SIAP has conducted a trial distance-learning training course on the use of STATA software during 1-9 April 2008 in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the National Institute of Statistics (NIS) of Cambodia and the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) of India using JICA-net videoconference facilities. In total there were 20 participants (10 participants from each country) and each country was assigned a course coordinator who was communicating with lecturer prior to the course with respect to the organization of the course. The course had a strong support from Director General of both countries’ statistical organization as well as from JICA office in Cambodia, India and in the Tokyo International Centre. 
    
The main objectives of the course were to improve capability of participants in the use of STATA software, to assist NSOs in shifting from a passive data provider to an active data provider which involves in-depth statistical analysis of statistical survey and census data. Lastly, it aimed to prepare trainees for further statistical training courses including SIAP’s Tokyo-based, regional and country courses.

The course covered topics such as getting started with STATA, basic commands to inspect datasets, basic commands to create and change variables, labeling etc, basic commands to reorganize datasets, basic commands: merging and appending, basic commands of statistics, basic commands of graphics, programming using “do-files”, use of “ado-files”, Creating “log-files” and inputting data from a spreadsheet, a file or keyboard.

There were in total four lecture sessions and after each lecture session all participants were required to perform hands-on exercises using Bangladesh Household Survey data. All sessions were conducted interactively with the lecturer who was residing in Tokyo. If participants have not had enough time to accomplish exercise tasks during the actual course conduction, they were asked to complete them as homework and send answers or solutions via email to lecturer. The lecturer provided with feedback on exercise performance upon receiving participants’ answers to exercise tasks.  

It has been found that the advancement of IT has made a positive impact in dissemination of knowledge to more people and has provided with opportunities to maintain long-term relationship between teacher and learners. There are many other advantages of distance-learning trainings. Through distance-learning training courses, participants can acquire the basic knowledge in the field as preparation to involve in further in-depth training courses. It means that distance-learning training can be facilitated as complimentary or auxiliary trainings to face-to-face trainings.