schools around a competition where ingenuity, talent development, commitment to Morocco, collaboration, and excellence were at stake. honor.
For Al Akhawayn University, such an event is a continuation of a commitment. Indeed, for three years, Al Akhawayn University has decided to accelerate its integration of scientific research into the training of its Bachelor students (known as first cycle, or post-Bac), after having integrated a mentoring service in 2014 by pairs (“peer-mentoring”) to its model.
The adoption of scientific research in the training of Bachelor students has a very simple motivation: the so-called transferable skills (or skills) which are acquired through scientific research constitute a major asset for students. This applies to access and success in advanced studies, but also to access and success in a professional career, in particular thanks to the sharpening of skills such as critical thinking, analysis, problem solving. -solving, teamwork, and communication. Today, an impressive number (some 40%) of Al Akhawayn’s Bachelor students are actively involved in scientific research activities.
So, more than a simple competition, the MTYM embodied a vision: that of exciting young talents for a critical discipline (mathematics being, for example, fundamental for innovations in Artificial Intelligence), making mathematics a vector of innovation, and a lever for equal opportunities, and to introduce young Moroccans even more (before university studies) to research in mathematics. Distinguishing itself from the Mathematics Olympiads, which focus on individual performances and standardized tests, the MTYM has adopted a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach.
For this edition, 800 students showed up; 600 passed the first test, of which 200 were selected and formed into teams (of 4 or 5 students) to begin work on research issues since last October, mentored by around twenty students from Al Akhawayn. Of the 200, 176 earned their ticket to the final stages on the Al Akhawayn campus in Ifrane, where each team had the opportunity to defend their solutions against other teams and a jury, thus highlighting skills essential such as argumentation and innovation.
A renowned guest to inspire Moroccan youth
One of the highlights of this event was the exceptional intervention of Mr. Rachid Yazami, internationally renowned Moroccan scientist and inventor of the graphite anode of lithium-ion batteries, winner of the prestigious Charles Stark Draper Prize in 2014. Mr. Yazami’s invitation was part of the desire to inspire young Moroccan talents. Through his exceptional career, he embodied the importance of combining scientific research and the academic excellence of students very early on.
A springboard for a bright future
The MTYM offered much more than a moment of competition. It was also a unique opportunity for participants to develop key skills such as problem solving, collaboration and oratory. This event also opened up prospects for careers in various sectors such as finance, technology, scientific research and engineering.
Thus, AUI continues to strengthen its position as a leading institution in Morocco and beyond, building on its deep commitment to community involvement. By connecting students and faculty to meaningful community projects, Al Akhawayn University embodies its mission to foster leadership, innovation and social responsibility.
