Charity profile

The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is a pan-African network of centres of excellence for postgraduate education, research and public engagement in
mathematical sciences. Its mission is to enable Africa’s brightest students to
flourish as independent thinkers, problem solvers and innovators capable of
driving Africa’s future scientific, educational and economic self-sufficiency.

AIMS South Africa was founded in 2003 as a partnership project of the following six universities: Cambridge, Cape Town, Oxford, Paris Sud XI, Stellenbosch, and Western Cape. Since then AIMS centres have opened in Senegal (2011), Ghana (2012), Cameroon (2013, Tanzania (2014) and Rwanda (2016).

Why AIMS?

• Science and technology are powerful forces for progress in our global society and drivers of the global economy. For Africa to benefit fully from these forces it must build a strong indigenous capacity in both.
• Mathematics underpins most of modern life – information and communication technology, engineering, genetics, medicine, finance and planning. Without mathematical training Africans will be unable to access the full power of new technologies to solve their countries' problems.
• Through its graduate programme AIMS is training a pan-African network of top mathematical talent.
• Through its public engagement activities, AIMS influences choices at school and university level, drawing bright young Africans into mathematical and scientific careers.
• 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 countries' development.

To date 706 students (34% women) from 37 different African countries have graduated from AIMS South Africa alone. Across the AIMS network this total stands at 1513 from 43 African countries of whom 32% are women. AIMS alumni are working in academia, industry, and are shaping policy for the continent’s growth. 137 are currently teaching mathematical sciences at the secondary and tertiary level in Africa, 221 have gone on to complete PhDs whilst a further 213 PhDs are in progress. 355 students have completed research Master’s and 149 are in progress.

Donors include private individuals, foundations and trusts who are committed to improving science on the African continent.