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<title>EMS-CDC The European Mathematical Society Committee for Developing Countries</title>

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<h2>Emerging Regional Centres of Excellence (ERCE)</H2>

<table class="announcement">
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Information on the seven current ERCE centers is available in the links below. Congratulations to IMSP (Benin), UB (Botswana), UCA (Morrocco) and ITB (Indonesia) on being admitted to the ERCE scheme in 2016! <br>
<ul>
<li> 2013-17: <a href = "erce_cimat.php">CIMAT</a> | <a href = "erce_viasm.php">VIASM</a>;
<li> 2014-18: <a href = "erce_iasbs.php">IASBS</a> | <a href = "erce_inspem.php">INSPEM</a>;
<li> 2016-20: <a href = "erce_imsp.php">IMSP</a> | <a href = "erce_ub.php">UB</a>  | <a href = "erce_uca.php">UCA</a> | <a href = "erce_itb.php">ITB</a>.
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<p><img src="images/ems_erce.jpg" border="0" height="100" width="100" align=right> 
&nbsp; &nbsp; 
ERCE is a label of quality awarding those institutes that show an outstanding level in their own area of influence in research and education, being an attractor of students from other regions and countries. The label is granted for a period of 4 years with possibility of being renewed. The focus of this project is the education of students in the developed world to the Masters level and possibly PhD. <!--We aim to tailor our approach so that it is appropriate to the different levels of development that exist in different parts of the world. Our first call for interest went out in <a href = "erceadv10.pdf">2010</a>, another followed in <a href = "ercdadv12.pdf">2012</a>, and a third in <a href="erceadv13.pdf">2013</a>.</p>-->
</p><p>
&nbsp; &nbsp;  
To train mathematicians from the least developed regions to say the Masters level, it is neither efficient nor necessary to send them to institutions of the highest level. Indeed among the  emerging economical regions there are very good centres which can train mathematicians to the Masters level and higher. Indeed after obtaining a Master degree and equipped with strong background, the capable student can access any PhD program, within the region and beyond, say e.g. Europe.  
<!--
Among these we can cite many in Brazil, China, India, South Africa, 
Vietnam, etc.   
After the Master's degree, if the student is capable, 
then we can try to find ways of sending him or her to Europe to do a
Ph.D.-->  
</p><p>
Our successes so far have included, in collaboration with 
<a href="http://www.cimpa-icpam.org/">CIMPA</a>, the education of Cambodian students in Vietnam to Masters level; as well as the education of Indonesian students in Pakistan, at the <a href = "http://www.sms.edu.pk/">Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences</a> in Lahore.
</p><p>
It is important that institutes that play a central role in education at a regional leval are supported in their activity.
It is in this spirit that our committee has initiated a scheme of 
<b> Emerging Regional Centres of Excellence (ERCE)</b>.  The idea is for EMS
to select, endorse and help a number of such centres to offer training
to M.Sc. level to students from less developed countries in their 
region. Following the above encouraging examples, provided there are 
institutions in the emerging economies who are interested in 
participating, and with the backing of the EMS, our committee is 
confident that such a scheme can reap dividends.
</p><p>
In sum, ERCE centres play a crucial role in the mathematical education and the development of quality and resources at a regional level. Indeed the scheme serves  several goals at global, regional, and national level:
<ul>
<li>    the development of mathematical knowledge to Masters level;
<li>    raising the number of mathematically qualified people with academic and industry perspective;
<li>    increasing the visibility and prestige of the centre itself.
</p><p>
Our first call for interest went out in <a href = "erceadv10.pdf">2010</a>.  Since then a number of ERCE centres have been identified, see the top of the page. The list of criteria for participation in this scheme are:
<ol>
<li> The centre is of good scientific standing in the region 
       and neighboring regions.
<li> It has a good track record both in research and in pedagogy.
<li> The centre has a fairly international outlook.
<li> The centre has good, reasonably guaranteed long-term prospects.
<li> The centre is willing to admit and educate graduate
       students from less developed regions.  It should have the
       infrastructure to do so, e.g. the language of instruction should 
       preferably be in one of English, 
       French or Spanish. 
<li> The degree aimed at is M.Sc., and Ph.D. in exceptional cases.
<li> The centre is willing to welcome well-established 
       foreign visiting mathematicians for collaboration in research 
       and for teaching graduate courses.
<li>The centre should assist smaller centres nearby - the label should have a positive effect not only for the selected institution, but more widely for the development of mathematics in the region.
</ol>
</p><p>
Institutes matching all, or most, of these criteria are encouraged to apply. The advantages for the ERCE centres are:
<ol>
<li>    The label can add prestige and visibility to the centre, which will most probably attract more and better students. 
<li>    Often this will in turn attract funding from local and regional sources. 
<li>    The members of CDC will be there to give support and advice whenever needed. Since this will be considered part of our direct mission, they will get priority of our time and resources.
<li>    CDC will be on hand to help those of the students who might wish to and who are capable of continuing their studies after their M.Sc.
<li>    CDC will try to send experienced lecturers to give short or medium courses, e.g. by involving the <a href =  "http://www.math.osu.edu/~imu.cdc/vlp/">Volunteer Lecturer Program</a> sponsored by the <a href = "http://www.math.osu.edu/~imu.cdc/dcsg/activities.php">Developing Countries Strategy Group (DSCG)</a> of the <a href = "http://www.mathunion.org/">International Mathematical Union</a>, in cooperation with <a href = "http://www.cimpa-icpam.org/">CIMPA</a> and the <a href = "http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/biso/IMU/index.htm">U.S National Committee for Mathematics</a>. 
<li>    CDC will seek European hosts for researchers from these centres for visits or collaborations, or both.
<li>    CDC will make available small grants for members of the centres to attend conferences, when appropriate. 
</ol></p><p>
Thanks to this scheme, the ERCE centre provide education in less developed regions and will, in exchange, get help to further develop themselves. It looks to be a very advantageous scheme for all: at the same time, with relatively small expenditure a larger number of students can receive their first graduate education, in a culture not too removed from their own. This will be a practical and efficient way for mathematicians to help other mathematicians.
</p><p>
For information about the scheme: <a href = "mailto:cdc-chair@ems-cdc.org">cdc-chair@ems-cdc.org</a>.
</p>

