Water Demand Management Course Begins at Al Akhawayn

Ifrane, February 3, 2010 – Today Al Akhawayn University, the International Development Research Center in Canada, and the Arab Water Academy launch a three-day national training course on “Capacity Development for Better Integration of Water Demand Management in Responding to Water Scarcity in Morocco.” The course is taking place at the Al Akhawayn campus in Ifrane and includes 50 senior managers and professionals from government ministries and agencies, water utilities, private sector organizations, academia, and NGOs throughout Morocco. Among them are representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries, UNESCO, GTZ, USAID, the Office of Water and Forests, the National Office of Potable Water, the Center for Regional Investment of Meknes-Tafilalt, the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (France), and many others.

The course will address the different dimensions of Water Demand Management (WDM) in the context of Morocco to meet the following objectives:

• Analyze WDM benefits and trade-offs in the context of Morocco
• Enhance networking within Morocco and between the participating countries and facilitate dialogue between different stakeholders involved in the political economy of water
• Evaluate course material for further utilization and identify mechanisms for grounding the course in regional and national capacity-building efforts to benefit both water and non-water sectors.

The main issues to be addressed are as follows:

• Water demand and supply management in non-conventional water uses: example of wastewater treatment and reuse in Morocco; selected Moroccan national perspectives
• WDM as a governance issue: the challenges of decentralization and public participation in water management in Morocco
• Economics of WDM in rural and urban environments: economic incentives/disincentives towards water use efficiency, demand elasticity in complex social systems: the Moroccan experience
• WDM: beyond water efficiency; environment sustainability and social equity

To view the full program of the course, please click here.

Dr. Ahmed Legrouri elected member of the Board of Governors of the Arab Water Council

Dr. Ahmed Legrouri, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering, was elected member of the Board of Governors of the Arab Water Council for the period 2010-2012. The election took place during the General Assembly of the Council, which was held in Cairo, Egypt, on December 17-18, 2009.

The Board of Governors is the supreme authority of the Council. It sets the detailed policies and makes organizational and executive decisions to facilitate the work of the Council and its working bodies.

The mission of the Arab Water Council is to promote better understanding and management of the water resources in the Arab world in a multi-disciplinary, non-political, professional and scientific manner; to disseminate knowledge, and to enhance sharing of experience and information for the rational and comprehensive water resource development of the region for the benefit of its population.

www.arabwatercouncil.org

Prestigious PhD scholarships for former BTC students Khaoula Ichiba and Alaeddine Meghraoui

Two of AUI MS in Biotechnology graduates (Ms. Khaoula Ichiba and Mr. Alaeddine Meghraoui) got the FRIA scholarship for their PhDs in Belgium (1500 Euros/month for four years).

From all EC countries, only 144 applicants were awarded this scholarship and two of them are from AUI (see attached file). Also, our BTC master was the only one whose students were allowed to apply from outside Europe, thanks to the TEMPUS program.

SSE Organizes a One Day Workshop on Drugs and Pharmaceutical Industry

The School of Science and Engineering is organizing a one day workshop on Drugs and Pharmaceutical Industry for our Biotech students on Friday, 4 December 2009.

Some imminent speakers from both industry and academia will be giving presentations on drug development and pharmaceutical industry in Morocco, according to the attached program.

Dean Ahmed Legrouri Attended the Launch of the Arab Knowledge Report 2009 in Dubai:

Following an invitation from the Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF), Dean Ahmed Legrouri attended the Arab Strategy Forum 2009 in Dubai, which marked the launch of the first edition of the Arab Knowledge Report (AKR): Towards Productive Intercommunication for Knowledge. The invitation came to him as a member of the Advisory Board of the AKR.

The report is the fruit of a collaborative effort between MRBF and UNDP-RBAS. It is the first of a projected series of reports that address the state of knowledge in the Arab Region.  The ultimate goal is to identify opportunities related to the acquisition, production, creation, and deployment of knowledge, as a primary avenue for human development in the region.
Hard copies of the Report are available in the Mohamed VI Library. Both Arabic and English versions of the Arab Knowledge Report are given below in PDF format.

