FEASIBILITY STUDY REPORT on the Proposal of the Government Of
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FEASIBILITY STUDY REPORT On the proposal of the Government of Ghana to establish the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS-GHANA) As a category 2 institute under the auspices of UNESCO Ghana, 19-23 May 2017 By: Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga SC/PCB CONSIDERATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED CENTRE ESTABLISHMENT IN BIRIWA, GHANA, OF THE AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES (AIMS-GHANA) AS A CATEGORY 2 CENTRE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF UNESCO SUMMARY In response to the request of the Government of Ghana to establish the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS-Ghana) as a Category 2 Institute under the auspices of UNESCO, a feasibility study mission was undertaken in Ghana from 19 to 23 May 2017 by Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga (SC/PCB) to evaluate the feasibility and relevance of the pro- posed Category 2 Institute. Before the feasibility mission, a desk audit based on the Annual report of AIMS, the Strategy Document agreed upon between the Government of Ghana and AIMS, and the website of AIMS, together with the findings of the feasibility study missions provided the main purpose of the centre, which is to be a Pan-African centre of excellence in education and research for talented students from all over Africa. Specifically, it aims to: 1. prepare young African scientists for careers in mathematical sciences; 2. build capacity for African initiatives in education, research, and technology; 3. equip Africans with knowledge and skills needed to solve key issues of development in Africa; 4. provide an innovative and relevant curriculum within a unique 24-hour learning environ- ment. 5. increase, through teachers’ training programmes, the pipeline of students progressing into secondary and tertiary mathematical education, and to address the drop-out rate of mathematics students at all levels. The scope of the Institute is mainly regional and will contribute to the achievement of the Africa Global Priority of UNESCO. Additional specificities of the proposed Institute will be its dedication to stimulate innovation by providing a favorable environment for scientific cre- ativity, ICTs development, and entrepreneurship skill-building. The present document details the findings of the feasibility study and provides the scientific and institutional rationale behind the proposal of the Government of Ghana. The feasibility study was undertaken in accordance with the Integrated Comprehensive Strategy (37 C/18) approved by the General Conference at its 37th session. 2 CONSIDERATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED INSTITUTE Introduction and Background 1. The Government of Ghana has proposed the establishment, in Biriwa, Ghana, of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS-Ghana) as a Cate- gory 2 Institute, under the auspices of UNESCO, to promote excellence in the mathematical sciences and applications among brilliant African students, through innovative teaching and learning methodologies while using an in- terdisciplinary approach. 2. It is within this context that a feasibility study mission was undertaken in Ghana by Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga (SC/PCB) to provide findings on the scientific and institutional rationale behind this proposal. The feasibility study mission has also allowed the evaluation of the existing infrastructures of the centre, the programmes implemented by the centre, as well as permitted discussion with the current staff and students of the centre. Several meetings were held with officials of the Ministry of Education, the National Commission for UNESCO, the Univeristy of Legon, and of the AIMS-Ghana ; in particular with: • H.E. Mr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, Minister of Education • Edward Ayensu, Former Senior Advisor to the President of the Afri- can Development Bank • Thierry Zomahoun, CEO of AIMS • Francis Allotey, President of AIMs-Ghana • Moulaye Camara, Global Group Director of Operations of AIMS • Emmanuel Kessel, Director of AIMS-Ghana • Riche-Mike Wellington, Secretary-General of the Ghanaian National Commission for UNESCO. 3. Based on the feasibility study mission, it was clear that the vision of AIMS- Ghana is based on the following pillars: a) Science and technology are powerful forces for progress in global society and the global economy. For Africa to benefit fully from these forces it must build a strong indigenous capacity in both. b) Basic sciences, especially mathematical sciences, underpin most of modern life - information and communication technology, genetics, medicine, finance, demographics and planning. Without mathematical training, Africans will be un- able to access the full power of new technologies to solve their countries' con- cerns. c) Through its graduate programme and public outreach activities, AIMS- Ghana influences students' choices at the basic school and university level, drawing bright young Africans into mathematical and scientific careers. 1 d) Africa’s greatest resource is its people. Education empowers talented young people to contribute to their countries’ development, and is therefore the most effective investment in Africa’s future. The main objective of the proposed Category 2 Institute is to provide a high-standard of scientific and educational platforms for the development of the basic sciences and STEM education and research, intellectual and creative development, and support to the scientific potential of African youth, in view of the sustainable growth and develop- ment of the continent. 4. The Institute cooperates with higher education institutions, scientific establish- ments, and public entities; private structures - such as the University of Cape Coast, University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Herriot Watt University, Durham University, Nanyang Technological University and Kalstadt Univer- sity - contribute to the successful realization of its mission. The proposed Institute is also keen on extending its collaboration with the huge network of UNESCO Category 2 Centres and Institutes, ICTP, TWAS, UNESCO Chairs and the different affiliated centres in the domain of the basic sciences and STEM education, especially the ones located in Africa. 5. In response to this very timely and well defined proposal of establishment of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS-Ghana) as a Category 2 Institute, under the auspices of UNESCO, the Director-General gave her ap- proval for the feasibility study mission to assess the relevance, scope, objec- tives, strategies and governance of the proposed Institute, and its intended collaborative relationship with UNESCO. 6. The feasibility study was undertaken on 19-23 May 2017 in Ghana and was car- ried out in coordination with the Ghanaian National Commission for UNESCO. The feasibility study arrived to the conclusion that AIMS-Ghana meets all the criteria to become a Category 2 Institute under the auspices of UNESCO. Objectives of the Institute 7. The purpose of the proposed Institute is to train talented, young African scientists in mathematical science and its application within society. The Institute in- tends to cover a broad spectrum of activities in STEM education and re- search, with a gender- and environment-responsive design. The Institute will also promote innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and learning methodolo- gies, while improving the quality of science teaching and learning processes in all schools. As a result, AIMS-Ghana will contribute to the development of innovative and communication skills in science, preparing African youth to enter the challenging world of entrepreneurship. More specifically, the objectives of the proposed Institute are as follows: • prepare young African scientists for careers in mathematical sciences, with an emphasis on the societal concerns of the African continent; • build capacity for African initiatives in science education, research, and technology; 2 • equip Africans with the knowledge and skills needed to solve key issues of development in Africa; • provide the region with a favorable environment for capacity development in the basic sciences; • promote scientific excellence and innovation by developing new method- ologies and practical tools for experimentation, and to bolster STEM edu- cation and research on national and regional levels; • implement the necessary structures for self-sufficiency of scientific knowledge, experimental equipment, and other science teaching materials to make science teaching more practical; • establish a platform for innovation, knowledge-building, information and experiences exchange in the mathematical sciences, in collaboration with associated training and research institutions; • encourage learners, particularly girls and boys, to enter STEM fields; • foster the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge and skills in Africa. 8. The functions of the proposed Institute shall be mainly to train students in math- ematical sciences and provide innovative curriculum adapted to the needs of Ghana and Africa. Provide opportunities for regional capacity development, with a focus on STEM education and research for talented African women and men. Name of the Institute, location and infrastructure 9. The name of the Category 2 Institute should read as follows: African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS-Ghana) - Category 2 Institute under the aus- pices of UNESCO. 10. The proposed Institute will use the existing and future infrastructures of AIMS-Ghana, which is currently located in the scenic coastal town of Biriwa in the Central