Over December 25–28th, 2025, Al Akhawayn University (AUI) in Ifrane turned its campus into a meeting point for Morocco’s next wave of scientific talent, hosting the 3rd ‘Moroccan Tournament of Young Mathematicians (MTYM).’
Co-organized with Math&Maroc, the event brought together high school students from across Morocco for a research-style competition where students didn’t just solve problems; they built arguments, tested ideas, and debated and defended their results.
The enthusiasm for this event is also told in numbers after MTYM 2025 drew 1,012 applications nationwide. After a selection process and months of preparation, 185 finalists arrived in Ifrane as 44 participating teams.
The students came from 36 cities and 11 regions, with one participant joining from the Moroccan diaspora, another sign of how widely the latest tournament has resonated.
What makes MTYM different is its pace and purpose. Over almost three months, teams work on advanced, open-ended problems and prepare written solutions. The final phase at AUI then shifts into formal ‘scientific battles,’ where teams present, challenge one another, and respond under structured rules.
It’s a demanding occasion, but this is the point. The format rewards depth, clarity, and teamwork over quick answers.
AUI students and Math&Maroc members played a central mentoring role throughout the tournament, helping participants sharpen their reasoning and learn how researchers think. For many students, the week in Ifrane doubled as an introduction to university life as they experienced collaborative spaces, academic guidance, and conversations about what a future in science can look like.
MTYM 2025 also benefited from support through the African Engineering and Technology (Afretec) Network, a pan-African network led by Carnegie Mellon University Africa.
Afretec’s backing helped strengthen the initiative and reinforced its goal to build high-impact pathways for science, technology, and digital skills development across Africa.
AUI joined Afretec in 2024 as its eighth member, alongside institutions in Rwanda, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, and others. The collaboration is already translating into concrete opportunities.
Over the past year, AUI leadership took part in the 2025 Afretec annual conference in Dakar, where President Dr. Amine Bensaïd underscored Morocco’s commitment to inclusive digital growth. AUI has also been selected for a 2025 Afretec research grant, supporting its growing work in artificial intelligence, data science, and emerging technologies.
Dr. Rabie Zine, Academic Subject Lead of Mathematics at the School of Science & Engineering at AUI, commented:
“By hosting MTYM at AUI, we are proud to strengthen the mathematical skills of a new Moroccan generation, while developing valuable research talent, particularly in the area of AI, and fostering mathematical rigor to promote clarity in an increasingly uncertain world.
“This event also helps advance educational innovation through research at both pre- and post-baccalaureate levels, further inspiring young aspiring Moroccan scientists.
I’m additionally very happy to work with Math&Maroc on this initiative, which I am deeply passionate about and which serves the best interests of our country.”
By bringing MTYM back to Ifrane, AUI has reaffirmed its commitment to talent development and research-driven learning—while showing what’s possible when national partners and networks like Afretec invest in young people early.