• The Arab Knowledge Report (Arabic version)
• The Arab Knowledge Report (English version)

AUI Launched the official Educative Website "http://citi.aui.ma"

AUI launched the official Educative website "http://citi.aui.ma", for science education at the college, conducted by the Center of IT Innovation for Human Development (CITI) in partnership with the Department of Education and the Korea Agency for International Cooperation (KOICA)On Nov 5th, 2009.

The Knowledge Sharing Workshop

In the context of implementing the IDB Program for Achieving Excellence in Higher Education, Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI), Morocco, and the Islamic Development Bank, organized a Knowledge Sharing Workshop from 2 to 4 November 2009 at AUI.

The workshop brought together participants from government institutions, throughout the Islamic world (countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference, OIC), as well as experts and specialists from OIC and non-OIC leading educational institutions to explore the topic “Achieving Excellence in S&T Higher Education”.

The goal of the workshop was to discuss and validate Roadmaps towards “Achieving Excellence in Science and Technology Higher Education in Islamic Countries”, including a General Roadmap and three Sector Roadmaps focusing on the areas of Nanotechnology (in the Asia region), Information and Computer Technology (in the Arab region), and Agriculture (in the Africa region).

Consultants have prepared in advance drafts of the four Roadmaps, which were discussed and expanded by the Workshop’s participants. The Roadmaps provided recommendations of approaches to be applied in order to develop strong educational programs in the corresponding areas.

Participants in the Workshop came from: Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Turkey, and Uganda. Representatives from these countries presented information on the current state of scientific and technical education in their respective countries. In addition, eight university representatives (from inside the OIC as well as outside) discussed their experiences and best practices in implementing science and technology education. The final Roadmaps will be published and distributed in order to spur development and assist countries throughout the region in improving scientific education.

>> For more information please visit the workshop website: http://www.educationdev.net/

Dr. Asma El Kasmi appointed Director of the Arab Water Academy

The Arab Water Academy appointed its first director, Dr. Asma El Kasmi, Former AUI professor and the UNESCO chairholder , UNESCO Chair "Water, Women and Decision-making", University Al Akhawayn, Ifrane. Prof Asma El Kasmi takes up the position on November 1st and aims to bring a wealth of international water education experience to the Academy...  

Launched in July 2008, the Arab Water Academy (AWA) was created with the aim of becoming a regional “center of excellence” for executive education in water. The AWA's focus is on strengthening the knowledge and skills of the Middle East and North Africa's decision-makers to address and manage effectively the region's water challenges. Initiated by the Arab Water Council (AWC), the Academy is based in the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi's (EAD) headquarters in Abu Dhabi, and is managed by International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA)

Below are some links about the launching of the program on the Diplomacy of Water:

http://www.ameinfo.com/211921.html
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2009/October/theuae_October260.xml&section=theuae&col=

IDRC Forest: Capacity Building Workshop

Al Akhawayn University organized a building capacity workshop titled: “Adaptive Management of Forest Resources and in Social and Gender Analyses” from on 20-24 July 2009 in the Board Room of Al Akhawayn University.In fact, Al Akhawayn University in close collaboration with the Ecole Nationale Forestière d'Ingénieurs, Salé, and partners in Algeria and Tunisia, received financial support for a research project from Canada’s International Development Research Center (IDRC).

This project aims to use a participative and adaptive approach in the management of forest resources.

Workshop program

The 16th Annual iEARN International Conference and 13th Annual Youth Summit at Al Akhawayn University

The Moroccan Education and Resource Network -MEARN and Al Akhawayn University co-organize the 16th Annual iEARN International Conference and 13th Annual Youth Summit at Al Akhawayn University from July 19 to 25. This is a gathering open to all, including those who have never worked in iEARN projects before. It typically brings together teachers, students, administrators, Ministry officials, and NGO partners from over 70 countries. It builds upon previous conferences in Argentina (1994), Australia (1995), Hungary(1996), Spain (1997), USA (1998), Puerto Rico (1999), China (2000), South Africa (2001), Russia (2002), Japan(2003), Slovakia (2004), Senegal (2005), the Netherlands (2006), and Egypt (2007).

