The Department of Statistics has a history of 92 years. The University of Mysore was the first in India to introduce teaching Statistics in the graduate programme in the year 1924 at Maharaja’s College, Mysore. It was taught with other allied subjects Mathematics, Economics and Actuarial sciences. Prof. K. B. Madhava M.A., A.I.A (London) introduced teaching of Statistics, Mathematical Economics and Social Measurements in the Degree programme, the first of its kind in India in 1924. Dr. Brajendranath Seal was the Vice-Chancellor at that time. Prof. Madhava, Prof. F. J. Noronha, Prof. T. K. Krishnamurthy, Prof. Doreswamy Iyengar, Prof. Jambunathan, Prof. N. Ramiah, Prof. S. Krishnaswamy Iyengar, Prof. D. Sundararaj Urs and Ms. Prema were the pioneer teachers of the Department. Yuvaraja’s College, a Constituent Science College of University of Mysore started offering B.Sc degree programme in Statistics with Physics and Mathematics combination in the year 1988. In 1999, the Statistics wing from Maharaja’s College was shifted to Yuvaraja’s College and was attached to the Department of Mathematics. Since then, Statistics, Computer Science and Mathematics combination was added to the already existing Statistics, Physics and Mathematics combination. After this there has been a steady growth in the number of students opting to study Statistics with both the combinations. This is mainly due to the placement opportunities to the students of Statistics. This lead to the separation of Statistics from Department of Mathematics and creation of an independent Department of Statistics in 2006.
MISSION
The mission of the Department of Statistics is to lay the foundation in intellectual thinking and analytical ability leading to analytic professionalism and entrepreneurship. To this end the department is committed to
- offering a well groomed learner centric academic program
- developing application knowledge aided by analytical skills
- familiarizing learners with specialized statistical packages
- inculcate application skills and interdisciplinary research
- conducting and organizing seminars, workshops and special lectures for quality enhancement both at students and faculty level
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
The curriculum is periodically updated with latest advances in the field of Statistics. It aims at providing students a strong theoretical foundation in Statistics on par with the reputed international institutions and at the same time, emphasizing application oriented subjects in Statistics. Students are encouraged to do mini-projects involving computer-based statistical analysis. In some courses they are encouraged to give classroom presentation of chosen topics.
In a nutshell, our curriculum is comparable with those of the top national and international institutions. The syllabus is designed in such a way that the students gain a strong foundation in the theory of Statistics and its applications. Currently there are over 140 students studying Statistics. The department is equipped with sufficient computers with high speed internet connectivity. Students are trained in statistical packages like, SPSS, MINITAB and R. Students are trained in the use of these software including their regular classroom learning as well as projects.
INNOVATIONS IN TEACHING
The teaching is heavily students’ centric. Although to a large extent, chalk and talk method is practiced, use of technology is heavily followed. Students are encouraged to learn through small projects and numerous data analysis. Learning Topics in portions of the subjects are given to the students for seminar presentation, small projects and data analyses and are motivated with self- learning and shared-learning. Remedial teaching is done for the benefit of slow learners. Another unique feature of the department is outside-class interaction between students and teachers beyond the class hours. The department follows a continuous evaluation procedure to monitor and evaluate the learning by the students by means of quizzes, tests, assignments and end of semester examinations. In addition, seminars, quizzes, problem-solving sessions, projects, and on-the-spot assessment are conducted. The mode of evaluation is left to the discretion of the course teacher.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
The faculty members are actively engaged in research activities and trust areas of research are Acceptance Sampling and Multivariate Statistics. The faculty members of the department serve various other departments by way of teaching allied and elective courses and providing consultancy services. STUDENTS’ PLACEMENTS
The Department has produced many outstanding students who have secured university ranks. Several of the students who have passed out of the department have been employed as statistical investigators, programmers, analysts, computer consultants and research officers in Statistical Institutions and Government Departments of Statistics, Agriculture, Marketing, Food industries, IT Industries etc. Some are also employed in Banks, Stock exchanges, Private and Public industries, and some have chosen to be teachers in schools and colleges. A good number of companies like TCS, Accenture, L&T InfoTech, HP, Infosys’s, Wipro and I- Gate etc conduct campus recruitments of students studying Statistics as one of the optional. A large number of students pursue their higher studies in M.Sc Statistics/Mathematics/ computer Science, M.C.A and M.B.A. A sizable number of students who studied in our department are now placed in Multinational companies in India and abroad.
DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES:
To commemorate the 90 years of teaching Statistics in Graduation level, the Department of Statistics of our College organized a two day National Seminar on “ STATISTICAL METHODS AND DATA ANALYSIS ” sponsored by UGC during 26th to 27th of September 2014.Every year the department celebrates Statistics Day during last week of June. The celebration includes special lectures by eminent professors and quiz competitions in Statistics etc. The department encourages students’ projects. The final year students are taken to taken to NSSO office located in Mysore and motivate them to the importance of subject statistics. The officers of the NSSO office also visit the department and deliver lectures frequently. The department also arranges special lectures regularly. The regular visitors to the department to give special lecture and to promote the subject are:
DR. Karthik Bharath, Senior Faculty, University of Nottingham, U.K.
Prof. Abhinanda Sarkar, MYRA School of Business, Mysore
Prof. Shovan Chowdhury, IIM Kozhikode, Kerala
Prof .C. Raju, IIM Kozhikode, Kerala
Prof. G. Thangamani, IIM Kozhikode, Kerala
Prof. D. K. Subbakrishna, NIMANS, Bangalore
Prof. G Nanjundan, Bangalore University, Bangalore
Prof. Ravi, S. Mysore University, Mysore
Mr. Malik M. N., Project Manager, H4ewlett Packard,
Mr. Yogananda M.C., Technical lead, AIG Company,
Mr. Manjunath Y.R. Team Lead, Tech Mahendra,
Mr. Pawan Katti, Senior Analyst, Nielson India
Prof. A.T. Bhayshyam, Retired Professor, SJCE
Prof. M.N.Gopalan, Retd. Professor, IIT Bombay
The alumni of the department takeS important role in encouraging the students and popularizing the subject. They frequently meet our students and interact with them, explain opportunities if they take statistics as the carrier.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FACULTY:
The College web-site is maintained by the department till 2015. The faculties are also in charge of many committees of the University/college, to mention a few:
University Nodal officer for SAKALA
University Nodal officer for AISHE
College Nodal officer for AISHE
Co-ordinator to manage UGC Grants of the College from 2013-14 till date.
Nodal Officer/User of UGC e-Schemes Portal of the college
Co-ordinator to manage UGC Grants of the College