An Introductory Hybrid IASS–ISEC International Workshop
May 18-21, 2026
Sponsors:
- The International Association of Survey Statisticians (IASS): As a prominent section of the International Statistical Institute (ISI) established in 1885, the IASS is dedicated to advancing the theory and practice of sample surveys and censuses. The association works globally to bridge the gap between statisticians, governments, and the public to foster excellence in survey research.
- International Statistical Education Center (ISEC): Founded in 1950 and housed in the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Kolkata, ISEC is a premier training hub. It offers specialized courses in theoretical and applied statistics to participants from across the Middle East, South and South-East Asia, the Far East, Commonwealth countries in Africa, and Latin America.
Workshop Overview
The Challenge and Opportunity
The demand for reliable granular statistics is growing across sectors like health, agriculture, transportation, and socio-economic research. However, governments and organizations face the challenge of rising costs for high-quality, large-scale surveys. Recent advancement in Small Area Estimation (SAE) methodology and the increased availability of administrative records, geospatial data, and census datasets offer a powerful solution: providing researchers with the tools to produce more precise granular estimates than ever before. This hybrid workshop focuses on the first step towards practical implementation of SAE through selected case studies. While it provides a foundational overview, participants may require additional training and research to apply these methods to specialized applications. This workshop will not cover theoretical aspects of SAE.
What You Will Learn
- Challenges for generating reliable disaggregated data and key ideas of SAE to tackle those challenges.
- Illustrative examples of state-of-the-art SAE models and techniques.
- An introduction to some free and effective R packages used in the field today.
- Case studies demonstrating how to produce some Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators at highly localized levels.
Workshop Format & Logistics
This is a hybrid event, fostering a global participation across borders:
- In-Person: Hosted at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) campus in Kolkata, India.
- Virtual: Open to global participants via a live webinar link.
Pre-requisites
- An introductory course in applied statistics covering regression analysis and survey sampling.
- Knowledge of R programming is desirable but not mandatory.
Workshop Schedule
All times are listed in Central European Summer Time (CEST).
| Date | Time (CEST) |
| Monday, May 18, 2026 | 13:00 – 14:30 |
| Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | 13:00 – 14:30 |
| Wednesday, May 20, 2026 | 13:00 – 14:30 |
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 12:00 – 13:30 |
Featured Speakers
Partha Lahiri
Professor, University of Maryland College Park, USA
Dr. Lahiri is a globally recognized expert in Small Area Estimation (SAE) and the current President of the IASS. An elected Fellow of both the American Statistical Association and Institute of Mathematical Statistics, his pioneering contributions have earned him numerous awards and honors, including the 2026 Morris H. Hansen Lecture and the 2021 SAE Award.
Yuting Chen
Assistant Professor, Eastern Kentucky University, USA
Dr. Chen’s research specializes in SAE, mixed-effects models, and uncertainty quantification. She is known for integrating theoretical development with computational techniques, such as bootstrap methods, to enhance the reliability of statistical inference in complex data settings.
In-person attendance is restricted to representatives from more than 10 developing countries participating in ISEC training program. Virtual attendance registration is now open.
Last day to register is May 15, 2026!
Please visit the IASS website for further details and updates regarding the workshop.