The conference aims:

- To facilitate communication and develop partnerships between educators and youth locally, regionally and globally.
- To use communication technology in education to improve the health and welfare of the planet and its people.
- To improve student skills and quality of education.
- To establish institutional links among all partners of education.
- To support E-learning and professional development.
- To promote inter cultural dialogue.
- To share models for how educational telecommunications can be used to affect positive social, political and economic change, and address unmet human and environmental needs.
- To share successful classroom project examples that makes a meaningful difference, and ideas/models of curriculum/classroom learning enhancement.
- To demonstrate and provide hands-on experiences in leading technology.
- To encourage cross-cultural understanding through the use of different languages in project work, making a place for voices which are not usually heard, and exploring other ways of breaking down barriers.
- To enlarge the iEARN community to expand its global community of educators and youth leaders using telecommunications.

Some of the workshops, presentations and cultural activities you can expect are:

Including Youth with Disabilities in International Education
The Friendship Journey - Time to Change the World Global Education in the 21st Century
iEARN projects in Slovenian schools
Copy Right or Copy Wrong
Harnessing the Web 2.0 tools for education
Collaborative Learning
Learning Circles 2009
Team Development and Interpersonal communication
Report of 2009 NDYS (Natural Disaster Youth Summit)
International Professional Development Toolkit
Machinto...Do you Hear a Little Bird Crying? Project
My City and Me Project


Youth Summit Goals:

- To engage students and youth from countries around the world in active dialogue about the globe’s most pressing challenges.
- To provide a forum of mutual respect and understanding for participants from countries around the world.
- To build a network of highly achieving leaders around the globe.
- To promote inter cultural dialogue.

In addition to ongoing workshops and professional networking opportunities, the conference will include a cultural excursion day, allowing participants the opportunity to travel to the nearby cities of Fez, Meknes and Volubilis.

Contact :

Visit http://www.iearn2009.ma/ for more information.

Or contact us by e-mail at : info@iearn2009.ma , by phone : 212 537 77 73 58 or 212 661 234 330

We are looking forward to welcoming you to for an adventurous and exciting week in July!!

The 2009 iEARN Conference Team

The Summer University on Nanotechnologies

The School of Science and Engineering, in collaboration with INPT Rabat, ESIEE Paris, Summer University Paris, and Ribat Al Fath Association for Sustainable Development, is organizing the Summer University on Nanotechnologies which will be held in INPT Rabat on 6-9 July and at our University on 10 July 2009.

I would like to invite you particularly to the presentation, which will be given by Prof. Philippe Houdy from Evry University, France on Nanotechnologies. It will take place on Friday, 10 July 2009 at 10:30 AM in the Board Room.

Prof. Houdy is a nanoscience physicist. He published three books in the area of nanoscience; namely (1) Nanosciences: Nanotechnologies, nanophysics, 2005; (2) Nanosciences: Nanomaterials, nanochemistry, 2006; (3) Nanosciences: Nanobiotechnologies, nanobiology, 2007. He obtained the 2008 Roberval Price for his second book (Goncourt Price for Science). His books have been translated into English by Springer.

A description of the Summer University.

Kick-Off Meeting "Expérimentation participative et adaptative de modèles de gestion des ressources forestières dans la chaîne montagneuse de l’Atlas (Algérie, Maroc, Tunisie)

Al Akhawayn University, in close collaboration with the "Ecole National Foretière des Ingénieurs" (ENFI), received financial support for a research project from Canada’s International Development Research Center (IDRC). This project aims to propose avenues for the sustainable development of forest natural resources and skills in the rural area of the Province of Ifrane. The research aspects of the project on Morocco are coordinated by ENFI while the capacity building part is coordinated by us for the Maghreb region.

The action plan of this project and its objectives was presented at the kick-off meeting that wasorganized on Tuesday, 30 June 2009 in the Ifrane campus of ENFI, according to the preliminary program.

This event had witnessed the attendance the Governor of Ifrane, representatives of the High Commissariat of Water and Forests and the Ministry of Agriculture as well as the participation of several national experts and our partners and the project beneficiaries.

More information: A presentation note in French.

Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh to build a Cylinder Radio Telescope

The Cylinder Radio Telescope

Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA are collaborating in building and operating The Cylinder Radio Telescope. Both institutions will collaborate on the instrument design and on scientific interpretation of the results...

By building this radio telescope, which will map the sky ten times faster than any on the planet, Morocco will make world-leading contributions to Cosmology. The Cylinder Radio Telescope will address the issue that tops Science magazine’s list of the 25 key questions in science: “What is the Universe made of?”  In addition, the unprecedented volume of new data from the telescope will allow a search of the sky for new exotic objects like rapidly spinning stars, as well as stars that explode in a flash of radio waves. Astronomers and physicists from around the world will use the Morocco data.

==> Project Description

==> The program

SSE organizes the "Summer School on Nanomaterials" at AUI , May 31 - June 4, 2009

The School of Science and Engineering, in collaboration with partner institutions from Morocco and the Maghreb, is organizing the French-Maghrebian School on the Characterization Techniques of Nanomaterials at our University, May 31 - June 4, 2009. The last day of the school will be organized in Fez according to the attached program.

The opening ceremony will take place on Monday, 1 June 2009 at 10:00 am in the Board Room.

==>The program

Al Akhawayn University to Represent Morocco in the World Finals of Microsoft "Imagine Cup" Competition

AUI team composed of SSE students: Brahim Chami, Hassan Hijazi, Alami Ouali, and Nabil Zrigui, supervised by Dr. Hamid Harroud, won the Moroccan Finals of Microsoft Imagine Cup 2009, which took place in EMI, Rabat on Saturday, 16 May 2009. They will therefore participate to the Worldwide Finals that will be organized in Cairo, Egypt, on 3-7 July 2009.

The Imagine Cup is a global student technology competition focused on finding solutions to real-world issues. The competition encourages the world's most talented software designers, programmers, game developers, photographers and filmmakers to tackle the toughest problems facing the world today. This year's edition, which is the 7th, has as a theme: The world is asking for your help. Step up to the challenge!

Congratulations to the students, special thanks to Dr. Harroud, and the best of luck for the finals.

New Publication:

Dr. Kettani Driss and Asmae El Mahdi from the ICT4D Lab published “Proposition of a Roadmap to ‘eGovernement for Good Governance’ in developing countries”, in the Proceedings of the LOG-IN Africa e-Local Governance 1st International Conference , Cairo, Egypt. Printing Press: Editions Marocaine et Internationale (EMI), Tangier-Morocco 2009.

The African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) has sent a hardcopy of the proceedings to Mohammed VI Library.

A softcopy of the proceedings' Forwards available at: http://www.loginafrica.net/loginafricanew/download/Forwards.pdf

Al Akhawayn University represented at the ICTD2009 conference

Dr. Kettani, Asmae El Mahdi, and Asmae Mourhir showcased eFES system during the DEMO session of The 3rd IEEE/ACM International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development ( ICTD2009 ), held late April 2009 at Carnegie Mellon 's state-of-the-art campus in Doha, Qatar. eFES was among the 16 ICT projects selected to feature during the Demo session of the conference. Asmae El Mahdi was one of the few selected from 200 candidates who received ICTD2009 travel/participation scholarship. Except from AUI active participation, there was unfortunately absence of scientific contributions from the Arab World.

Speakers included a Keynote by William H. Gates, Chairman of Microsoft Corporation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Honorary Participants included Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation.

“ICTD2009 Platinum Sponsors were Qatar National Research Fund and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Canada.”

Dr. Adel El Zaim ( IDRC office at Cairo, Egypt), Dr. Michael Clarke ( IDRC office at Ottawa, Canada), and Dr. Driss Kettani and Asmae El Mahdi (Al Akhawayn University)

For more information:
http://ictd2009.org/program.html#demos1

Kick-off meeting on “Using Demand Side Management to Adapt to Water Scarcity and Climate Change in the Saiss Basin”
Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane Morocco, May 4-5, 2009

The School of Science and Engineering and the Sebou Basin Agency (ABHS) are pleased to announce a joint project with Canada’s International Development Research Center (IDRC) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) on Adapting to Water Demand Side Management (DSM) and Climate Change. The kick-off meeting gathered researchers who have experience in the DSM field.

