Mardoché Ayitchéhou recently received his Masters in mathematics, economics, and statistics, at the African School of Economics (ASE). At the end of his ASE predoctoral program, he won a scholarship to continue his doctoral studies at the University of Pittsburgh. For the 2022-2023 academic year, Mardoché Ayitchéhou will enroll in a thesis program in the economics department of the prestigious University of Pittsburgh based in the United States of America.

According to the scholarship holder, this success was made possible thanks to the training program of the African School of Economics. The quality of the training received in fundamental and applied economics coupled with the intensive training in English have enabled the laureate to be a competitive candidate for international PhD programs. In addition, Mardoché believes that

“by participating in the ASE predoctoral program, I had the privilege of being supported in the process of applying to doctoral programs, from preparing for the TOEFL and GRE tests to the submission of my application files, such as sending letters of recommendation”;

During his Master’s degree at the African School of Economics, he acquired skills in economic analysis as well as improved his level of written and spoken English. The University of Pittsburgh scholar has had teaching experience, including assisting teachers with some courses and being a research associate on some projects. This is demonstrated by his research residency of about two months that he carried out at the Oslo Peace Research Institute as a visiting researcher and representative of the African School of Economics.

Also admitted to Pennsylvania State University, he provides justifications for his choice of the University of Pittsburgh. According to Mardoché Ayitchéou, the existence of laboratories called Pittsburgh Experimental Economics Lab (PEEL) and the Behavioral Economics Design Initiative (BEDI) within the economics department of the University of Pittsburgh motivated his choice. These two laboratories make Pittsburgh a destination of choice for any economist passionate about behavioral economics and experimental economics. In addition to these two areas of study, Pittsburgh also offers the opportunity to specialize in other disciplines such as development economics.