About us:

This meetings are jointly organized by the SAMRC Biostatistics Research Unit, the department of Statistics, University of Pretoria, the HSRC and the Data Science Institute in UHasselt and aims to bring together academic staff and researchers from academia, research institutes and government organizations from both South and North regions. Our aim is to provide a platform for a discussion about both scientific and development topics and to initiate South-South and North-South interactions  and engagement around these topics.​

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The VLIR-UOS International Training Program: the eR-BioStat ITP - Development of local E-learning platforms in (bio)statistics

Biostatistics and Statistics are the building stones which are essential for scientific research work. Without good and wide knowledge of Biostatistics and Statistics (from here onward we use (bio)statistics), the research output is typically of low quality and could be misleading.  Many capacity building projects are devoted to capacity building of (bio)statistics via the development of new education programs in the South. However, typically, after the end of the project and the project budget, it becomes difficult to maintain the project deliverables and to maintain the education program developed within the project in the same quality level. The eR-BioStat ITP project is developed to overcome this problem and to ensure a sustainable and robust education program for (bio)statistics in the south by providing an E-learning platform which offers (free) education materials, ready to be used in the class, in (bio)statistics. Further, within the eR-BioStat ITP project we train the participants from three countries, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa (12 local universities in total) to develop their local version of the >eR-BioStat platform and in this way we will increase ownership and sustainability of the project outcome in the South after the end of the project. The output of the eR-BioStat ITP project can be easily transferred to local universities that are not included in the current project.

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SAMRC Biostatistics unit:

The SAMRC’s Biostatistics Unit (BU) provides a source of biostatistics expertise and support to the organization’s network of medical and health researchers as well as government departments and national and international research bodies. It is an interdisciplinary unit with expertise in Biostatistics, GIS, Data Management and Food Science.

Key focus areas of the Biostatistics division of the Biostatistics Research Unit

• Development of generic, innovative and rigorous statistical methodology to improve the design and analysis of health studies

• Providing biostatistical leadership and expertise in collaborative health and medical related research projects

• Providing relevant biostatistical knowledge and support to inform local, national and international public health policy through service on projects and review boards.

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Building biostatistics capacity through postgraduate supervision and specialized training in South Africa and in the region.​

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HSRC:

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) is Africa’s largest dedicated research institute focused on the social sciences and humanities, with a legacy of over 50 years of impactful service. As a statutory research agency, the HSRC plays a critical role in advancing South Africa’s developmental goals by producing high-quality, policy-relevant research that supports evidence-based decision-making and drives social transformation.

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The HSRC’s mandate includes contributing to the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy, evaluating policy implementation, disseminating research-based data to stimulate informed public debate, fostering collaborative research initiatives, and helping to build human sciences research capacity and infrastructure across the country. Through this multifaceted role, the HSRC serves as a vital link between research and real-world policy impact.

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Collaboration forms a cornerstone of the HSRC’s approach. The organisation maintains extensive partnerships with local and international stakeholders, including government departments and implementation agencies, private sector entities, civil society organisations, academic institutions, research councils, and multilateral organisations such as United Nations agencies. These relationships are essential to driving collaborative, interdisciplinary research that is both locally relevant and globally significant.

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Course facilitation, conferencing and resources for the symposium  duration

• Participation in the workshop & conference is possible without a scholarship.  Limited places are available. To apply, fill in the application form below. You can find the link below.

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