A new documentary produced by the United Nation’s Institute of Labour Organisation (ILO) and the African Institute for Mathematics Sciences (AIMS) showcases the work of Masters students under the supervision of Professor Corina Constantinescu.
Whilst on sabbatical with the International Labour Organization’s Social Finance Programme, Professor Constantinescu, who is Director of the University’s Institute for Financial and Actuarial Mathematics, designed a number of MSc projects that aligned with the ILO’s research themes in social finance.
Eight students from AIMS Rwanda undertook these MSc projects under Professor Constantinescu’s supervision and were able to apply their mathematical skills to complex, real-world problems in the field of social finance.
WATCH: The documentary about this collaboration called `Fusion of Minds Documentary’ has been produces by the ILO and AIMS.
Professor Constantinescu, who has taught and supervised students at the African Institute of Mathematics Sciences for the past five years, said: “I am delighted that this collaboration has been showcased in this way. Our collaboration was mutually beneficial, with the students providing insights and diverse viewpoints potentially leading to novel approaches and findings in the field of social finance.
“This experience advanced the ILO’s research objectives and provided an exciting academic opportunity for the students, which is likely to have a lasting influence on their future careers.
“This work is already informing the policy direction of the ILO’s Social Finance Programme and is a truly fantastic example of the potential that can be unleashed when education and social finance come together to drive positive change in the world.
“I would like to thank my colleagues from the International Labour Organization’s Social Finance Programme for their full support and engagement with the student projects, as well as my co-supervisors, Dr Kira Henshaw, who was at the University of Liverpool at the time, and Dr. Munir Hiabu from the University of Copenhagen
The University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the African Institute for Mathematics Sciences (AIMS) in 2021.
The partnership fosters new research collaborations between Liverpool academics and leading African scientists, supports the development of the next generation of scientists in Africa, and enables Liverpool academics to spend time working at AIMS centres.
Professor Constantinescu with all the students she taught during her sabbatical in Rwanda