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Summary Report on the ASP2020 Site Visit to Morocco

April 8, 2019

1 2 3 4 B. S. Acharya ,​ A. Arhrib ​, K. A. Assamagan ,​ M. Chabab ,​ R. Cherkaoui El ​ ​ ​ ​ 5 6 7 5 8 9 Moursli ,​ A. E. Dabrowski ​, L. Elouadrhiri ,​ F. Fassi ,​ M. Gouighri ,​ M. Mansour ,​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 10 11 12 5 13 R. Mazini ,​ S. Muanza ,​ H. Severini ,​ Y. Tayalati ,​ and H. B. White Jr. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

1 ​ICTP, Trieste Italy & King’s College London, UK

2 A​ bdelmalek Saadi University, Tangier Morocco

3 B​ NL, Upton New York USA

4 C​ adi Ayyad University, Marrakesh Morocco

5 ​ University Mohammed V in Rabat, Rabat Morocco

6 C​ ERN, Geneva Switzerland

7 J​ efferson Lab, Newport News Virginia USA

8 I​ bn Tofail University, Kenitra Morocco

9 ​Sultan My Slimane University, Beni Mellal Morocco

10 A​ cademia Sinica, Taipei Taiwan

11 C​ NRS-IN2P3, Marseille France

12 U​ niversity of Oklahoma, Norman Oklahoma USA

13 F​ ermilab, Batavia Illinois USA

The authors of this document are the “ASP2020 Site Visit Delegation” which comprises members of the IAC, IOC and LOC.

Introduction

Approximately one year before the start of each edition of ASP, the IOC organizes a site visit to the host country. The objectives of the site visit are to

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discuss the organizational, logistical and financial aspects with the LOC, identify where improvements should be made in the logistics and develop a concerted planning toward a successful ASP.

After several discussions between the IOC and the LOC of ASP2020, it was agreed to make the site visit on March 31–April 6, 2019. The choice of the date resulted from several considerations, namely the availability of LOC and IOC members, and of local government and university officials. The program of the visit was as follows:

- Rabat on March 31–April 3, for meetings and discussions with central government and university officials as well as leaders of major national research institutes, to inform and motivate a national support for ASP2020; - Marrakesh (the venue of ASP2020) on April 3–6, for a review of the logistics and infrastructure associated to lodging accommodations, university facilities (lecture and experimental halls, educational equipment and computing), and meetings with university officials.

At Rabat

In the morning of the April 1, ASP2016 student alumnus Mounia Laassiri defended her PhD thesis at the Mohammed V University. The thesis was on “Neutron Signals Non-negative Tensor Blind Source Separation: Application to Neutron/Gamma Discrimination”. The international delegation was invited to the thesis defense. At the end of the defense proceedings, Ms. Laassiri was

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awarded the doctorate degree with honorable mention. Dr. Laassiri joined a growing list of former ASP students that have attained the doctorate degree after their participations in ASP.

In the afternoon of April 1, two meetings were organized at the “Centre Nationale pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST)” and at the Mohammed V University.

At the CNRST, the Site Visit Delegation was received by J. El Alami, Chef de Département des Affaires Scientifiques et Techniques. After a brief introduction, we presented the ASP project, in particular the objectives of ASP2020 and the request for in-kind and financial supports. Mrs El Alami recommended that a short document be submitted on ASP2020 with budget details in order to inform the CNRST on the type of budget items to support through the universities. Mrs El Alami also offered to reach out to the AUF—Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie.

Later that afternoon, we met with Prof. M. Rhachi, the President of Mohammed V University. Also present during the meeting—from Université Mohammed V—were Prof. M. Dafir El Kettani le Vice Président chargé de l’Organisation du Système d’Information and Prof. I. Kassou le Vice Président chargé de la recherche et de la coopération. Prior to this meeting, LOC Coordinators had already discussed ASP2020 extensively with the President. We started the meeting with an overview of the history and the education and research priorities and impact of the university. This was followed by a presentation and discussion of ASP2020, in particular the choice of Marrakesh as the host institute.