For more information please read:

• Project description

Dr. Hassane Darhmaoui participated in a Panel Discussion about "Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the Urgent Program of National Education"
5th forum of Innovant Teachers "Partners in Learning"
organized by Microsoft and the Ministry of Education
Rabat, April 10, 2009

The Center of IT Innovation for Human Develeopeent (CITI) at AUI was honored during the 5th forum of Innovant Teachers "Partners in Learning"
organized by Microsoft and the Ministry of Education
Rabat, April 10, 2009

Project CITI, coordinated by Dr. Hassane Darhmaoui, received a recogition certificate from the Ministry of Education (MEN) during the opening ceremony of the 5th forum of innovant teachers organized by Microsoft and the MEN in Rabat last Friday April 10, 2009.
Mr Ahmed Khchichen, Minister of National Education and scientifique research et de Mme Latifa Laabidaet, State secretary in charge of scool education, attended the opening ceremony of the event and had a look at the achievements of CITI presented by a short video about the project and a demo of the application.
CITI pédagogic team from the two pilot middle-schools in the project also received recognition certificates. Both the pédagogic and technical teams of the project were invited to this event.

This recognition certificate reads:

Attestation de reconnaissance

Accordée à l'équipe technique du Centre d'Innovation en Technologie
d'Information de l'Université Al Akhawayn d'Ifrane
pour avoir participé efficacement au développement de contenu scientifique dans le cadre du projet
CITI
Février 2009

Siged by:
GENIE program director, Mme Ilham Laaziz
National Center of Pedagogique Innovation and Experimentation (CNIPE) director, Mr. Moulay Youssef Al Azhari.

Read More about CITI and its mission

AUI will be present at The 3rd IEEE/ACM International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development ( ICTD2009 )

Dr. Driss Kettani and Asmae El Mahdi were selected to publish their submission on “ Implementing E-Government Accessible to Illiterate Citizens” and to showcase eFez system during the DEMO session of The 3rd IEEE/ACM International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development ( ICTD2009 ), held 17-19 April 2009 at Carnegie Mellon 's state-of-the-art campus in Doha, Qatar. Confirmed speakers include a Keynote by William H. Gates, Chairman of Microsoft Corporation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The selection process was highly competitive: more than 80% of submissions for proceedings were declined; and out of 41 DEMO proposals, only 16 were selected.

For more information please see:

• http://ictd2009.org/program.html#demos1
• http://www.ictd2009.org/

Using Demand Side Management to Adapt to Water Scarcity and Climate Change in the Saiss Basin

The research project entitled “Using Demand Side Management to Adapt to Water Scarcity and Climate Change in the Saiss Basin” was approved for funding jointly by Canada’s International Development and Research Center (IDRC) and UK Department for International Development (DfID). The multidisciplinary research group, which is led by Dr. Ahmed Legrouri, is composed of faculty from the School of Science and Engineering and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of Al Akhawayn University. The “Agence du Bassin Hydraulique du Sebou”, led by its Director, has been working with the AUI team during all phases, including proposal preparation and implementation.

The Saiss Sub-Basin of the Sebou Basin in Northern Morocco is experiencing unsustainable levels of water overexploitation, due both to long-term decreases in precipitation and increases in water demand. Surface waters are greatly reduced, and at current exploitation rates of the aquifer will be completely depleted within 25 years.

