04 Apr 2024

Batswana have been encouraged to use the Statistical Service Unit (SSU) at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) for statistical training and consulting services. 

The SSU is a centre within the Department of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences, established in 2020 to promote more effective links between academic mathematicians and statisticians, applied researchers and the general public. 

In an interview, Prof. Broderick Oluyende, said the SSU was available for statistical consultations to BIUST students, faculty members, university services and the community. 

Prof. Oluyende said the unit also offers workshops and seminars on a regular basis upon request to various groups within BIUST and to external parties such as government departments and the private sector. 

However, he noted that besides working with the National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA), they have not yet received any big projects from outside BIUST, probably because the unit was new and not many Batswana knew about the services the SSU offered. 

As for the benefits of the SSU to statistics students, Prof. Oluyende said the participation of graduate students in the day-to-day running of the unit would enhance personal statistical analysis capacities through trainings and consultations. 

He also said students would gain invaluable practical experience in statistical collaborations and consulting, statistical design of the data acquisition process, statistical data analysis and report writing. 

He added: “Students get hands-on training. We are in the business of educating the next generation of leaders and it is important for them to be data literate.”

For the university, Prof. Oluyende said the SSU could be used as a resource for upskilling in both statistical and computing knowledge for staff and students. 

He said it could also be used as a business model to market what the university could offer in research. 

As for the community benefit, Prof. Oluyende said the SSU could provide a consultative data analysis platform for all private and government entities including hospitals, ministries, and energy companies. 

He said data-based solutions to health, energy and social development within the private sector and government departments in many cases were limited due to inadequate knowledge on data analysis, hence the SSU could be of critical importance. 

Nevertheless, he emphasised the critical importance of data literacy, highlighting that scientists, businesses and government departments worldwide relied extensively on data, statistical methodologies and analysis in their operations.Ends