Teaching

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Over a couple of years, technological innovations have transformed financial markets at a surprising pace, and following the introduction of Artificial intelligence (AI), Machine learning, and blockchain, further disruption is on the way. My goal is to prepare students for dynamic and rapidly changing financial markets.

Given that many financial innovations and technologies plus more than 90% of all data available today is generated only in the last few years, our big challenge is that there is not much research, no reference book, and no structural syllabus for relevant type of new courses. So, how should we educate students and empower them to deal with the new and rapidly changing financial markets and paradigms?

I use two simple and very useful techniques in my classes:

First: questions are more important than the answers!

In fact, nobody knows the right answers to many questions about fintech and blockchain. However, once we set proper questions and proper way of thinking about these new subjects, we can learn and analyze them relatively much better.

Second: I motivate my students to learn new topics on their own by asking relevant questions and trying to find relevant data and information for those questions and present their questions and findings in a short, simple, effective way. This allows my students to learn new subjects through active engagement in a mutual learning process in an efficient and effective way of its kind.

In other words, I teach underlying economics of the existing markets and technologies. Then, I ask students to act as data scientists/or ad-hoc consultants, to ask relevant questions and explore publicly available data and interview start-ups to find relevant information and data for their questions, and finally present their findings in attractive, short, and efficient presentations (like mock pitching ideas to venture capitals).

A key component of my fintech and blockchain courses is the interaction between students and start-ups. To facilitate such interaction, I have networked with more than 70 fintech and blockchain start-ups, who are willing to intervene in my class discussions (for their visibility) and to hire my students as intern or new hires.

Finally, I use fintech and blockchain research findings from pioneer academic journals in my classes.

EXPERIENCES

NEOMA Business School

Blockchain Revolution (Master level), Coordinator and Instructor, Average evaluation: 4.1/5.0 (2018)

Some of Students' comments:

"A fun and educational course, very including and positive professor [...who] listen to students."; "He knows well how introduce us to a new subject."; "Modern and efficient"; "The professor does everything well... nice style."; " He managed to explain well and shortly difficult concepts... Efficient and pleasant"; "He is calm and confident."; "Dynamic and constructive"; "Good, interesting, he knows how to catch the attentions."; "Great and active"; "Teaching in a clear way."; " He explains very well his course."; "Serious and entertaining."; "He is really kind."; "He speaks English with a good accent and precise vocabulary"; "Great style"; "He explains well"; "Very interesting material seen in the class"; "Enthusiastic with the subject and the projects."; "Speaking in a clear English which allows us to understand the course."; "His explanation of blockchain protocol was very good!"

Capital Budgeting and Financing (Master level), Instructor, Average evaluation: 4.7/5.0 (2018)

Some of Students' comments:

"I have no interest in finance but this course was actually one of the most interesting of the whole semester"; "I like this course because the information was given in a way that made me think of it not just accept it. I was able to use my mind to understand the HOW and WHY of things"; "Explain the course clearly in a way that is structured and explain the origin and details about the concepts... too kind"; "Thanks for giving us broader perspective and for encouraging class participation."; "It was a pleasure to come in [this] class and learn new things with an enthusiastic person"; "A thoughtful professor who tries to help his students"; "Good + nice teaching style, patient and tolerant. Paying personal attention to students (ex. if explanations are needed)"; "Perfect"; "Very professional"; "100% satisfied, thanks a lot. The class made me considering a career in finance"; "Get the attention of students even when they are not interested in the subject"; "Everything was good, thank you for your efforts"; "very good teaching style and innovative method"; "Sympathetic and clear. Make students to progress"; "I appreciate the clear way he speaks English, which makes easier to understand the lessons"; "[The course] was awesome, great, unforgettable"; "The best teacher I had this year"; "Fun, nice, paying attention to students"; "Very pedagogue"; "I had a pleasure to attend this course"; "Good, fair, and structured"; "The professor really tries to involve students"; "He knows how to teach his discipline in a fun and interesting way"; "Teach us to be on time"; "He speaks English very well, & he masters his subject"; "Interesting subject, not boring classes because it combines theory with lots of practices"; " Explain the logic of we have in the slides, including formulas and definitions. he helps us to understand the course in a concrete way"; "Explains from where things come... makes you use your mind to find answers and not only accept it"; "It was a nice and rich semester with your subject"

