AIMS Master’s Course Proposals

This page allows you to submit a proposal for one or more courses which you would like to teach at an AIMS centre. There is some flexibility at each centre and some differences between centres’ specific programs. Programs are finalised in discussion with the Academic Director and, or the Curriculum Committee at each centre. Please read the following information carefully before proceeding to the form.

Closing Date

The AIMS Structured Master’s in mathematical sciences program commences in September each year at all centres. AIMS South Africa offers a second intake commencing in January for South African students. Prospective lecturers are advised to submit proposals by 28 February for courses in the program starting the following September (or January). Selection of courses will take place during March and April, and all proposers will have been advised of the outcome in early June.

Course selection

As there are many more course proposals than available course slots, the submission of a course proposal does not guarantee acceptance into the curriculum. AIMS governing bodies and management reserve the right to actively recruit additional lecturers and schedule other courses as required, to ensure a well-balanced course of the highest possible quality.

Master’s Curriculum

After an introductory week, the curriculum for the AIMS Master’s in mathematical sciences is divided into three categories: skills courses and review courses followed by a research project (where no formal courses are taught). These run in parallel with some continuous communication and computing classes presented by AIMS staff during all phases. Proposals are solicited for the skills and review courses. Each course will consist of 30 hours contact time (10 per week), that is approximately 15 to 18 hours lecturing with additional time (12 to 15 hours) for discussion and practical/tutorial work.

Skills courses are designed to provide introductory and foundational material to the students, and are structured to achieve pre-defined outcomes, with little flexibility in their content. The skills courses are usually taught in the period from the end of August to October. The order of these courses often varies.

Concepts in Physics and Physical Problem Solving
Scientific Computing with SciPy
Mathematical Problem Solving
Topics in the Mathematical Sciences: Probability and Statistics OR Topics in Analysis OR Combinatorics OR Algebra
Experimental Mathematics with Sage
Topics in Entrepreneurship and Professional Development

Review courses are fundamentally different in that they are designed to offer opportunities to teach on a wide range of topical issues. Lecturers thus have flexibility in designing their courses, subject to the guidelines set out below. Review courses will be taught from December through March. The three courses in each time unit are usually balanced with respect to focus on mathematics, physics and interdisciplinary topics.

You will be allowed to choose one or more time slots within which you would be prepared to teach your review course. The more time slots you are available for, the higher the chance of being selected.

During the Research project phase students work on a research topic with a supervisor.

AIMS encourages, but does not require cooperation between local and international lecturers. The form therefore permits you to enter the email address of a co-lecturer. AIMS provides several teaching assistants throughout the year. Still, in some (rare) cases, lecturers may wish to bring an advanced masters or PhD student of theirs along to assist, e.g. with a particularly challenging practical or computational component of the course.

For more information, contact teaching@nexteinstein.org