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On April 2nd in the morning, we met at the “l’Académie Hassan II des Sciences et ​ Techniques”. The Permanent Secretary of the Academy, Prof. O. Fassi Fihri, was present to welcome the delegation; he then offered apologies for having to leave early for another engagement. In his absence, he was represented by Prof. R. Cherkaoui El Moursli, a Resident Member at the Academy, and the Director of ​ Science at Academy Prof. A. Hoummada. We discussed the scientific program ​ ​ ​ and the activities planned for ASP2020, and we obtained a pledge from the ​ Academy to support PhD students. LOC Coordinators will follow up with the ​ ​ Academy to secure a significant financial support for PhD students. It was ​ recommended at this meeting that the Minister of National Education, ​ Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research be informed of the teachers’ workshop planned during the ASP2020 in order to solicit feedback on its focus and emphasis. The workshop for teachers would be of a particular ​ importance for teachers’ training on innovative approaches to an efficient education. The teachers’ program should be coordinated with the Minister of ​ ​ National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research in all its aspects, including the selection of the participating teachers. The issue of customs duty on education equipment, for ASP2020, shipped from abroad was discussed and we were informed that a procedure is in place to receive education equipment duty free; however the IOC must inform the LOC a few months in advance. At this meeting, the possibility of Morocco becoming a permanent sponsor of ASP—along with South Africa—was raised and received favorably, and it was suggested that a prior MoU between the ASP Organization and its sponsors would help expedite this process. We were further informed, by Prof. Hoummada, that the African Union had created the African Council of Science and Innovation (ACSI), for which Morocco is responsible for

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communication. The academy proposed to help facilitate contact with the ACSI in order to bring ASP to the attention of the AU—the academy might extend an invitation to the IOC at an ACSI meeting planned in the fall 2019 in Morocco.

nd Later in the morning of April 2 ,​ we met with Prof. Mourad El Belkacemi and ​ Prof. H. Tabyaoui, respectively the Dean of the Faculty of Science and with the Vice Dean in charge of pedagogical affairs at the Mohammed V University. The Dean pledged support for ASP2020.

nd In the afternoon of April 2 ,​ we had two official meetings. The first one was with ​ Dr. Mohamed Tahiri, the Director of Higher Education and Pedagogic Development at the Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher ​ Education and Scientific Research. Because of the heavy agenda of the ​ Minister, it was not possible to meet him; as a result, the Minister was presented ​ by Dr. Tahiri who pledged support for ASP2020 considering the fact that the ​ LOC Coordinators had already submitted a proposal to the Office of the Minister ​ in December 2018.

After the meeting with Dr. Tahiri: ● Anne Dabrowski visited the Embassy of South Africa and the Premier Secretary took note of the school and its priority for South African Capacity development and networking in Africa. They have requested to be kept informed on the planning and intend to send a representative to attend the forum, should resources allow. They are willing to provide additional help or advice should the organizers need.

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● Steve Muanza visited the French Embassy to seek participation and support for ASP2020. He is expecting feedback.

In a parallel development, Yahya Tayalati had contacted the Moroccan American Commission for Educational & Cultural Exchange (MACECE) about ASP2020. K. Assamagan, L. Elouadrhiri, H. Severini and H. B. White will follow up and discuss further with MACECE.

nd Later in the afternoon of April 2 ,​ we met with Dr. André Azoulay, a Senior ​ Advisor to the King Mohammed VI of Morocco. We explained the ASP project goals and key performance indices, and we discussed specifically ASP2020; Dr. Azoulay indicated that we have the support of the King’ Palace. We requested that the organization of ASP2020 be under the auspices of the King, and Dr. Azoulay advised on the steps to take to make that happen—the LOC Coordinators, working with other LOC members, will prepare the request through the Minister of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher ​ Education and Scientific Research. ​

Journey from Rabat to Marrakesh

On Wednesday April 3, the international delegation and some members of the LOC journeyed by train or car from Rabat to Marrakesh.

At Marrakesh

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rd Upon arrival in Marrakesh in the afternoon of April 3 ,​ the Site Visit Delegation ​ checked into the Imperial Plaza Hotel which is the suggested hotel to host ASP2020 students. The Site Visit Delegation wanted to stay at this hotel in order to check if it will be suitable for ASP2020. The hotel is within walking distance to the Physics Department and the price that was agreed upon with the hotel management fits within budget. However: 1) The internet connection was not stable or was weak on some of the floors or rooms; 2) The bar on the ground floor of the hotel was too noisy in the evenings until 1am (except Sundays), and radiated cigarette smoke. The noise from the bar could be heard all the way up to the fifth floor depending on the locations; 3) Other things such as non-working or not enough electrical outlets, desks, bedding configuration, locks or air conditioning could be easily fixed before ASP2020 starts upon discussions with the hotel management. The issues 1) and 2) were brought to the attention of the LOC, to discuss with the hotel management in order to find a satisfactory solution; in case of non-agreement, the LOC will seek another hotel.

