Tempus Joint European Project

                        Tempus Mobility Grant

                        Attachment to Individual Grantholder Report
 
 
 
 

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY PERFORMED ABROAD

Concerns the visit in Ulm University of Adam Morawiec and Krzysztof Topolski which took

place from 5 December to 13 December 1998.

The aim of the visit was to learn about teaching statistics in the Department of Biometrics and Medical Documentation and Department of Mathematics by personal
meeting with the staff and taking part in classes and lectures led by them as well as to look into computer facilities (hardware and software) of the Departments with the
view of incorporating similar solutions to support the newly developed curriculum for the course in applied statistics at our Institute.

   1.Address of the host institution:

University of Ulm

Department of Biometrics

and Medical Documentation

D-89075 Ulm

Schwabstrasse 13

Germany

1. Preparation

Standard, ranging from some general reading (WWW) about the University of Ulm and the

Department of Biometrics and Medical Documentation to correspondence and schedule of activities

during our stay.

   2.Activities

A) Meetings with the staff of the Department of Biometrics and Medical Documentation

    i.with Prof. W. Gaus

     - about the Department of Biometrics and Medical Documentation in general (history, activities,

     staff, etc.)

-

     ii) with Dr R. Muche

     - about regular courses delivered by the Department of Biometrics and Medical Documentation to

     students of various schools/ departments of the University

     - teaching methods and teaching materials

          - about postgraduate and intensive courses

     iii) with Dr J. Hoegel

     - about statistical services rendered by the Department of Biometrics and Medical

     Documentation to various types of clients

     - about statistical packages (e.g. SAS, PEST, EAST, StatXact, nQuery) used by the Department

     of Biometrics and Medical Documentation in their activities

     - about statistical consultation for doctors

   iv.with Network Administrator

     - about the Department of Biometrics and Medical Documentation's computer facilities

     - about documentation services rendered by the Department of Biometrics and Medical

     Documentation to Ulm Clinics

     v) with Dr M. Kron

     - about universities in Germany that specialize in education in statistics

     - about teaching methods of statistics

   B.Visits to various classes led by the Department of Biometrics and Medical Documentation's staff at

the University

    i.lecture on statistics for 2nd-year students at the School for Medical Documentation

     Prof. W. Gaus

   ii.exercise class on statistics for medicine students

     Dr M. Kroniii)

iii) seminar on statistics for post-graduate Public Health students

Prof. W. Gaus

3. Results

Some teaching materials and curricula have been obtained from the Department of Biometrics and Medical Documentation that could serve as examples for the
development of our own materials and curricula for new courses on applied statistics. Discussion with professors of both Departments help

us to improve schedule of our biostatistics specialisation. We may expect future collaboration and help.

Because the Department’s computer facilities (LAN + statistical software) are not used from educational purposes (no computer lab, no educational software, no
computer-based classes on statistics), they have appeared of little importance for the overall goal of the present JAP.
 
 

4. Evaluation

Relatively successful, despite differences between the host institution (quasi-commercial centre of statistical services, for which education is only a sideline, affiliated to
Medicine Department of the University) and the home institution (mathematical institute, for which education and research are the primary activities without formal
connection with medicine).

The host side did their best in providing opportunities to look at various aspects of their activities, giving a comprehensive picture of what they are, were very open and
forthcoming.

Especially visit the School of Medical Documentation and learning in details its activities was

very useful.

It must be said, however, that because of the differences mentioned above, the Department of Biometrics and Medical Documentation was not the best choice for the main
purpose of the JEP, i.e. for seeking for an example of academic curriculum on applied statistics. It came out from discussions with the Department of Biometrics and
Medical Documentation's staff that to this end the best places to visit in Germany would be universities in Goettingen or Dortmund.