Mathematicians join the Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence on the eve of the initiative’s inaugural conference
The Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence in Mathematics (CoRE-Math) has been selected as the 21st CoRE to join the initiative led by The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild). The academic co-leads of the CoRE-Math will be welcomed into the fold by around 200 participants at the inaugural CoRE conference taking place from 30 September to 2 October, hosted by Stellenbosch University.
CoRE-Math aims to develop a collaborative PhD programme in mathematics that delivers high-quality, sustainable training to meet the demand for well-trained mathematicians in academia and society. This mission is aligned with the innovation and technology priority area of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda for achieving the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and the AU’s Agenda 2063. The collaboration currently includes partners from 16 organisations based across 12 countries, including universities that are part of The Guild and ARUA, other universities and representatives from private industry.
The CoRE builds on the Eastern Africa Universities Mathematics Programme, which was established in 2002 to provide collaborative, mobile postgraduate training. In this new phase, the programme will become part of the CoRE-Math collaborative activities with the new title Europe Africa Universities Mathematics Programme (EAUMP), signalling their expanding ambition to operate in all parts of Europe and Africa, welcoming excellent collaborators and addressing a wider spread of demands from societies in all parts of Europe and Africa.
The inaugural CoRE conference will gather academics from over 49 institutions spread across over 27 countries in Africa, Europe and beyond. They will all be gathering in-person and online to discuss their experiences from the first year of the CoRE initiative, make concrete plans for the years ahead and also engage with African and European policymakers also attending to show how the CoREs are already contributing to the AU-EU Innovation Agenda.
Jan Palmowski, Secretary-General of The Guild: “Built on two decades of equitable partnership between African and European researchers, and we are delighted that CoRE-Math will take this experience to a new level of transcontinental and transdisciplinary collaboration. There is a huge need for research expertise on Mathematics in academia and business. We are excited not only about the quality of the new Cluster and its dedication to strengthening the field of mathematics, but also about its huge potential to collaborate with other Clusters. CoRE-Math will not just add an outstanding cluster to the Africa-Europe CoREs – through its experience, energy and expertise it will make the whole initiative stronger!”
John Gyapong, Secretary-General of ARUA: “The CoRE-Math represents an exciting addition to the scope of collaborative research in STEM, particularly in Africa, where the contribution of Mathematics has not been prominent. This transnational and multidisciplinary CoRE will be critical in reshaping research and training on the continent and significantly complement ARUA’s goal of revolutionising doctoral training on the continent.”
CoRE-Math contact details
Co-leads:
John Mango Magero, Associate Professor and Inter-Network Coordinator for the Europe Africa Universities Mathematics Programme (Makerere University)
Bengt Ove Turesson, Head of the International Science Programme and Director of the International Programme for Mathematical Sciences (Uppsala University) Webpage: https://www.the-guild.eu/africa-europe-core/Mathematics.html
To learn more about the CoRE initiative, Click Here.
