Imperial has secure a £500,000 grant from the Maths Degrees for the Future programme.
Launched by the Campaign for Mathematical Sciences, the programme is intended to create 'next-gen' degrees that connect foundational mathematics to key applications in AI and data.
Maths graduate numbers are forecast to drop by a fifth between 2030 and 2035, raising concerns of a growing skills gap in areas the UK is relying on for growth: AI, climate science, fintech, and national security.
Imperial will use the grant to strengthen the computational and collaborative focus of its degrees. The enhanced degree programmes will incorporate interactive computational tools for writing mathematical proofs, bringing students closer to the forefront of research.
Investing in maths education
The Wakeling report for the Campaign for Mathematical Sciences last year showed that there is a shortage of specialist maths teachers, with just 63% of maths teacher training spaces filled in 2023-24, a figure predicted to worsen on current trends. To help bridge this gap Imperial will be using resources from the award to offer new modules in mathematics education to train the next generation of mathematics teachers.
Professor Jens Marklof, Chair of the Campaign for Mathematical Sciences, said, "Maths Degrees for the Future offers a vision and a pathway to providing the maths skills that the nation is going to need in the years and decades ahead.
"The projected fall in the number of maths graduates and the ongoing shortfall of specialist maths teachers are punctures in the pipeline of maths talent.
"So we decided to take action and help create a new generation of mathematics degree programmes. The campaign has been delighted by the large number and high standard of the submitted proposals. Our expert panel faced a tough choice! The five institutions receiving funding have put forward transformative ideas and we are excited to see how the programmes bed in and develop and to share their successes with the wider mathematical sciences community."
The strength of an Imperial's maths offer
Professor Ian Walmsley, Provost of Imperial College London, said: "Maths is a fundamental discipline for Imperial – it shapes how we think, explore, and innovate. To lead in transformative areas like quantum technologies and AI, we need a strong, inspiring path for students to grow their mathematical talents. This generous grant opens that path even wider, it will empower more students to build their skills and pursue careers where they can truly make a difference."
Professor Axel Gandy, Head of the Department of Mathematics added: "At its frontiers, Mathematics is changing rapidly as we take advantage of developments in Computing and AI. This grant will enable us to embrace these changes by reshaping our programmes by incorporating new interactive proof systems, and by strengthening their computational and collaborative aspects.
"By making a library of resources openly available to the community, we will empower the next generation of researchers, practitioners and teachers of foundational mathematics."
The other universities to share in the grant are: Cardiff University, King's College London, the University of Nottingham, and The Open University.
