OUR IMPACT

The transformation of Africa is underway and AIMS is attracting the continent’s most talented students to pursue an education in mathematical sciences to innovate and propel our future.

Training

• AIMS has graduated more than 1,500 students since the opening of its first centre, 31 per cent of them are women, from 43 African countries.
• AIMS annual output of graduates has increased six-fold since 2010 (55 to 300)
• In June 2016, 82 students (including 59 women) who graduated from AIMS were MasterCard Foundation Scholars.

Based on the 748 alumni who had graduated by December 2014, more than 82 per cent were furthering their study or securing employment opportunities within six months of graduation.

More than 300 alumni (40 per cent) had completed or were currently pursuing a doctoral degree, and 247 alumni (33 per cent) were employed in the private, public or civil society sectors. More than 60 per cent of AIMS graduates are active in Africa with 131 graduates teaching at universities in 26 African nations. This is an indication of AIMS graduates’ commitment to devoting their knowledge and capacity to Africa.

Prof. Fall: Research

Prof. Mouhamed Fall is AIMS Sénégal’s Endowed Chair in Mathematics and its Applications funded by the German Government (via the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation) and a NEF Fellow.

Part of his research work driven by his PhD student Mr Kwabena Owusu (AIMS Ghana graduate) is geared at addressing a key food security challenge in Sénégal within the fishery sector.

In his research, he is working directly with fishermen in Mbour to collect data and to apply mathematical concepts in game theory to produce research-based evidence that will inform fishery practices and policies in Sénégal.

Co-Operative Program

AIMS Industry Initiative interns have worked on transforming waste products into energy at Ikagel, a Sénégalese fishery company, modeled traffic problems in Dakar for GENHY consulting, and modeled food insecurity for Group Sonatel.

Other industrial problems tackled by AIMS alumni include mitigating air blasts in mines, minimizing materials wastage in manufacturing, and optimizing airline scheduling.

Dr. Kimpolo: Training/Coop and Public Engagement

Dr. Charles Lebon Mberi Kimpolo, 2005 AIMS Graduate.

Upon graduation, he went on to earn his PhD and postdoctorate in mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Currently, Kimpolo is one of five AIMS Alumni working at ThoughtWorks, a global IT consultancy company based in South Africa.

ThoughtWorks aims to revolutionize software design, creation and delivery, while advocating for positive social change.

Dr Kimpolo has developed a passion for using technology as a tool for social change in Africa, and launched The Young African Technologies (YAT) initiative which aims to promote education through technology in under privileged communities.

Research

574 papers have been published by AIMS Alumni since 2004*.

From 2010 to 2014, researchers affiliated to AIMS Research Centres published a total of 191 papers* (*Source – Techonopolis 2015, Scopus)

Dr. Oni: Public Engagement and Research

Dr. Tolullah Oni, NEF Fellow, public health.

Oni is working on establishing the Research Initiative for Cities Health and Equity (RICHE), an interdisciplinary research program for urban health research in Africa.

The RICHE program will be a platform to address urban health inequity and to identify creative strategies to address complex population health and broader societal challenges through a coordinated and intersectoral partnership between academia, civil society and government.

Public Engagement

Through the AIMS Schools Enrichment Centre (AIMSSEC), our experts have trained more than 1,700 educators in practical skills to strengthen mathematical sciences among young African students.

Teacher Ntlonti: Public Engagement and Teacher Training

Ms. Zikona Ntlonti, Teacher, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

In 2002, Ntloni enrolled for the Mathematical Thinking, Problem Solving and Technology in Teaching and Learning Mathematics with AIMSSEC, and passed the short course with a merit.

Between 2013 and 2014 she enrolled for the advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) with AIMSSEC in partnership with the University of Fort Hare and passed the two-year course with a distinction.

The skills she learnt from the AIMSSEC courses boosted her confidence in presenting workshops for educators and she began InterSen mentoring sessions in her district, piloting with 2 circuits; each with 30 schools and she also conducted Grade 9 Spring School for the pilot circuits.