ABS funds professorship - providing christmas cheer for university sector, Dec 2004

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MEDIA RELEASE

December 10, 2004
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
171/2004


ABS funds professorship - providing christmas cheer for university sector

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has further strengthened its relationship with the university sector by funding a Professor of Statistical Methodology at the University of Wollongong (UOW).

The Australian Statistician, Dennis Trewin, from the ABS and UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton, signed an agreement in Canberra earlier this week, formalising the establishment of the new professorial post.

"The agreement forges stronger links between the ABS and the university sector and will ensure that statistical methodology skills are available more widely around the nation," said Mr Trewin.

UOW’s Director of the Centre for Statistical and Survey Methodology, Professor David Steel, said that valid and effective statistical methodology was the foundation of much of the information needed by government and industry.

The new Chair, located within the Centre for Statistical and Survey Methodology at UOW, will undertake fundamental research, industry focused research, and contract research projects involving statistical or survey methodology. It will also develop a program of training courses in statistical methodology targeted at ABS staff.

"Statistical methodology is an area of critical importance to the ABS and other providers of statistics," said Mr Trewin. "It requires specialist training to ensure quality statistics are produced for Australia. It is increasingly important in the information age and there is a need for more people with these skills."

A strong relationship already exists between the ABS and the statistics group at UOW including the ABS funding undergraduate scholarships for students undertaking a major in Applied Statistics, worth more than $20,000.