African Institute for Mathematical Sciences

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The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is an educational institute in Muizenberg, South Africa, established in 2003. Students from all over Africa come to Muizenberg to complete a postgraduate diploma. Many of them continue to a Master's degree in science at a South African University; others return to teach, work, or continue their studies in their home countries.

AIMS was founded by Neil Turok, a Cambridge mathematician, in September 2003. Neil is the son of Ben Turok, an ANC MP living Muizenberg, and so had close ties with the town, which is a famous surfing area. A partnership was formed between the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, and University of Paris-Sud, as well as the three South African universities of Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape.

The goals of AIMS are to promote mathematics and science in Africa, to recruit and train talented students and teachers, and to build capacity for African initiatives in education, research, and technology.

The Institute is focussed around a nine-month, postgraduate course covering many of the most exciting areas of modern science, taught by outstanding African and international lecturers. The course develops strong mathematical and computing problem-solving skills and leads to a postgraduate diploma in the Mathematical Sciences, formally accredited by the three partner South African Universities and taught in association with the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge and the Division of Physical Sciences at the University of Oxford. Students with good mathematics, science or engineering degrees are invited to apply are supported on bursaries where needed.

The AIMS project is a concrete attempt to implement the New Partnership for Africa's Development ([1] NEPAD), the vision of South African President Thabo Mbeki and other African leaders.