On the morning of October 28, 2024, the opening ceremony for the third cohort of the National High-Level Statistical Talent Training Program was held at Renmin University of China (RUC). Yi Wang, RUC Vice President, and Laiyun Sheng, Deputy Director of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), delivered speeches.

Yi Wang extended a warm welcome to the trainees and highlighted RUC's leading role in statistics education, emphasizing its long-standing collaboration with NBS, including the joint Research Data Center and previous successful training cohorts. Sheng Laiyun stressed the importance of cultivating top-tier statistical talent to support modernization efforts, urging participants to uphold integrity and innovation in their professional development.

Yang Li, Dean of the School of Statistics, outlined the program’s curriculum, which integrates coursework, research, and practical training. Yuxi Wang, the program coordinator, detailed logistical arrangements, while trainee representative Ting Zou (NBS) pledged a commitment to excellence. The 37 selected trainees will undergo intensive training at RUC from October to November 2024.

Following the opening ceremony, Guanhua Wang, spokesperson of NBS and Deputy Director-General of the Department of Comprehensive Statistics, delivered the first lecture.

Background

NBS and RUC jointly launched the National High-Level Statistical Talent Program in 2021 and have cultivated 300 leading professionals by 2030. Each annual cohort of around 35 selected professionals undergoes a 4-year training cycle combining coursework, research, and dual mentorship from NBS experts and academic faculty. The program's first two cohorts commenced training in 2022 and 2023.