About Our Training Services

• Introduction
• Types of training
  • UK/European Clients
  • Development Projects
  • Distance learning — e-SIAC: Statistics in Applied Climatology
• Tailored training
• Training-needs assessment
• Added value
• Teaching style

Introduction

The Statistical Services Centre offers training to a range of audiences - from relatively inexperienced users of statistics through to experienced statisticians.

If you, your staff or your colleagues need help with statistics, or general help in dealing with data, then we may be able to address your needs. With all our training activities, our aim is to impart the necessary skills to deal with your application. Our emphasis is always on the practical use of statistics.

We have our own purpose-built, air-conditioned training rooms on the University's Whiteknights campus.

Types of training

For UK and International clients we offer an annual advertised short course programme, of over 20 courses, which are run at Reading. Some of these are aimed at scientists and technologists, and are intended to improve the skills and understanding of the often infrequent user of statistics. Others, at a more advanced level, are aimed at applied statisticians.

Client organisations may also commission a course, tailored to address their specific needs. These can be run either on-site or at our premises in Reading.

Individuals from institutes in developing countries, or people working on development projects, have different needs from those of many of our European clients. For them we can offer summer courses and workshops in Reading.

Increasingly, our capacity-building initiatives are done in-country, in the form of training courses, workshops, or – in some instances – one-to-one tuition, aimed at improving the skills of statisticians or researchers. In our training activities, we strive to work with local statisticians, wherever possible.

We currently run an e-learning (distance learning) course, intended primarily for climatic data users in Africa:

• e-SIAC: Statistics in Applied Climatology.

We are also developing a more general "Statistics Made Simple" e-learning course.

Tailored training

Where a company or institute has several staff members with a common training requirement, the SSC can provide a commissioned (bespoke) course, or series of courses, targeted to address specific needs.

Commissioned courses can be run either at our training centre at the University, or on the client's premises. Course content, pace, timing and duration are determined in discussion with the client.

In order to put ideas and methods into a context that is relevant to the client, course materials can include examples based on the client's own data and, if appropriate, practical work can use the client's software. This approach to training has made our commissioned courses very popular.

We are able to provide training in a wide range of statistical topics, including methodological and application areas. In addition to the courses mentioned in our annual advertised short course programme, we can devise bespoke training in:

design and analysis of experiments survey methods environmental and climatic statistics dealing with data from participatory studies

generalised linear models non-parametric methods non-linear modelling computationally intensive methods

Training-needs assessment

We can provide an unbiased assessment of a client's (or client group's) training needs, without any obligation to employ us for the subsequent training.

Added value

During our courses we encourage participants to discuss issues of concern with us. We welcome the opportunity for such talk during breaks and at mealtimes. If required, our consultancy service can provide post-course statistical support.

At Reading our course facilitators and administrative staff are always on hand to provide help on social and non-academic matters.

Teaching style

Computers are an integral part of our teaching and we place emphasis on understanding methods and interpretation of results, rather than on the mathematics of statistics. Our aim is to provide course participants with a high standard of training in a friendly and relaxed setting.

We use well-known and commonly-used reliable statistical software on all our courses. A choice of software is often available for practical work.

Last updated 13 August, 2008