Corporate Finance (Master level), Instructor, Average evaluation: 4.6/5.0 (2017)

Some of Students' comments:

"Very good professor: he knows his subject, teach it very well, and furthermore is a really nice person... nice mood during the class."; "Every time I ask a question, he will explain it patiently."; "He knows perfectly his subject and teach it in a really good way"; "Very enjoyable style, charismatic professor"; "He manages to keep us focus on his course... Dynamic and interesting... Do not change anything!"; "He explain the course very well and check frequently whether students follow."; "Talking in an easy way of complicated issues... Enjoyable."; " Dynamic, instructive, and fun"; "I spend a very pleasant time to learn corporate finance."; "We can ask for his help anytime... Pleasant and accurate."; "He is well organized in his course... A skillful professor who knows his subject and tries to adopt to the class."; "He is passionate and motivates students to listen even when they do not really like finance."; "He knows how to keep the class focus and quiet."; "Cool, easy to understand. It's a course I had pleasure to follow."

Corporate Finance I (Undergraduate level), Coordinator and Instructor, Average evaluation: 4.2/5.0 (2015), 4.6/5.0 (2016), and 4.6/5.0 (2017)

Some of Students' comments:

"Your course was very enjoyable and instructive. I think you are one of the rare teachers who are really sympathetic and nice to their students."; "I like the real world examples that you say"; "Good exercises in class... very helpful"; "I really like this type of teaching method"; "Organized, interesting, helpful, expert... Theory + Exercises, which helped us a lot"; "Encourages students to speak"; "Nice and Fun"; "He is a very good teacher that knows a lot about the subject."; "He knows what he talks about."; "The nicest teacher I had in NEOMA"; "I feel grateful to have had Prof. Aloosh in this semester"; "So Cool! and really kind"; "Very sympathetic teacher"; "I really liked to follow this course, because it was interesting, well-taught, and I learned a lot"; "He is punctual, quite well-organized, and attentive to students"; "He is very helpful and very good to explain, not only reading from the PPT like other teachers"; "Available anytime for anything"; "Nice and attentive"; "Very enthusiastic"; "Good atmosphere to work"; "Cool and relax environment of the class, good for work"; "He knows the topic well and is well-prepared"; "Cool and explicative"; "Thank you very much for your knowledge, patience, and smile!"

Introduction to Financial Markets and Products (Master level), Coordinator and Instructor, Average evaluation: 4.1/5.0 (2015) and 4.4/5.0 (2016), and 4.6/5.0 (2017)

Some of Students' comments:

"The professor gives us various supports for all what we need to fully grasp the core of the subject. His teaching style is fast, yet very clear and structured. He managed to relay the message. Also, he is open to his students' inquiries. I would like to thanks the professor for taking care of us during this semester. Also, I want to wish him a good luck! Ideally, I hope to have a chance to work with him again!"; "Trade simulation was interesting"; "Very knowledgeable"; "Good connection between the slides and the lessons"; "He is very friendly and willing to help us"; "Patient and being always nice to students' needs and questions... Excellent!"; "Good style, Charismatic"; "Just thank you! It will be easier if all the teachers at NEOMA were like you."; "Happy and motivated when he comes to class! Keep up the good work Sir!"; "Being calm and charismatic with a good pedagogy."; "I liked the way the professor teaches. He makes the subject very interesting." "He can explain really complex theories through simple examples. I learnt a lot about financial markets and portfolio management."

Columbia Business School

Advanced International Corporate Finance (Master level), Auditing, 2014

Asset Management (Master level), Auditing, 2014

PhD Seminar in Finance (PhD level), Auditing, 2014

Empirical Asset Pricing II (PhD level), Auditing, 2013

Behavioral Finance (PhD level), Auditing, 2013

Interntional Money and Finance (PhD level), Auditing, 2013

BI Norwegian Business School

Applied Valuations (Master level), Teaching Assistant, 2015

Investments (Master level), Teaching Assistant, 2011-2014

Multinational Corporate Finance (Master level), Teaching Assistant, 2011-2012

International Corporate Finance (Master level), Teaching Assistant, 2011

Nova School of Business and Economics

Financial Accounting (Undergraduate level), Teaching Assistant, 2009-2010