Francis Duah
Assistant Professor
Department: Department of Mathematics
Phone: 416-979-5000 x544615
Email: f.duah@torontomu.ca
Education: BSc (London School of Economics, London, UK), PGCE (Institute of Education, University of London, UK), MsC (University of Southampton, UK), PhD (Loughboroguh University, UK)
Discipline: Applied Mathematics/Mathematics Education & Quantitative Social Science
Areas of Expertise:
- Academic Skills in the Mathematical Sciences
- Faculty-Student Partnership in Learning & Teaching
- Mathematics Pedagogy
- Mathematics Resilience
- Transitions in Undergraduate Mathematics
- Widening Participation in the Mathematical Sciences
Dr. Francis Duah joined the Mathematics Department in 2021 as an inaugural Assistant Professor in STEM Education Research. A Fellow of the UK Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications, Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, and a BSc graduate from the London School of Economics, Dr. Duah is a mathematician with multiple identities and a multidisciplinary background. He received his PhD in Mathematics Education from the Mathematics Education Department at Loughborough University, UK, and an MSc in Mathematics Education from the School of Education at the University of Southampton, UK. He held positions in the UK, including as the Mathematics and Statistics Skills Centre Manager at the University of York and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Chichester.
Dr. Francis Duah's research focuses on the learning and teaching of undergraduate Mathematics, Statistics, and Quantitative Social Science. His interests also extend to quantitative social and educational research and computational social science. He has been actively researching staff-student collaboration in undergraduate mathematics course design and delivery, peer-assisted learning in mathematics education, mathematics learning support and mathematics resilience, and transitions in undergraduate mathematics.
The context of his research doctoral thesis was a curriculum development project called the SYMBoL project based at Loughborough University. Dr. Duah now wants to draw on the experience and skills he gained from the SYMBoL project and the academic roles he has held over the last eight years to contribute to knowledge by widening participation in the Mathematical Sciences.
- Advance HE External Examiners Course - Certificate of Completion (external link)
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Scholarly Calling
Learning and teaching mathematics are so much fun that I wish everyone experienced them that way. Unfortunately, for many learners, joy is absent—not because of a lack of ability, but because of how mathematics is often positioned, taught, and assessed. These experiences are not evenly distributed: students from underrepresented, racialized, first-generation, and non-traditional backgrounds are more likely to encounter mathematics as a gatekeeper rather than an invitation. Seeking to understand and challenge these inequities led me to become a researcher in mathematics and mathematics education.
My work focuses on students’ transition from school to university mathematics, with particular attention to resilience, belonging, and access to mathematics. I examine how prior schooling, cultural narratives about who “belongs” in mathematics, and institutional practices shape students’ engagement—especially during the critical first year of university.
I do not expect every learner to understand every piece of mathematics, but I believe every learner deserves joyful, meaningful engagement beyond grades alone.
I want young people to know that mathematics is a profession worth exploring. It’s such a beautiful field. I hope to entice more youths from parts of Toronto to explore it. Math is often perceived as boring, but it is fun, and it is used to solve most of our society’s problems.
Related Content
For the latest updates, please visit the faculty page linked below.
Selected Media & Activities
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Dr. Francis Duah, in collaboration with the TMU Maths department hosts the Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest Award Ceremony for 2025 contestants. He has been voluntarily organizing the event since TMU became a host in 2023.
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Dr. Francis Duah is awarded CELT teaching fellowship to collaborate with students as partners in exploring the role of learning outcomes in teaching and learning.