<!--
The first label ERCE was attributed in 2011 to the 
<a href="http://www.sms.edu.pk/">
Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences</a> in Lahore, Pakistan. The ERCE label was awarded to two more institutions - Centro de Investigación en Matemáticas, Mexico (<a href = "http://www.cimat.mx/">CIMAT</a>) and the Vietnam Institute for Advanced
Studies in Mathematics (<a href = "http://viasm.edu.vn/?lang=en">VIASM</a>) - in 2013, and two in 2014 - Institute For Mathematical Research, Malaysia  (<a href = "http://www.inspem.upm.edu.my/">INSPEM</a>) and Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences, Zanjan, Iran (<a href = "http://iasbs.ac.ir/math/en">IASBS</a>). If 
we can get funding from the European Commission then we can 
help to build up the infrastructure of these centres in many practical 
ways.  But even without much funding, we can use our expertise and our 
connections to reinforce centres in many material ways. 
</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp;  
The advantages of such a procedure are threefold:<br />
<ol>
<li> It is cheaper in general to send a student to a nearby country
       or region.
<li> The student will be less disoriented, and in some cases, they
       may not need a higher European degree.
<li> The educating institution will gain experience and prestige.
</ol>
The label is given for a period of four years, renewable thereafter.
</p><p>
The list of criteria for participation in this scheme are:
<ol>
<li> The centre is of good scientific standing in the region 
       and neighboring regions.
<li> It has a good track record both in research and in pedagogy.
<li> The centre has a fairly international outlook.
<li> The centre has good, reasonably guaranteed long-term prospects.
<li> The centre is willing to admit and educate graduate
       students from less developed regions.  It should have the
       infrastructure to do so, e.g. the language of instruction should 
       preferably be in one of the main European languages (English, 
       French or Spanish). 
<li> The degree aimed at is M.Sc., and Ph.D. in exceptional cases.
<li> The centre is willing to welcome well-established 
       foreign visiting mathematicians for collaboration in research 
       and for teaching graduate courses.
<li>The centre should assist smaller centres nearby - the label should have a positive effect not only for the selected institution, but more widely for the development of mathematics in the region.
</ol>
<p>These criteria are flexible. We understand that there are good places, which offer visits to researchers from neighboring countries as well, with regular seminars, but the system does not allow to have a graduate school. This label may be offered to some of those institutes as well, if they are running well and serve the purpose of gathering scientists from neighboring countries. If selected, the centre will be labelled EMS-ERCE, initially for four years, and renewable subject to mutual agreement.
</p><p> 
The advantages for the centre are:
<ol>
<li> The label can add prestige and visibility to the centre, which will
       most probably attract more and better students. 
<li> Often this will in turn attract funding from local and regional
       sources. 
<li> The members of CDC will be there to give support and advice 
       whenever needed.  Since this will be considered part of our 
       direct mission, they will get priority of our time and resources.
<li> CDC will be on hand to help those of the students who might
       wish to and who are capable of continuing their studies after 
       their M.Sc.
<li> CDC will try to send experienced lecturers to give short or medium courses, e.g. by involving the 
	<a href="http://www.math.osu.edu/~imu.cdc/vlp/">Volunteer Lecturer Program</a> 
sponsored by the 
	<a href="http://www.math.osu.edu/~imu.cdc/dcsg/activities.php">Developing Countries Strategy Group (DSCG)</a>
of the 
	<a href="http://www.mathunion.org/">International Mathematical Union</a>, 
in cooperation with 
	<a href="http://www.cimpa-icpam.org/">CIMPA</a>
and the 
	<a href="http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/biso/IMU/index.htm">U.S National Committee for Mathematics</a>.  
<li> CDC will seek European hosts for researchers from these centres 
       for visits or collaborations, or both.
<li> CDC will make available small grants for members of the centres
       to attend conferences, when appropriate.  
</ol></p><p>  
Thanks to this scheme, the ERCE provides education 
in less developed regions and will, in exchange, get help to further 
develop themselves.  It looks to be a very advantageous scheme for
all.  At the same time, with relatively small expenditure a larger number of 
students can receive their first graduate education, in a culture not 
too removed from their own.  This will be a practical and efficient
way for mathematicians to help other mathematicians.
</p>

<b>ERCE Subcommittee of EMS-CDC: </b>
<i>
<a href="http://www.dm.unito.it/~fino/">Anna Fino</a>,  
<a href="http://folk.uio.no/giulian/">Giulia di Nunno</a>, 
<a href="http://alefwiki.losthive.net/index.php/Paul_Vaderlind">Paul Vaderlind</a>, 
<a href="http://www.mat.ucm.es/~bvitoria/">Begoña Vitoriano</a>.
</i>
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