University of Science and Technology of China(USTC) is one of the five best universities in mainland China. Established in 1958, the Department of Mathematics of USTC was chaired by Prof. Luogeng Hua (Loo-keng Hua), the well-known mathematician. A number of noted mathematicians, such as Zhaozhi Guan, Wenjun Wu (Wentsun Wu), Kang Feng, Sheng Gong, Yuan Wang, etc. taught here. In May 2011, the School of Mathematical Sciences was formally established and the first dean is the academician Zhiming Ma. The School of Mathematical Sciences is the first national base for science students’ education and key training base for doctors of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

It is known that France leads the world in research capacity and talents pool in mathematics. China and France have witnessed achievements in higher mathematics education thanks to their long-term cooperation. China-France Mathematics Talents Class(CFMTC) shall cultivate Chinese mathematics talents in accordance with a French training model of mathematics talents. 

CFMTC will be available to USTC freshmen who are in good standing. The class will admit about 25 students each year. The students will be taught by native French language teachers every week. The public courses remain as usual and physics will be taught specialized. From the second year, some mathematics courses will be taught by French famous mathematics professors. At least nine competitive students will be screened and selected to get scholarship and pursue Ph.D degree in France. 

CFMTC will be a new breakthrough for the School of Mathematical Sciences in talents training after Loo-keng Hua Class (another mathematics joint program in USTC). It will also be a big leap for USTC to build into a Double-First Class university (first-class universities and first-class disciplines).

(Fields medalist Laurent Lafforgue, the education director of the French side for CFMTC from 2019 to 2023, give a lecture at USTC. Image by Yue XU)

Education director