The Department recognizes that it is vital to foster links with mathematicians beyond the confines of the University. Strategic Objectives 1. Strengthen the existing interactions with other departments at institutions in the region and increase opportunities for regular meetings, common programmes and regional networking. Increase our undergraduate and postgraduate enrolment from Africa and further afield. Host, where appropriate, international conferences in areas of expertise of the Department and strategic importance.
People are social, perceptive creatures whose preferred way of learning is often experimental.
This is particularly true in the mathematical sciences. A simple two-dimensional blackboard representation is often not enough to do justice to many beautiful mathematical problems. The use of modern computer algebra systems, numerical simulations and multimedia, including the WWW can go a long way to enhancing understanding and provide a much needed link to situations of importance in everyday life. The shift from a traditional to a more interactive, dynamic and communicative learning environment has important implications for the instructor's teaching style, epistemology, and concept of students as an audience. The focus is now on the learner and authentic problems, and the instructor's role becomes one of facilitating discussion and exploration of a particular topic instead of presenting the bare facts on the blackboard.