New Publication: Dr. Abdelghani El Asli

Ethanol Production from Olive Cake Biomass Substrate Abdelghani El Asli 1, and Abdel-Illah Qatibi 2 1 Al Akhawayn University 2 Cadi Ayyad University Correspondence Abdelghani El Asli A.Elasli@alakhawayn.ma The inexpensive production of sugars from lignocellulose is an essential step for the use of biomass to produce fuel ethanol. Olive cake is an abundant by-product of the olive oil industry and represents a potentially significant lignocellulosic source for bioethanol production in the Mediterranean basin. Furthermore, converting olive cake to ethanol could add further value to olive production. In the present study, olive cake was evaluated as a feedstock for ethanol production. To this end, the lignocellulosic component of the olive cake was dilute-acid pretreated at a 13.5% olive-cake loading with 1.75% (w/v) sulfuric acid and heating at 160¡É for 10 min. This was followed by chemical elimination of fermentation inhibitors. Soluble sugars resulting from the pretreatment process were fermented using E. coli FBR5, a strain engineered to selectively produce ethanol. 8.1 g of ethanol/L was obtained from hydrolysates containing 18.1 g of soluble sugars. Increasing the pretreatment temperature to 180¡É resulted in failed fermentations, presumably due to inhibitory by-products released during pretreatment. ethanol, lignocellulose, fermentation, olive cake

Cooperation Agreement Concerning the Dual Degree Program
between Technische Universität München (TUM) and Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane

Al Akhawayn university in ifrane hosted the ceremony of signature of the renewal of a cooperation agreement between the Technical University of Munich in Germany and Al Akhawayn University. Our two institutions will also sign an academic exchange agreement about the dual degree program of master of science in computer science.

The agreement defines the framework for a double degree program between the School of Science & Engineering of AUI and the Faculty of Informatics of TUM.

This program allows students enrolled in the combined Bachelor of Science (BS) – Master of Science (MS) or MS only programs from the School of Science & Engineering of AUI and students enrolled in the Informatics master program from the Faculty of Informatics of TUM to simultaneously pursue the MS degree from AUI and the M.Sc. degree from TUM.
The following titles are awarded upon successful completion of the present double degree program:

• From AUI: BS and MS to AUI students. MS to TUM students
• From TUM: MS to both TUM and AUI students.

A research proposal accepted for funding by the International Development and Research Center -IDRC- Canada.

The research proposal submitted by the Research Group on Poverty Alleviation and Natural Resource Development, jointly with partners from the Maghreb, has by accepted for funding by the International Development and Research Center (IDRC), Canada.

The Research Group, which was formed in Fall 2007, is composed of faculty from the three schools: SHSS, SBA, and SSE.

The project titled: Expérimentation Participative et Adaptative de Modèles de Gestion des Ressources Forestières dans la Chaine Montagneuse de l’Atlas (Algérie, Maroc, Tunisie) was jointly prepared and submitted by Institut National de Recherche Forestière, Algeria, Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts, Tunisia, Ecole Nationale Forestière d’Ingénieurs, Salé, and AUI.

Projet OTAN Science pour la Paix SfP-982620
Sahara Trade Winds to Hydrogen: Applied Research for Sustainable Energy Systems

Dans le cadre des outils de coopération civile de l’Organisation du Traité de l’Atlantique Nord OTAN avec les pays partenaires du dialogue Méditerranéen, la Division Diplomatie Publique et Section des Programmes Collaboratifs de l’OTAN en charge du programme «Science for Peace and Security» finance des projets adressant une thématique prioritaire commune aux pays du dialogue Méditerranéen de l’OTAN.

A ce titre, l’Université Al Akhawayn a bénéficié d’un financement afin d’appuyer un projet de recherche appliqué portant sur l’intégration de systèmes énergétiques éoliens des vents alizés dans les faibles infrastructures électriques des régions sahélo-sahariennes, par le biais de synergies industrielles adaptées.

Une réunion de suivi de projet avec les institutions partenaires des quatre pays de l'OTAN (Etats-Unis, France, Allemagne, Turquie) se tiendra à l’Université Al Akhawayn d’Ifrane les 12-13 Février 2009. A cette occasion, l’ensemble des partenaires industriels et académiques du Maroc et de Mauritanie y sera convié.

Pour plus d'information veuillez consulter:

• Note de présentation du projet
• Programme de la réunion
• Communiqué de presse

Dr. Aziz Berrado recently attended the 5th international conference on Innovations in Information Technologies. The conference too place from 16th to 18th December 2008 at AL AIN in UAE. He presented a paper entitled "Clustering Massive Categorical Data with Class Association Rules". The paper was accepted for publication in the conference proceedings.

Congratulations Dr. Berrado!

