Role of informatics in the new curriculum in applied statistics at University of Novi Sad Ohrid, August 27, 2011

Andreja Tepavčević Department of Mathematics and Informatics Faculty of Science University of Novi Sad Serbia

Outline: Applied Statistics Education Tempus project "Master curriculum in applied statistics" Role of informatics in applied statistics Courses Conclusion

Applied Statistics Education Statistics ( applied statistics ) a role comparable to Informatics: 1. everybody needs it 2. all substantial sciences use it 3. and it is being developed by itself (as a science)

New study programme Study program Applied statistics lasts two years (120 ECTS). It consists of four modules: biomedicine, economics, social sciences and engineering. In order to apply for the first year a candidate should have completed the first stage of any academic studies with at least 180 ECTS points, to have basic knowledge in mathematics and computer science and to use English.

Applied statistics education Student competences: -statistics in the narrow sense, -substantive knowledge, -communication skills -IT skills.

Tempus project "Master programme in applied statistics" Project objective: To develop and implement a master curriculum in applied statistics in line with existing European study programmes and according to Bologna requirements. To organize a lifelong learning programme in applied statistics for professionals in different fields.

Duration: 3 years 15 October 2010 – 14. October 2013 Budget around Euro

Project partners: EU partners: WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary Università degli Studi del Sannio, Italy University Mateja Bela, Slovakia University of Ljubljana, Slovenia Universidad de Oviedo, Spain

Partners from West Balcan Countries (Serbia) University of Novi Sad (coordinator) University of Belgrade University of Kragujevac University of Niš State University of Novi Pazar

Non-academy partners: Republic Statistical Office National Bank of Serbia

Master programme in Applied Statistics  New curriculum is prepared at University of Novi Sad (master curriculum, 2 years)  Interdisciplinary study programme  It is implemented directly at the University (8 faculties are included in realization)  Accreditation material is prepared during first half of 2011, now the curriculum is in the accreditation process

Informatics in applied statistics Competences of students (IT skills) : During the study, a student masters the skills of information technology and acquire ability of program implementation for complex problems.  practical expertise with the most used statistical software packages  work with databases

Particular courses  Statistical software  Data analysis and neural networks

Statistical software Obligatory course Its aim is to enable students to work with statistical software.

Course outcomes: Students will be trained to use statistical software for complex statistical analysis. Students will understand the data matrix to the extent necessary for statistical analysis. Students will meet environment of statistical software (SPSS, Statistica, R...).

Content of the course:  Data matrix. Control data input (mask input, dual input), error correction, archiving, confidentiality, ethics information, handling.  Basics statistical analysis programs for tabulation (Microsoft Excel, Calc Libre Office).  Statistical package SPSS (using a programming language syntax and Matrix), Statistica, R.  Introduction to programming in SAS.  Introduction to programming in R.

Data analysis and neural networks Course outcomes: Students will understand and be able to use a wide range of techniques of data analysis. They will acquire ability to select and use techniques and tools depending on the type and complexity of the problem.

Students can chose other courses from Department of Mathematics and Informatics

Open current topic: What software to buy? (75000 EUR) Different opinions among EU colleagues and non-academic partners: Not to buy software at all, it is enough to train students in free software R and to buy equipment instead To buy as many different software as possible, maybe with 2-3 licenses only To buy software which is used in Statistical office and in National bank of Serbia, although it is very expensive, because it is important that students learn exactly these software.

Conclusion:  New curriculum in Applied statistics is prepared at University of Novi Sad  Important role of Informatics in the curriculum  Question of software

Thank you for your attention!