Hot Topic Title: “The Role of Mathematics and Computer Science in Developing Countries“ Presentation: "Mathematics and Computer Sciences in Niger: Role, Difficulties and Prospects" Abstract: "Mathematics and Computer Science are of paramount importance in both teaching and scientific research, and the expectations of their applications and implications in other areas of everyday social, political and economic life, are very huge. However, just as in a lot of developing countries, in Niger these disciplines encounter enormous difficulties that are first of pedagogical order due to the lack of well qualified teachers in sufficient numbers, then of adversely order by society for the complexity in learning and especially for the professional market deemed in most cases demotivating. In this talk, we present the status of the art of these key disciplines, their role and problems that impede their development in Niger. We also talk about the ways and means undertaken in recent years to overcome the various impediment and thus promote these disciplines to properly contribute to social economic development of the country and even worldwide level."

1. Hot Topic Presentations
Abel, Fields and Turing Laureates
Meet the Next Generation
2nd Heidelberg Laureate Forum
September 21 - 26, 2014
The Role of Mathematics and Computer Sciences
in Developing Countries
Amadou Ibrahim
“Mathematics and Computer Sciences in Niger: Role, Difficulties
and Prospects”
September 23, 2014

2. Math
and
Comp.
Sci.
in
Niger:
Role,
Difficul;es
and
Prospects
Département
de
Mathéma;ques
et
Informa;que
Université
de
Maradi
(NIGER
REP.)
HLF
2014
:
Hot
Topic,
Heidelberg,
September
23,
2014

3.
Outlines
u Situa;on
of
Math
&
Comp.
Sci.
in
Niger
u Some
Difficul;es
u Perspec;ves
u Conclusion

4. OUR
HOPE
Mathema(cs
and
Computer
Science
should
play
a
more
and
more
important
role
in
Niger:
Ø Both
in
teaching
and
in
research
Ø Expected
implica(ons
in
the
development
of
other
sciences
and
in
the
socio-­‐economic
development.

5. Situa;on
of
Math
&
Comp.
Sci.
In
Niger
Math
and
Comp.
Sci
are
under
development:
Ø Significant
efforts
of
the
government
(new
universi(es,
posi(ons
...)
Ø Support
by
Interna(onal
organiza(ons:
AUF,
CIMPA,
ICTP,
Simons-­‐Founda(on,
EU,
especially
in
terms
of
research.
Ø Recent
PhDs
were
jointly
supervised
with
foreign
universi(es
(West
Africa
sub-­‐region,
France,
Spain,
China,
etc).

6. Role
of
Math
&
Comp.
Sci.
in
Niger
Ø Mathema(cs
present
only
in
teaching
and
research.
Ø Computer
science:
new
domain
in
Niger
and
«
not
well
understood
»,
its
role
is
increasingly
visible
in
many
areas
:
industry,
management,
banking,
etc.

7. Some
difficul;es
In
Niger
these
disciplines
encounter
enormous
difficul(es
of:
Ø
pedagogical
order:
lack
of
well
qualified
teachers,
in
sufficient
numbers
at
secondary
school
Ø
lack
of
support/approval
by
society,
for:
-­‐
the
complexity
in
learning
-­‐
the
demo(va(ng
professional
market
Educa(on
and
research
are
threatened.

8. Perspec;ves
Ø From
governmental
authori(es:
-­‐
New
policy
in
Pedagogical
training
of
secondary
school
teachers
(quality
and
quan(ty).
-­‐
Research
condi(ons
are
currently
being
progressively
improved.
Ø From
the
academic
authori(es:
-­‐Interna(onal
coopera(on
are
reinforcing

9. Perspec;ves
Ø From
New
Genera(on
of
scien(sts
We
are
planning
to
radically
change
the
role
of
Math
&
Comp.
Sci.
in
Niger,
using
all
possible
resources
to
provide
concrete
mo(va(ons
both
for
learning
and
for
research.
A
first
example:
Geogebra
Ins(tute
of
Niger
(hZp://ig-­‐niger.refer.ne/)

10.
Conclusion
Ø Although
Niger
is
a
developing
country
with
modest
resources,
Math
and
Comp.
Sci.
are
making
progress,
due
to
na(onal
and
interna(onal
support.
Ø Efforts
should
be
made,
not
only
for
the
academic
development
of
these
disciplines,
but
also
for
their
effec(ve
contribu(on
to
the
development
of
the
country
and,
in
general,
of
all
mankind.

11. Help
us
build
Math
&
Comp.
Sci.
in
NIGER!
Thanks
very
much
for
Your
aXen;on!

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