The Statistics Corner of the University of Indonesia (UI) is officially present and operational in Building C of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), UI Campus, Depok, after the inauguration by the Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs of UI Prof.Dr.rer.nat. Abdul Haris, and the Deputy for Distribution and Service Statistics of BPS Dr.Pudji Ismartini, M.App.Stat., on October 10, 2023 in the Prof. Dr. Ir. Soemantri Brodjonegoro Hall, FMIIPA UI, Depok.
The presence of the statistics corner at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI) is an implementation of the cooperation agreement between the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and UI, specifically FMIPA, which was signed by the Dean of FMIPA UI, Prof. Dede Djuhana, Ph.D., and the Head of BPS West Java Province, Marsudijono, M.M., on November 2, 2022, in the Hall of the Multidisciplinary Research Laboratory Building of FMIPA UI – PT Pertamina, UI Campus, Depok.
This collaboration aims to encourage increased statistical literacy for the academic community and for the public who use statistical data through the services provided, namely statistical promotion, statistical consultation, statistical education, and a virtual reading room that can be utilized by the entire academic community of the University of Indonesia and the general public.
Prof. Dede in his speech said, “We welcome the presence of the Statistics Corner at FMIPA UI, to help the academic community and the general public obtain statistical services, such as statistical consultations, and access statistical data sourced or provided by BPS, especially for the academic community, both students and lecturers, the use of this statistical data is also very necessary in supporting the Tridaharma activities of Higher Education, namely education, research, and community service.”
Prof. Dr.rer.nat. Abdul Haris in his remarks congratulated the inauguration of the Statistics Corner at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia. “We hope this Statistics Corner can be optimally utilized by the UI academic community and statistics users, not only at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, but also at other faculties at UI. Data is something that is very important in how we understand a pattern, how we formulate a formula, the basis of which is data,” said Prof. Haris.
He hopes the presence of this statistics corner will also encourage collaboration and other research between the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) UI with stakeholders from within and outside the country. “With the new policy from the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP) that students wishing to study abroad must complete a double degree program, this is a good opportunity for the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) UI to open international classes, especially for the Mathematics and Actuarial Studies Program (Prodi), which already has the potential to collaborate with universities abroad,” said Prof. Haris.
Dr. Pudji Ismartini, M.App.Stat., said, “The University of Indonesia is the first campus in Depok to have a Statistics Corner. This Statistics Corner is a strategy by BPS to bring this data closer to data users, since the largest segment of data users are students and academics. So, hopefully, the data that has been collected at great expense and with considerable hard work can produce significant benefits as well.”
He also emphasized to users of the Statistics Corner service to use data wisely. Both the academic community and the public using the Statistics Corner service need to fully understand the data they use to ensure it aligns with the information being conveyed.
“We need to truly understand the meaning of the data so that we can interpret it properly and in accordance with the information that will be conveyed, based on the numbers in the data,” said Dr. Pudji.
This facility operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It not only provides data but also assists UI academics in interpreting it correctly. The Statistics Corner is also expected to play a role in developing new student skills related to data literacy, technology, and human resources.
After inaugurating the Statistics Corner, the Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs of UI, along with the Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics of the Statistics Indonesia (BPS), inaugurated the FMIPA UI statistical agents. The FMIPA UI statistical agents consist of 32 students from the Statistics Study Program, selected through open recruitment.
The statistical agents are tasked with managing the statistics corner, supervising, and assisting visiting members of the public to obtain the data they need professionally and with integrity.
Apart from the inauguration, FMIPA UI and BPS held a public lecture on the theme Statistics Corner: Optimizing the National Statistics System as a Key Pillar of National Competitiveness in the Era of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. With Dr. Pudji Ismartini, M.App.Stat., and moderated by Devvi Sarwinda, S.Si., M.Kom., Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, FMIPA UI. The public lecture was attended by more than 200 students of the Statistics Study Program, FMIPA UI.
Statistics Corner is a collaborative service between the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and universities, which functions as a service and promotion media for statistics in the university environment, and aims to increase data literacy through the provision of optimal services and promotions, especially for the academic segment.
This facility demonstrates BPS’s commitment to disseminating the variety and benefits of statistical products produced by the agency to universities. The Statistics Corner is expected to increase statistical literacy and utilization in universities.
