ISI Lecture Series 2025: Connecting Experts, Expanding Research Capacity

14 Nov, 2025

Recently, the ISI Lecture Series 2025, co-organized by the UEH College of Economics, Law and Government (CELG) and the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (VIASM), was held at UEH, attracting significant interest from domestic and international scholars, lecturers, and students. This was one of the prominent international academic events in the field of Statistics in 2025, aimed at providing updates on advanced and modern statistical methods and their practical applications. The series thereby contributed to enhancing the teaching, research, and data analysis capabilities of scholars, faculty, and students at UEH and its partner institutions.

An overview of the opening ceremony for the ISI Lecture Series 2025.

The program was honored to welcome Professor Kerrie Mengersen – a Distinguished Professor and Director of the Centre for Data Science at Queensland University of Technology (Australia), and an Associate Researcher at the University of Oxford (UK) – as the main instructor for the series.

From UEH, the event was attended by Dr. Tran Thi Tuan Anh – Vice Rector of the UEH College of Economics, Law and Government, along with over 40 lecturers, researchers, and students from numerous universities and research institutes both in Vietnam and abroad.

Dr. Tran Thi Tuan Anh and Prof. Kerrie Mengersen at the opening ceremony.

At the opening ceremony, Dr. Tran Thi Tuan Anh emphasized the significance of international cooperation and the importance of incorporating modern statistical methods into teaching and research. On behalf of UEH, she also extended her sincere gratitude to VIASM and the International Statistical Institute (ISI) for partnering with the university to deliver a practical and high-value course for the academic community.

Dr. Tran Thi Tuan Anh – Vice Rector of CELG, delivers her opening remarks.

The lecture series took place over four consecutive mornings, from November 4 to November 7, 2025, at Campus B of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City. The curriculum was designed to be in-depth, modern, and highly applicable across various practical fields, from data analysis to policy planning and scientific research.

+ Session 1: Introduction to Bayesian statistics and Bayesian computation

+ Session 2: Extensions: hierarchical linear models, spatial models, mixtures

+ Session 3: Bayesian graphical models and Bayesian networks

+ Session 4: Bayesian Machine Learning

Prof. Kerrie Mengersen – the main instructor of the lecture series.

The ISI Lecture Series 2025 is part of the International Statistical Institute's (ISI) effort to foster global training and professional exchange in the field of statistics. The program's objective is to equip participants with advanced statistical tools and methods applicable to a wide range of practical fields—from data-driven decision-making and evidence-based policy planning to scientific research. The lectures provided not only a solid theoretical foundation but also numerous practical application examples, helping participants to deeply understand and flexibly apply modern methods in statistics and data science.

Prof. Kerrie Mengersen gives an introduction to Bayesian Statistics.

Participants focus intently on Prof. Kerrie's lecture.

Participants concentrate during the hands-on software practice session.

At the conclusion of the program, the organizing committee extended its sincere gratitude to Professor Kerrie Mengersen for her insightful and inspiring presentations, and to all the participants for their active engagement, which contributed to the success and significance of the ISI Lecture Series 2025 at UEH.