Mathematics and Reform in the Arab World Lotfi Hermi

1. Mathematics and Reform in the Arab World Lotfi Hermi Presented at the AMS Panel, “International Perspectives on Teaching Mathematics at the Undergraduate Level”, San Antonio, TX 15 Jan 06

2. About universities in the Arab world… • Modern universities and colleges are young • 75 % of Arab universities were established in the last 25 years of the 20th century • 57% of these universities are less than 15 years old • Colonial authorities initiated compulsory (yet limited) modern education

3. Findings of the UN Arab Human Development Report 2003 • Universities lack clear vision and absence of well-designed policies regulating the education process • lack autonomy (“nation building”) • quantitative expansion at the expense of quality (population explosion)

4. Findings of the UN Arab Human Development Report 2003 • Favorable attitude towards Mathematics … a source of pride, the fusion of Eastern and Western knowledge pools in an Arab tradition that cherishes learning

5. Findings of the UN Arab Human Development Report 2003 • The way science and mathematics developed historically in the Arab world is a source of inspiration on ways to reform. • Scientific curricula in the Arab world do not differ much from those in other countries • Curricula in the Arab world encourage submission, obedience, subordination and compliance, rather than free critical thinking • Emphasis on the need for quality education, especially in science and math

6. Some Positive Aspects about Math Education in the Arab World • Seriousness from University administrations to reform/improve levels by reviewing curricula and introducing CAS systems into Mathematics series • Partnership with other universities around the world to exchange experience • Awareness about gender issues • Partnership with UNESCO and the business world • UNESCO Cairo Office struck a deal with Wolfram Research Inc. to base the price of Mathematica on the 17 Arab countries gross domestic product and the number of students who can use the software. This will drive the price down from more than $ 1,000 in the United States to about $ 10 in Arab states • Partnerships with Microsoft (Yemen/Oman) and Intel (Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt) to integrate technology into the classroom

7. ESSEC Tunisia

8. Business school, teaches in French • Founded in 1998 (part of the University of Tunis system founded in the early 60s) • Student Body: 4200, with 62.4% female. An average of about 700-800 new students each year. Emphasis on the need for quality education, especially in science and math Reform in these areas could help the region move forward and catch up with developed nations Students and parents alike do not think mathematics is a useful field of study Being in the limelight forces many states to think reform in education policies, develop measures for quality of education UNESCO Cairo Office struck a deal with Wolfram Research Inc. to base the price of Mathematica on the 17 Arab countries gross domestic product and the number of students who can use the software. This will drive the price down from more than $ 1,000 to about $ 10 in Arab states • Emphasis on the need for quality education, especially in science and math • Reform in these areas could help the region move forward and catch up with developed nations • Students and parents alike do not think mathematics is a useful field of study • Being in the limelight forces many states to think reform in education policies, develop measures for quality of education • UNESCO Cairo Office struck a deal with Wolfram Research Inc. to base the price of Mathematica on the 17 Arab countries gross domestic product and the number of students who can use the software. This will drive the price down from more than $ 1,000 to about $ 10 in Arab states • Emphasis on the need for quality education, especially in science and math • Reform in these areas could help the region move forward and catch up with developed nations • Students and parents alike do not think mathematics is a useful field of study • Being in the limelight forces many states to think reform in education policies, develop measures for quality of education • UNESCO Cairo Office struck a deal with Wolfram Research Inc. to base the price of Mathematica on the 17 Arab countries gross domestic product and the number of students who can use the software. This will drive the price down from more than $ 1,000 to about $ 10 in Arab states

9. Themes Taught: • Analysis: Limits, Continuity, Derivatives, Taylor Series, Techniques of Integration, Multivariable Calculus, Sequences and Series • Linear Algebra: Vector spaces, Linear operators, Matrices, Determinants, Linear systems, Diagonalization, eigenvectors and eigenvalues, Cayley-Hamilton Theorem • This is good mathematically, but it does not prepare students for a competitive business world. Emphasis on the need for quality education, especially in science and math Reform in these areas could help the region move forward and catch up with developed nations Students and parents alike do not think mathematics is a useful field of study Being in the limelight forces many states to think reform in education policies, develop measures for quality of education UNESCO Cairo Office struck a deal with Wolfram Research Inc. to base the price of Mathematica on the 17 Arab countries gross domestic product and the number of students who can use the software. This will drive the price down from more than $ 1,000 to about $ 10 in Arab states • Emphasis on the need for quality education, especially in science and math • Reform in these areas could help the region move forward and catch up with developed nations • Students and parents alike do not think mathematics is a useful field of study • Being in the limelight forces many states to think reform in education policies, develop measures for quality of education • UNESCO Cairo Office struck a deal with Wolfram Research Inc. to base the price of Mathematica on the 17 Arab countries gross domestic product and the number of students who can use the software. This will drive the price down from more than $ 1,000 to about $ 10 in Arab states • Emphasis on the need for quality education, especially in science and math • Reform in these areas could help the region move forward and catch up with developed nations • Students and parents alike do not think mathematics is a useful field of study • Being in the limelight forces many states to think reform in education policies, develop measures for quality of education • UNESCO Cairo Office struck a deal with Wolfram Research Inc. to base the price of Mathematica on the 17 Arab countries gross domestic product and the number of students who can use the software. This will drive the price down from more than $ 1,000 to about $ 10 in Arab states