As the 2025/2026 academic year draws to a close, the Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences (SIMS) looks back on a year shaped by curiosity, collaboration, innovation, and purpose. Across classrooms, research centres, student initiatives, partnerships, and community programmes, SIMS continued to show how mathematical sciences can move beyond theory to address real-world challenges. It was a year that reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to developing graduates who are not only technically competent, but also prepared to lead with integrity, analytical depth, and a strong sense of impact.

Research remained at the heart of this journey. Guided by faculty supervisors and lecturers, master’s students contributed to emerging conversations in science, finance, technology, and society through research aimed at solving pressing problems. Among the notable submissions was Hybrid Deep Learning for Anti-Money Laundering: Unsupervised Detection of Emerging Schemes via Feature Fusion and Explainable Artificial Intelligence. The study explores how artificial intelligence can strengthen the detection of increasingly sophisticated money laundering schemes, reflecting the Institute’s commitment to research that is both academically rigorous and socially relevant. Innovation also found its place on the global stage.

During Responsible Management Week, held from 28th June to 1st July in Cairo, Egypt, a multidisciplinary team comprising two SIMS students and two students from the Strathmore School of Computing and Engineering Sciences (SCES) represented the University as finalists at the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN PRME). Selected from 40 submissions worldwide, the team presented Cleanvestia, an innovative solution aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the global call to develop responsible leaders. For the final-year students, the recognition affirmed the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in responding to contemporary challenges.

The Institute also celebrated another successful chapter in the CFA Institute Research Challenge. Building on the legacy of last year’s Kenyan champions, who now graduate from the University, the 2025 team reclaimed the national title, demonstrating the continuity of excellence nurtured within SIMS. As the team advances to compete against peers from Europe, Asia, and the United States, they carry forward Strathmore’s tradition of applying financial analysis to inform investment decisions on a global stage. Beyond competitions, students continued to create practical learning opportunities for themselves and others.

Earlier this year, the Strathmore University Finance and Financial Economics Students’ Association (SUFFESA), working alongside the Strathmore University Foundation, launched the SUFFESA Investment Fund. Conceived and led by students, the initiative seeks to cultivate practical investment knowledge while generating resources to sustain student-led programmes such as Elimisha Stratizen. More importantly, it gives students a rare opportunity to engage firsthand with the principles, responsibilities, and long-term discipline required in managing an investment fund.

The academic year also marked an important milestone with the launch of the Master of Science in Economics programme. Officially introduced in March, the programme welcomed its inaugural cohort in May, broadening the Institute’s academic portfolio while contributing to three key institutional aspirations: Transformative Student Experience, Transformative Staff Experience, and Impactful Research and Innovation. The programme represents another step towards developing economists equipped to address Africa’s evolving economic realities through analytical thinking and evidence-based policy. Growth within SIMS was also strengthened through strategic partnerships.

Through the Strathmore Centre for Value Investing (SCVI), collaborations continued to deepen financial literacy within and beyond the University. Working closely with the Strathmore Investing Club, SCVI created spaces where students gained practical exposure to investing and capital markets. Its partnership with the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) further extended these conversations to the wider public, encouraging informed participation in Kenya’s capital markets and promoting long-term financial independence through investing.

Complementing these efforts was the Centre’s Money Mind series, which became a platform for meaningful conversations between students and industry leaders. Throughout the year, Chief Financial Officers from NSE-listed companies shared insights into corporate finance, leadership, and decision-making, drawing directly from their organisations’ annual reports and professional experiences. These engagements helped bridge classroom learning with industry practice while exposing students to the realities of financial leadership.

SIMS also continued to live out Strathmore’s commitment to service through community-based learning. In collaboration with the Strathmore Community Service Centre and SCES, the Institute continued implementing a literacy and numeracy programme targeting learners in underserved primary schools. Integrated within the University’s Service-Based Learning approach, the initiative reflects the belief that mathematical education should not only advance knowledge, but also contribute meaningfully to communities where foundational learning remains a challenge. The year was also enriched by distinguished visiting scholars whose contributions strengthened teaching, research, and academic discourse.

Through the Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) programme under the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), Professor Joseph P. Kaboski and Professor Felipe Sáenz delivered guest lectures for the Master of Science in Economics programme. Professor Balázs Szendrői engaged staff and students through lectures on Representation Theory, while Professor Andresa Lagerborg of the International Monetary Fund led discussions on The Macroeconomics of Defense Spending, Conflicts, and Recovery as part of the World Economic Outlook seminar series. These engagements continued to strengthen the Institute’s global academic networks while exposing students and faculty to diverse perspectives.

This year’s graduation also marks a significant moment in regional collaboration. Three students from Ghana will graduate from SIMS master’s programmes through the Mobility for Research and African Integration through Health Sciences (BRAINS) mobility programme, which supports fully funded postgraduate study across African institutions. One student completes the Master of Science in Mathematical Finance and Risk Analytics, while two graduate from the Master of Science in Statistical Sciences. Beyond student mobility, the programme has also facilitated faculty exchanges, allowing academic staff to spend time at partner institutions, share expertise, and return with new perspectives that enrich teaching and research at Strathmore.

Looking ahead, SIMS continues to deepen its research capacity through strategic collaborations. A notable development this year was the signing of a partnership with Mathematica Global, creating new opportunities for collaborative research, academic exchange, and innovation for both students and faculty. As the academic year concludes, these milestones tell a story that goes beyond individual achievements. They reflect an Institute steadily building a culture where research informs practice, partnerships create opportunity, innovation addresses societal needs, and education transforms both individuals and communities.

Together, they reaffirm the Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences’ commitment to shaping graduates and scholarship that make a lasting impact in Africa and beyond.

Article written by Cyrus Muthumbi, Faculty Manager, Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences.