Pyongyang Summer Institute in Survey Science & Quantitative Methodology

Looking back to get ready for the future

1/26/2013

A PSI student taking the Survey Methodology Primer course presents an interdisciplinary survey research proposal on behalf of his student research team. Several student research teams - usually two or three paired together to learn team research - submitted their first-ever survey research proposals to the da Vinci Grant program to earn their opportunities for a year-long survey research mentored by PSI faculty experts of survey methodology.

PSI instructor Dr. Woody Carter, a faculty member of the University of Chicago, teaches Survey Methodology Primer to the second year students of PUST, comparable to upper level undergraduates in the United States. Drs. Carter and Chun used Survey Methodology by Bob Groves et al. as a primary textbook. Korean students took their turns over nights and weekends to do the reading assignment due to only 8 copies of the textbook available for 25 students.

PSI instructor Dr. Annelies Blom, Assistant Professor at the University of Mannheim - Germany, teaches Fundamentals of Survey Sampling. She covered practical issues of sampling rather than theoretical derivations. PSI 2013 steps up by offering a course on applied sampling and hands-on daily workshop together modeled after the Sampling Program for Survey Statisticians the University of Michigan Summer Institute offers.

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It's a wrap!

7/27/2012

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PSI faculty members have fun on Field Day with a skit they wrote, directed, and starred in. From left to right: Michael Costello, Adam Molnar, Patricia Gwartney, Annelies Bloom, and Pinar Ucar.

PSI wrapped up this week, with Thursday being the last day of classes and Friday being the university-wide Field Day. We're grateful for the last four weeks: thanks to the PUST administration and faculty, our 13 international faculty, and PSI stakeholders and supporters.

Keep checking back for post-program updates!

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July 26th, 2012

7/26/2012

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PSI Instructor Dr. Rene Paulson and her students in Statistics Primer gathered together after the last day of her class.

Korea's traditional house remains to be seen in DPR Korea.

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GW Today

7/23/2012

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From GW Today:

In North Korea, GW Lecturer Teaches Statistics

Justin Fisher said he was surprised by how similar North Korean and GW students are.

July 23, 2012

After spending a week in North Korea as part of a Statistics Without Borders program, George Washington Elliott School of International Affairs Lecturer Justin Fisher is sure his summer students now have a better understanding of survey sampling, computer analysis and how (some) Americans greet each other.

Read more at: http://gwtoday.gwu.edu/theworld/innorthkoreagwlecturerteachesstatistics

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More PSI snapshots

7/23/2012

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Here are some more photo updates from the PSI faculty members' stay at PUST!

A view of the PUST faculty guest house where the PSI faculty are staying.

A picture of some eye-catching flowers taken around the PUST faculty house.

An owl on the PUST campus poses for a photo.

A few PUST students pose for a picture in the classroom.

More snapshots of PUST students in class.

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PSI snapshots, continued

7/20/2012

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PSI instructor Sunny Bak Hospital stands with her 35 upper-level undergraduate students in Statistics Primer.

PSI faculty with PUST leadership land in Pyongyang with Air Koryo, the flagship carrier of DPRK. From left to right: Justin Fisher of George Washington University, President James Kim of PUST, Professor Sam Chang of PUST, Professor Patty Gwartney of U of Oregon, PSI Director Dr. Asaph Young Chun, Chancellor Chan-Mo Park of PUST, Statistical consultant Sunny Bak Hospital.

PSI faculty gather for their nightly debriefing. Left to right: Woody Carter, President James Kim of PUST, Patty Gwartney, Elena Zafarana, Michael Costello, Mark Griffin, Adam Molnar, and Annelies Blom. (Calvin, assistant to President Kim, took this photo.)

Dr. Jackie Pennings, a biostatistician with Elite Research, LLC, teaches computer analysis of survey data. Her graduate students are majoring in computer science, agriculture, life science, and international finance and management.

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Faculty Impressions, Dr. Jackie Pennings

7/19/2012

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My teaching experience at PUST has been great. The students are so eager to learn and hang on every word we say. In addition they are so happy to interact when they see us outside of class. This is one of the best experiences that I have had.

Dr. Pennings is a biostatistician for Elite Research, LLC based in Texas.

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Faculty impressions, Adam Molnar

7/19/2012

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In the graduate Technical Writing course, the class project is to write a short paper. Some students are using the assignment to think about their larger project, suitable for a Master's paper. The range of subjects has impressed me. Today, I was asked about television surveys, concentration while hearing music, molecular biology, and oil price forecasting. And naps; many students work diligently every night on their work, so the period after lunch, about 12 until 2, involves frequent sleep.

R. Adam Molnar, University of Georgia
Statistics primer & Technical Writing

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Faculty impressions, continued

7/19/2012

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Rarely in my 10 years as an educator have I encountered more than two or three students as engaged as each and every student at PUST. They are inquisitive, fun, excited, and brilliant. Learning is a source of great exitement and pleasure to them, and they go after that goal with great gusto. The University is strong and growing, and looks for opportunities to bring in new faculty to teach a diverse set of courses. Overall, this has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life.

Michael Costello, survey researcher in RTI’s Social Sciences Division, statistics teacher and lecturer

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