International Graduate Training Center Program

The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences is creating International Graduate Training Centers (IGTCs) in strategically chosen areas of mathematics. Each of these centres will develop a specialized graduate programme at one or several PIMS universities. The programme will be developed in conjunction with PIMS scholars in relevant fields, and may include courses taken in other universities, as well as topical PIMS summer schools.

PIMS serves as a catalyst, by:

  • identifying the appropriate areas of mathematics based on their strategic importance and PIMS' relative strength
  • supporting the programme with summer schools, and bringing to them international students
  • arranging for distinguished visitors from partner institutions to teach in the programme
  • awarding graduate fellowships to the programme

 

After five years of operation, PIMS financial support to each IGTC will be reviewed, to enable new IGTCs to be opened in other strategic areas.

Each IGTC will turn the PIMS universities into an international hub for graduate studies in emerging and strategic areas of mathematics. Each of them will be supported by, and operate closely with, strong research groups, so that students and researchers from around the world who want to learn and explore these new mathematics will come to the IGTC. It is expected that at the end of five years, a successful IGTC will have become a worldwide centre of research, learning and training in its area.

The IGTC graduate training elements can include annual research summits, summer courses, new term-time courses, seminars, graduate student exchanges and graduate fellowships, and international visitors.

Faculty are encouraged to participate in the IGTC programme. In particular IGTC fellows' supervisors are expected to be actively engaged in helping to develop the IGTC programme so as to enhance the PIMS universities training capacity. Contributions from the supervisor can take the form of seminars, courses, mini-courses, workshops and related activities. The IGTC will help faculty ensure the accessibility of activities within the IGTC programme, including advertising, assisting with transfer credits, and providing travel funds as necessary.