Ural Federal University: Researchers from 16 Countries Learned More about Advanced Econometrics
The International Summer School “Econometric Methods of Research: Theory and Practice” of the UrFU Institute of Economics and Management has graduated its first students. The intensive was attended by 28 participants: researchers, graduate and undergraduate students from 16 countries (Australia, Russia, China, Chile, Portugal, Pakistan, Italy, Bangladesh, Croatia, etc.).
Attendees learned advanced econometric techniques on microdata, time series and panel data analysis. Academic director Kazi Sohag led lectures and lab sessions on several new methods (quantile autoregression and distributed lag method, quantile-on-quantile method, cross-sectional autoregression and distributed lag method, global vector autoregression, cross-sectional distributed lag method, etc.). In addition, course instructors Kristina Chukavina and Andrey Pushkarev conducted training sessions on difference-in-differences methods, propensity score matching, structural equation modeling, and other research techniques.
Participants were deeply immersed in the theoretical basis of the methods and mastered their practical application and interpretation using examples from the real economy. Moodle was chosen as the course platform; practical skills were practiced in R-Studio, Stata and Matlab programs.
The trainees noted the high level of professionalism of the teachers and the ability to simply talk about difficult things, because mastering the above methods from scratch is a “task with an asterisk”.
“Initially I was skeptical, because we were offered to master diverse and complex material in a short time. Now, however, I realize that this is a major advantage of the GSEM summer school. This is one of the few programs, which allows you to study several modern advanced econometric methods at the same time. This educational project is one of the best I have ever attended,” said Ivana Tomas Cikovic, Associate Professor and Head of Quantitative Economics Department at the University of Rijeka (Croatia).
Ural Federal University professors have also increased their expertise, and now the level of teaching modern econometric methods at the Institute of Economics and Management will be even higher and more complex. This knowledge is especially important for GSEM programs in Economics, such as Applied and International Economics, World Economy and International Business, as well as for the English-language Graduate Program in Economics.
The first experience has shown the demand for the topic and the effectiveness of the training organization. GSEM will make every effort to make the summer school “Econometric Research Methods: Theory and Practice” an annual event and develop it to become the basis for dissemination of analytical skills among practitioners and scholars.