The Center of IT Innovation for Human Development (CITI) News:

Dr. Hassane Darhmaoui was awarded "Best Practices" prize by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Rabat, Nov. 20, 2008. This is in recognition of the work achieved by the research, pedagogical and technical teams within the Center of IT Innovation for Human Development (CITI) at AUI. The awarded research project, which is currently coordinated by Dr. Darhmaoui, aims at integrating IT-based education in public middle schools.

About CITI and its mission:
CITI, whose mission is R&D in IT applications and tools that have direct positive impact on the average Moroccan citizen, is the outcome of a fruitful collaboration between the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and AUI. KOICA aims to promote international cooperation by contributing to the economic and social development of developing countries through grants aid. After the agreement signature between KOICA and AUI, in June 2006, CITI was fully equipped with high-tech IT equipment from Korea and has benefited from KOICA’s training programs and technical assistance in the field of IT based education. Mr. Rachid Benmokhtar Benabdellah, President of Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI) and His Excellency Mr. Yoo Jung-Hee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Morocco inaugurated CITI on the 28th of February, 2008.

Currently, CITI is exploring how IT-based education could improve both motivation and performance of middle school Moroccan students in three different topics: Mathematics, Physical sciences and, Life & Earth sciences. A large research team of 11 SSE faculty members are working closely with teachers and inspectors (pedagogical team)from two pilot middle schools in Fez and Ifrane. This research and pedagogical teams, together with CITI engineers and technicians, developed the experimental set up as well as many educational applications and course content. CITI also launched the experimental version of its collaborative website accessible via http://citi.aui.ma. The website offers a variety of tools and applications that help students and teachers use ICT in their learning (or teaching) process. These include white board, class lectures, interactive exercises, on-line quizzes, simulations, video clips, virtual labs, educational podcasts, forums etc. This experiment is the first of its kind in Morocco and the aim is to make all middle school students and teachers benefit from its results and by-products.

Dr. Mohammed Boulmalf attended the International Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing Conference (IEEE IWCMC 2008). This conference was held in Creta Maris Conference Centre, Crete, Greecein Auguts 6-8. He presented two papers (the two papers were published in the conference proceeding) and actually chaired one Session. "http://dropzone.tamu.edu/~xizhang/IWCMC2008/list.html".
He also participated as a member of the Technical Program Committee.

Dr. Mohammed Boulmalf also attended the IEEE Fifth International conference on Innovations in Information Technology "http://www.it-innovations.ae/" . held in Al Ain, UAE, December 16 -18, 2008. He presented one paper out of the two papers he had for this meeting and chaired one session. The two papers were published in the proceedings. He also participated as a memeber of the Technical Program Committee.

Congratulations Dr. Boulmalf!

Dr. Khalid Sendide gave a conference entitled "Drug toxicology" at the 6ème Ecole Franco Marocaine de Neuroendocrinologie" held on November 27-28, 2008 in Faculté des Sciences Dhar El Mehrez, University Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, Fès. This is an international school in its sixth year, and was organized in collaboration with GDRI Neuro, CNRST, INSERM, CNRS, Faculté des Sciences de Tétouan .

Dr. Sendide was also invited to give a conference on Tuberculosis vaccines at the Faculty of Sciences in Tetouan Last November.

Congratulations Dr. Sendide!

The 5th Congress of Scientific Research Outlook & Technology Development in the Arab World

The ICT4D Lab won " The Best Scientific Paper Award in the Conference of Information and Communication T echnologies" for their paper “ eFez: ICT4D Initiative Transforming Scientific Research to Value for the Development in Morocco " at the 5th Congress of Scientific Research Outlook & Technology Development in the Arab World ( http://www.astf.net/site/zone/zone.asp?ogzid=10245 ) (SRO5) organized by Arab Science & Technology Foundation (ASTF) ( http://www.astf.net/site/index.asp ) in cooperation with the Ministry of National and Higher Education, Professional Training and Scientific Research between 25- 30 October, 2008 in Fez, Morocco.

- The "eFez: ICT4D Initiative Transforming Scientific Research to Value for the Development in Morocco " by Dr. Driss Kettani and Asmae El Mahdi