Quality control course at ISI

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, December 2
To celebrate its Platinum Jubilee, the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is introducing a first- of-its-kind course on statistical quality control.
Till date, ISI had largely focused on research and the courses offered were also aimed at producing quality researchers. But for the first time, the institute has come up with a course, which will mainly cater to producing a quality workforce for the industry. “Our objective cannot be only to produce researchers for ourselves. Now science has become globalised and we should reach out to the rest of the world by delivering a workforce in a very important area of statistics, which is quality control. Statistical quality control is equally important for the government as well as industry. The area is vast and manpower is less and the course will look to bridge the gap,” said Sankar K Pal, director of the institute.
Till now, ISI offered a six-month programme, statistical development programme, for MStat students, who were then absorbed by the institute to work on statistical data generated for research. But this new course of two years’ duration will have a wider outlook. Apart from MStat students, those with an MTech degree or MSc in physics or mathematics could also apply. “We are currently designing the course content and will be able to offer the programme from the 2008-09 academic session. Hand-picked students from India and aboard will be able to enrol in the programme,” said Pal.
The institute already offers PhD programmes in statistics, mathematics, quantitative economics and computer science, but for the first time it will offer PhDs in statistical quality control also from the 2008-09 academic session. “We have added statistical quality control to the list because this subject is allied towards engineering and is an emerging area,” the institute director said. Apart from students of statistics and those from basic sciences, engineers will be encouraged to take up the PhD programme.
In an age when basic sciences is a lesser attraction for students compared to engineering, the statistical quality control programme can promise the former a lucrative career. “It is true that students no longer want to plunge into the depths of basic science. But then we cannot blame them, as there are almost no lucrative career options. Hence it is the responsibility of institutions to create interesting courses to make the study of basic sciences more attractive,” added Pal.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com