About us

Message from Professor Andriëtte Bekker

Excellence. This word is defined by the Mirriam-Webster Dictionary as “being of extremely high quality”, with synonyms being perfection, superbness, choiceness, and distinction. However, at the Department of Statistics, there is another synonym for excellence: statistics. Our department is dedicated toward excellence in undergraduate statistics teaching, excellence in postgraduate statistics supervision, and excellence in quality research in statistics. By providing internationally benchmarked education from bachelor’s degree to doctoral level, we at the Department of Statistics aspire to equip students to the best of their abilities to prove them competent and resourceful – not only within the industry, but in academia as well.

As recently as 2013, a postgraduate student centre has been developed located within the department. This centre aims to simultaneously involve postgraduate teaching, research focusses, and exposure to industry for masters and doctoral students. This was achieved to highlight the importance of young researchers- and lecturers in statistics, and to provide them (and resulting, all within the department) with a holistic statistical background at UP. We as a department are committed to ensure students, visitors, and staff, share an invaluable connection to statistics – essentially achieving our main goal of a “Make It Count” environment.