In the morning of April 4, the Site Visit Delegation inspected the lecture rooms, the auditorium and computer rooms. Lecture rooms with capacity of 90 persons—and smaller ones of 55-person capacity—are available and judged adequate. The auditorium, with a capacity of 420 persons, was tested for sound quality and found to be perfect for the ASP Forum and Conference. Computer rooms equipped with up to 150 desktops—and smaller ones with ~55 desktops—are appropriate for the students’ and teachers’ programs. All these rooms are air-conditioned.

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The Delegation also made a tour of the computing facilities and the meeting with the IT representative of the university went well. The main computer lab has enough desktops ('thin clients') to accommodate all users at the school. We will have one or several CentOS7 servers available for the school, which will be directly accessible from the desktops via X11 clients, and every student will get their own user account, so will be able to avoid a Windows desktop environment. We will get remote root access to the CentOS7 servers in early 2020 so we can install and test all required software. We will require all lecturers to make sure that their software runs properly on CentOS7. We will also get user accounts on the CNRST HPC system in Rabat, which is currently in the integration phase to support ATLAS jobs. The HPC/HTC exercises could be planned to run there.

The Delegation had lunch on site, catered by the service provider that will cater lunches and coffee breaks during ASP2020. The dining hall can be configured to the desired capacity and is within walking distance of the lecture or computing rooms and the auditorium. The quality and quantity of the lunch served was deemed appropriate and within budget.

After lunch, the Delegation visited one of the university clubs that has lodging, a restaurant and a recreational facility for swimming, tennis, basketball or leisure walk. Such a facility may be suitable for lecturers, organizers or conference participants with families.

Later in the afternoon of April 4, we met with Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof. Moulay Lhassan Hbid. He thanked us for choosing the University of

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Marrakesh as the host. He also thanked to Prof. Chabab and the LOC for their efforts on the ASP2020 preparation. He expressed support for ASP2020 and pledged to do his best to make ASP2020 a success. He suggested that we should think about making an international Master’s program available from the school. After a brief introduction, we presented our plans for ASP2020. We summarized for the Dean all the visits that we’ve had in Rabat so far. ASP2020 comes to Morocco at a good time, as it enters into the strategic vision of Morocco toward the rest of Africa. It was suggested, during the meeting that student projects be developed at the beginning of the school to be wrapped up

rd in the 3 ​ week of the school or later after the school. ​

In the evening of April 4, Prof. Chabab invited the Site Visit Delegation for dinner at his house. It was a great Moroccan dinner, shared in the spirit of friendship and professional bonding for concerted efforts towards ASP2020.

In the morning of April 5, we met with the President of Cadi Ayyad University, Prof. Abdellatif Miraoui, the vice President of Scientific Research Prof. Kamal Tajeddine, the Vice President of International Relations Prof. Fatima-Zohra Iflahen, the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Prof. Moha Taourirt, the Director of the National School of Applied Science Prof. Mohammed Ait Fdil, and the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Science Semlalia Prof. Mohamed Alaoui Talibi. President Miraoui said that he was honored to receive the Site Visit Delegation. The President confirmed his commitment to support ASP2020, and he also pledged to seek other sponsors such the OCP SA (a major phosphate mining company), and the Royal Air Maroc which may be approached to cover a number of air tickets for some ASP2020 participants. We presented slides—on ASP—prepared in French by Kétévi Assamagan. We

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informed the President that at ASP2020, we would like to mark the 10th ​ anniversary of ASP during the 2020 Forum. The President suggested to the Site Visit Delegation that modules / courses be developed in English, in digital format, as prototypes for African universities to increase or improve e-lab and e-learning capabilities. The president argued that given the low ratio of number of instructors to number of students, and in the light of the progressive increase in the number of students, we need to adapt the methods of delivering educational instructions by empowering students to learn by themselves through e-learning and e-lab. The President said that this issue of low ratio of number of instructors to students is not just in Morocco but it is a general issue for Africa. Therefore, if ASP organizers could come up with e-lab and e-learning prototypes that could be implemented across Africa, that would be a significant impact of ASP.

After lunch on April 5, the Site Visit Delegation held a debriefing meeting where Kétévi Assamagan presented this draft summary report and a few slides to review and discuss the major action items resulting from the site visit.

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