The engineering degrees offered in our faculty have a broad background in basic science with a two-year common plan and a solid presence of mathematics courses. On average, researchers in the CMM give 40 classes per year in the common plan with an annual through put of approximately 3.500 students. This fact translates into a large impact on the education of new engineers, who benefit from the experience in basic and applied research that the CMM’s members have. On the other hand, the objective of the undergraduate degree program in mathematical civil engineering imparted by the Department of Mathematical Engineering (DIM ) is to provide a solid grounding in applied mathematics that will enable our graduates to confront complex engineering problems by formulating and solving models using advanced mathematical tools. In recent years, enrollments in the degree have increased significantly which has resulted in an average of 25 graduations per year over the last three years. This growth can be explained by the interest that the CMM awakens in students in the faculty since it gives them a window into applications and mathematical research of the highest standard. Our engineering training takes place in a highly competitive environment and our students are not only the best in the faculty (40 points over the average 700 in a national test used to enter Chilean universities), but the best in the country.

Our Ph.D. in mathematical modeling—which was inaugurated in 1998—produces doctors of the highest standard who carry out original research and whose results constitute a significant contribution to our knowledge about applied mathematics. Since its beginnings, this program has experienced sustained growth and has now produced a total of 33 doctoral graduates. Currently, there are 30 Ph.D. Students enrolled in the program and the graduation rate has reached 9 per year. These figures are quite high compared to what is typically found in doctoral programs in mathematics in Chile. The CMM plays a fundamental role in the Ph.D. program. The cooperation between DIM and CMM with institutions abroad, particularly the CnrS, generates opportunities for interaction between Ph.D. students and guest professors. Between 1999 and 2006, visiting professors have given a total of 21 courses on different subjects as part of the Ph.D. program. This has also allowed the students to make direct contact with researchers from top international centers around the world. The CMM is also instrumental in supporting our students by organizing overseas research visits (20 during 2005-2006) and arranging attendances at overseas courses and congresses (21 in the same period). All this flows over into the quality of research work leading to theses.

During the last three years, we have had 20 postdocs in the CMM, with an increasing number of applications (26 in 2006), demonstrating a rising interest in the CMM by young doctors around the world. Our postdocs come from Latin America (Argentina, Brazil and Chile), Europe, (Germany, France, Spain, rumania and Switzerland), the USA and other parts of the world such as Australia, China, India, Morocco and Tajikistan. The majority of them occupy now academic positions in important research centers throughout the world. For example, in Chile and Latin America: U. del Bío-Bío, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, U. de Santiago, U. Técnica Federico Santa María, U. Adolfo Ibañez, U. de Chile, U. de la república (Uruguay). In Europe: U. Paris vi, U. Paris ix, U. de Pau, U. de Taulon, U. de Strasbourg, U. Grenoble, U. de Montpellier, U. de la Corúña, U. de la Laguna (Tenerife), U. of Bucharest; and in other parts of the world: Indian Institute of Technology, Shanghai U., College of Science (Saudi Arabia), Khorog University (Tajikistan).

In a number of medium to large projects, the CMM has worked with 16 engineers who finished their studies in the CMM along with 30 engineers employed by our industrial partners and who collaborate closely with our faculty and scientists to solve industrial problems. These professionals benefit from the research environment and world-class modeling offered by the center. In particular, we run joint seminars where we and our visitors share new developments in the areas cultivated by the CMM. The CMM uses its computational infrastructure and library to support and sustain all of these activities. The CMM’s library has a collection of specialized journals which currently comprises 153 titles. Over the years, the library has seen a significant increase in the number of journal subscriptions and book additions. For example, the collection of books currently consists of 9.000 titles, which are up from the figure of 7.500 titles held by the library in 2000.