Program Overview
The doctoral program in computer science initiated by the École Nationale Supérieure d’Informatique (ESI) in Algiers aims to train researchers and highly qualified professionals in computer science, while advancing knowledge in cutting-edge areas of the discipline. The ESI's LMD PhD program enables doctoral students to develop expertise in a specific research area and to gain a solid understanding of the scientific challenges in a second domain. Through this program, they acquire a rigorous scientific methodology and achieve a high level of competence in applied research, whether related to theoretical or practical problems in fundamental or applied computer science.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within this program is of particular importance. Machine learning, as a subfield of AI, enables researchers to develop systems capable of autonomously learning from and adapting to data. This skill is essential for achieving the program’s objectives, as it allows for the design and implementation of innovative approaches to solving complex problems, thereby fostering the emergence of new knowledge and technologies. Indeed, emerging techniques such as Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI), inverse problems, Green AI, and others will be explored to address challenges associated with complex issues in areas such as health, safety, and the environment.
Doctoral students are trained to achieve the intellectual autonomy necessary to design and apply innovative approaches, develop creative skills, operate in complex and evolving environments, adapt to rapidly changing technologies, engage in lifelong learning, and communicate effectively with the aim of disseminating knowledge. These competencies enable them to contribute to the advancement of the discipline and to the numerous innovations it inspires across other fields.
Moreover, doctoral research proposals are aligned with the priority research areas defined by the supervising authorities, with a particular focus on health and security. These priority domains aim to address critical societal challenges by leveraging information technologies to improve healthcare systems and enhance the security of computer systems and infrastructure.
For the 2024–2025 academic year, the third-cycle training offer in computer science focuses exclusively on a single specialization: artificial intelligence. This specialization has been opened with a capacity of 12 doctoral positions. It is supervised by a team of highly qualified faculty and researchers with recognized expertise in various fields of artificial intelligence, including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, intelligent systems, and optimization. The goal of this training is to prepare PhD students to actively contribute to scientific research and meet the growing demands of the sector in terms of technological innovation.
Before beginning the core research work related to their chosen topic—a standard and essential step toward obtaining a doctoral degree—new PhD students are required to follow a structured training program. This program, delivered during the first two semesters of the doctoral curriculum, aims to strengthen and expand their scientific and methodological knowledge. It equips them with the theoretical and practical skills necessary to successfully carry out their research, while introducing them to current challenges and recent advancements in their field of specialization.
