Established in 2003, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is Africa’s first network of centres of excellence in mathematical sciences. They enable the continent’s youth to shape the continent’s future through Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) education- training Africa’s next generation of leaders. They have six centres of excellence across Africa- in South Africa, Sénégal, Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzania and Rwanda. The AIMS Next Einstein Initiative is working to operate fifteen centres of excellence across Africa by 2023.

AIMS is a call to action to:

• invest in STEM education to move Africa’sdevelopment forward
• increase collaboration between the public and private sector to prioritise STEM education in Africa
• encourage policy makers to push the agenda of STEM education in Africa for the transformation and sustainable growth of the continent, especially as it pertains to increasing the number of women in the STEM fields
• get Africa’s most talented students to pursue an education in mathematical sciences to innovate and propel Africa’s future.
• increase  partnership with industry to contribute to filling the skills gap in STEM, increase productivity and provide critical skills that are indispensable as Africa embarks on its industrial revolution

“We believe that the next Einstein will be African and that he or she will develop solutions that cross borders and change lives.”

What they do

AIMS is enabling Africa’s youth to shape the continent’s future through STEM education- training Africa’s next generation of leaders with the knowledge, skills, networks and culture of excellence needed for tomorrow’s world. They develop an ecosystem of pan-African transformation through:

Discovery and Technological Advances: AIMS researchers are tackling, through multidisciplinary approaches, research topics that challenge fundamental concepts and high-end research (fundamental research and quantum science). For example, they are working in partnership with the Government of Rwanda to launch Quantum Leap Africa (QLA) in Kigali, a world class centre for scientific research and innovation.

Industry and Economic Advancement: AIMS is putting Africa’s brightest minds to work. The AIMS Industry Initiative seeks to maximise the opportunities and potential for mathematical sciences to contribute to African economies through human capital, knowledge transfer and applied research for scientific and technological excellence. The initiative links mathematical sciences to the needs of industry as they focus on filling the skills gap in Africa.

Lifelong Learning and Inspiration: AIMS is committed to building the pipeline of students progressing to secondary and tertiary mathematics and science education, and to decrease the failure and drop-out rate of mathematics students at all levels. Through innovative pedagogical approaches, the use of technology, and continually updated curricula, the AIMS Teacher Training Program, offered in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is focusing on strengthening the mathematics teacher capacity and building the pipeline of mathematics and science students in Africa by providing as many them as possible with a quality education in maths and science, investing in the future thinkers who will lead Africa’s development.

Scientific and Technological Excellence: AIMS develops scientific, technical and entrepreneurial competence by creating a critical mass of well-rounded scientists with excellent problem-solving skills, capable of creative thinking and genuine innovation. The Next Einstein Forum (NEF), launched in 2013, is a platform that brings together relevant stakeholders, from the scientific and academic sector, governments, policymakers, science funding agencies, industry, media and civil society to showcase the remarkable progress that Africa is making in science. By creating a community of scientists, NEF is catalysing action to translate these scientific advances into human benefit. The NEF Global Gathering 2016 was held in Dakar, Senegal, under the patronage of President Macky Sall and President Kagame. More than 1000 global scientific and industry thought-leaders, political leaders and young scientists attended the gathering to establish a clear roadmap of how Africa will transform by leveraging science, technology and innovation. The next Global Gathering will be held in Kigali, Rwanda in 2018.

AIMS PILLARS:

TRAINING

By providing full scholarships, AIMS provides Africa’s most talented students the opportunity to earn a Masters’ in Mathematical Sciences. They learn from world-class lectures in a 24 hour learning environment.

• Their focus is to invest in human capital in science, technology and research innovations for the transformation of Africa. Some of ourcore areas of focus include big data, data analytics and modelling.
• Their faculty is composed of an international body of experts, both from Africa and abroad, including Nobel Laureates and Fields Medalists.
• Through the AIMS Co-operative program, AIMS enhances the competencies of students and graduates, providing the opportunity to gain real world experience with international and local partners which will enable them to make a notable impact on Africa’s economic, academic and governmental capacity.

RESEARCH

Through the dynamic environment of AIMS research centres, staff and visiting scientists thrive and young scientists find exciting opportunities as they learn to become critical thinkers

• Through the AIMS Research Chair Programs, AIMS fosters hubs of innovative scientific discovery that generate solutions-oriented research for real world problems through international shared-research which endeavours to reverse the African brain drain.
• AIMS also offers small research grants and post-AIMS research support.
• AIMS will also host Quantum Leap Africa (QLA), a world class centre for scientific research and innovation in Rwanda.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

Global research has demonstrated the power of mathematics and science to fuel economic growth. AIMS public engagement programs spread the word about the ways maths and science can help to build a better future for all.

• Through the AIMS Women in Stem Initiative (AIMSWIS), AIMS is dedicated to accelerating progress for African women in STEM through evidence-based reporting and advocacy, leveraging increased investments, adoption of best practices, engaging men and collaboration across African women in the STEM pipeline
• AIMS regularly speaks at international forums about the link between mathematical sciences education and thetransformation of Africa, including the World Economic Forum,the African Development Bank Annual Meetings, AAAS and e-Learning Africa.
• AIMS organises public lectures, local teacher workshops, masterclasses and special events for learners, and promotes the formation of maths clubs in schools.

Why they do it

Mathematics underpins most of modern life, from information and communication technology, to genetics, medicine, finance, demographics and planning

• Africa’s greatest resource is its people. There can be no more effective investment in Africa’s future than in education, which empowers talented young people to contribute to their country’s development and be better equipped to fight the multidimensional causes of poverty.
• To go “beyond potential”, Africa needs a STEM trained workforce, one that works on Africa’s key sectors such as agriculture and food production, resource development and clean energy, public health and illness prevention, but also finance, information technology, and telecommunications. No African country lacks talented potential mathematicians. But without increased investment and more conducive education policies, few of these will a reach their potential
• Science and technology are powerful forces for progress in global society and the global economy. For Africa to benefit fully fromthese forces it must build a strong indigenous capacity in both.
• STEM education is key to finding solutions for African and global challenges.