IMM-Algeria 2025-2026 Inauguration

On October 5 IMM Algeria opened its doors to nationals and internaitonal students! This year they are involved in both the 2 year MSc program and the direct entry to the second year. IMM-Algeria currently has 26 students from 10 countries: Algeria, Tunisia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Madagascar, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Sweden!

The opening of this second cohort to such a vast geographic area was welcomed in the EMS-NHSM to celebrate the IMM-related award of the ERCE (Emerging Regional Centre of Excellence) label from the European Mathematical Society (EMS) to the National Higher School of Mathematics (NHSM). Algerian Education Minister Kamal Baddari was invited to the brand new Sidi Abdellah campus, and representatives from three embassies, journalists and TV crews also joined us.

Italian Ambassador Alberto Cutillo congratulated NHSM on their IMM location, noting that Fibonacci grew up in what is now Bejaia, Algeria – like local IMM coordinator Rezki Chemlal. Fibonacci’s Liber Abaci (MCCII) played a significant role in popularizing the Indo-Arabic base system in Europe. Next month, an Algerian IMM student will be attending the embassy’s invitation to Fibonacci Day, celebrated annually in Pisa on November 23rd.

Dutch Deputy Ambassador Eugenia Boutylkova spoke kindly about Leiden University, the country’s oldest university, and was proud that both the EMS liaison officer for NHMS and two-thirds of the IMM board are Dutch, specifically from Leiden.

Moreover, the Brasilian ambassador emphasised that the connection with Brazil lies in the fact that several Brazilians teach in the IMM program, including Paolo Piccione, president of the Sociedade Brasileira de Matemática.

On behalf of the IMM board, Stefano Luzzatto and Peter Stevenhagen were able to publicly explain to the minister IMM philosophy behind IMM and how we are trying to implement IMM in general and more specifically in IMM-Algeria. For those interested, I have included both of our slide presentations and a few images.

CIMPA also expressed its support for IMM through its director Christophe Ritzenthaler. The minister closed the ceremony with an impassioned speech, again in Arabic, but due to my limited knowledge of the language, I didn’t catch much of it.

Outside the hall, a full-blown “science market” was organized with students and stalls, and the afternoon was particularly festive: everyone sensed that a different academic climate had begun to blow in Algeria.

Together with the Italian Hons. Consular Authority our faculty has visited the Italian “Rome School” in Algiers and attended the inauguration of a new Science Lab. Prof Stefano Luzzatto gave students  a lecture as well!

The most precious moment? Exchanges, contamination, mutual human learning among Algerians, Italians and international students starting IMM program this year.

We are honoured to be part of a wider and wider community driven by research and global exellence commitment and that more and more organisations and institutions share the vaues of our work!

We sincerely hope this is the start of a serene and life-changing year for each one of IMM students!