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You are here: Homepage > Activities > World Numeracy Programme - Projects

World Numeracy Programme - Projects

The following projects were suggested as possible activities in the mid 1990s. In the end the only one of these that was implemented to any extent was the Multilingual Glossary of Statistical Terms. This whole programme was re-launched in 2002 as the International Statistical Literacy Project by the International Association for Statistical Education

Projects

PROMOTION OF NATIONAL NUMERACY PROGRAMMES

The world-wide success of the overall programme requires the mounting of national numeracy drives in as many countries as possible.  It is proposed to stimulate such drives both a) via UNESCO and its national committees and contacts, and b) by the Permanent Office of the ISI in The Netherlands and all five ISI Sections.  Particular reliance would be made on the ISI's INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STATISTICAL EDUCATION.  A general blue-print of a numeracy drive for national adaptation would be developed.

TV SERIES 'THE WORLD OF NUMBERS'

Promoting the development of a 5-8 part TV Series by a world-known broadcasting operation, in the league with the BBC in the UK or PBS in the US.  ISI has made initial contacts and ascertained general interest in the Series.  ISI will secure the collaboration of the worlds most outstanding statisticians as consultants and would assist in providing the scientific input required.

SURVEY OF INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL TRAINING EFFORTS

This project would be carried out in line with the requirements of the Statistical division on UNESCO regarding the matter.  It would review the work of the ISI International Statistical Education Centre in respect of wider applicability, as well as activities of other centres.  Also lessons obtained by EUROSTAT's TES education programme would be integrated into the overall evaluation.

SURVEY OF NATIONAL STATISTICAL TRAINING EFFORTS

The ultimate aim of the project is to provide an overview of national education in statistics at all levels.  In the first phase, owing to technical and organisational reasons, a catalogue of national degree-granting institutions in statistics will be compiled.  The review will be extended, thereafter, to national education at the middle and lower level, as well as national on-the-job training of statisticians.

CERTIFICATION OF STATISTICIANS

In several countries efforts are being made to introduce some procedures for the certification of statisticians.  In 1993 ISI established a Committee on the Certification of Statisticians (Chairman: Prof. Yves Escoufier, President of the University of Montpellier).  ISI has not taken a stance on the issue as such; however if certification will be introduced, it would assist in providing an international input regarding requirements and comparability across countries.  The project would develop the international component felt desirable in teaching statistics in countries (for example the minimum knowledge needed about international statistical classifications and standards) that could also be used in certification curricula.

MULTILINGUAL GLOSSARY OF STATISTICAL TERMS

ISI's DICTIONARY OF STATISTICAL TERMS (which was initially edited by Professors Kendall and Buckland and more recently by Professor Marriott) in its early editions contained a glossary of the terms (for which the definitions were provided in English) which listed the terms in French, German, Spanish and Italian as well.  Glossaries of statistical terms in other languages were developed as well.  The project will aim at pulling together these dispersed materials and integrate them in one volume as well as in CD-ROM format.

REGISTER OF INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL STANDARDS

This project aims at developing an overall register of international statistical recommendations, classifications, and standards to be utilised in the education of statisticians at the national and at the international levels.

HALL OF FAME OF GREAT STATISTICIANS

ISI, in co-operation with the Japan Statistical Association and Japanese statistical authorities, is in the process of establishing a list of famous statisticians since the 17th century and a book, describing their activities is going to be published, with suitable illustrations for educational purposes.  Longer-term plans also envisage the establishment of an international 'Hall of Fame' of statisticians in Japan.  The project would involve planning and promotion for achieving this objective.

CODE OF ETHICS IN STATISTICS

In recent years ISI has adopted a code of ethics for statistics, which has been translated into several languages and became rather widely known.  More recently the UN Economic for Europe adopted a set of fundamental principles of official statistics.  The project will involve follow-up work regarding the promotion of these codes and the evaluation of the need of review of implementation.

MUSEUM OF NUMBERS

This project involves a feasibility study regarding the establishment of an international Museum of Numbers, in which artefacts pertaining to the history of statistics, and more generally to numbers, numbering systems, computerization, etc could be housed.  Materials would include items highlighted in a beautifully illustrated recent issue of the UNESCO COURIER.

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