Summer School on Bayesian Modeling, Computation and Applications
15 Aug, 2025
The Summer School on Bayesian Modeling, Computation and Applications was co-hosted by the UEH College of Economics, Law and Government (UEH - CELG) and the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (VIASM), with the School of Mathematics - Statistics and the Institute of Applied Mathematics of CELG serving as the main organizers. The Summer School took place from July 23, 2025, to August 01, 2025, featuring a series of vibrant academic activities, including 14 lectures by world-leading professors in Bayesian Statistics, a two-day Workshop on Bayesian statistics and computational applications, a poster session for participants, and a field trip to the Southwestern Mekong Delta. The 10-day program concluded successfully, attracting significant interest from a wide range of domestic and international researchers, lecturers, and students.
This was the third installment in the series of Summer Schools on Mathematical Statistics and Machine Learning. In 2025, the program continued with themes on hierarchical and dynamic models, Bayesian computation, and their applications. The objective of the summer school was to equip researchers, lecturers, and graduate students in Vietnam with both fundamental knowledge and modern topics in mathematical statistics and machine learning through a well-designed series of lectures delivered by world-leading experts; to organize a workshop with high-quality reports from domestic and international researchers; and to strengthen connections between local students and researchers and the international statistics and machine learning community through lectures and other integrated activities, creating opportunities for research collaboration and postgraduate study orientation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Minh Ha - Executive Director of the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics, emphasized that the Summer School was the result of a strong partnership between VIASM and various domestic and international units, creating an environment for lecturers, students, and researchers to access modern statistical knowledge, thereby enhancing the capacity and standing of Vietnam's statistics field.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Minh Ha speaking at the opening ceremony
Dr. Dinh Cong Khai - Vice President of UEH, shared: “UEH's collaboration with VIASM in organizing this Summer School demonstrates our enduring commitment to academic quality and research capacity building. This event reflects UEH's belief in the transformative power of education and knowledge, while also affirming our role as a center for nurturing talent and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Through a meticulously designed program, the Summer School provides researchers and students in Vietnam with a solid knowledge base and modern tools to address real-world challenges. In the context of a developing nation like Vietnam, this is a particularly meaningful activity, equipping the domestic academic community with advanced knowledge and a global perspective.”
Dr. Dinh Cong Khai sharing his thoughts
This year's Summer School program included three thematic courses and in-depth lectures delivered by top international professors. Course A – Bayesian Modeling and Inference, taught by Professor Steve MacEachern (Ohio State University, USA) and Professor Peter Mueller (University of Texas at Austin, USA), focused on foundational knowledge and inference in Bayesian modeling. Course B – Bayesian and Variational Bayesian Computation, led by Prof. Yanxun Xu (Johns Hopkins University, USA) and Prof. Garritt Page (Brigham Young University, Utah, USA), introduced techniques in Bayesian and variational Bayesian computation. Course C – Advanced Modeling and Methods for Spatiotemporal Data and Biomedical/Biostatistical Applications, featured specialized topics: Prof. Hau-Tieng Wu (New York University, USA) presented on "From Non-stationary Time Series to Manifold Learning"; Prof. Veera Baladandayuthapani (University of Michigan, USA) introduced "Graphical Models and Spatial Data Analysis"; and Prof. Peter Mueller (University of Texas at Austin, USA) lectured on "Bayesian Nonparametric (BNP) Data Analysis." These courses and lectures not only provided a solid knowledge foundation but also broadened perspectives on modern research directions in Bayesian statistics and its applied fields.
International professors teaching in the program
Additionally, as part of the Summer School, the Workshop on Statistical Modelling and Applications was held on July 25-26, featuring 14 presentations from domestic and international researchers and speakers. The reports at the workshop offered a comprehensive overview of the robust and diverse development of Bayesian statistics and data science, covering all aspects from profound foundational theories to diverse practical applications aimed at solving complex problems across various fields. The workshop provided a vibrant academic forum, connecting theoretical and applied research directions, and attracted over 200 lecturers, researchers, PhD candidates, graduate students, and undergraduates from universities at home and abroad.
The Workshop on Statistical Modelling and Applications
Furthermore, a successful poster exhibition was organized as a highlight of the program's academic activities. It provided an opportunity for young researchers to present their initial ideas as well as their completed research findings through poster presentations. The goal of the exhibition was not only to showcase research projects but also to create a platform for direct and interactive exchange between young researchers and professors and lecturers from various institutions.
The poster exhibition space
Beyond the academic activities, an extracurricular field trip was organized for lecturers and participants in Vinh Long province. This excursion included many interesting activities such as visiting the Cuu Long traditional winery and experiencing the life of a Mekong Delta local by participating in traditional canal bailing for fishing and learning to make "bánh xèo" (Vietnamese pancakes). Notably, the group also visited the Mang Thit Brick and Pottery Kilns, a traditional craft village with a centuries-old history, known as the largest producer of bricks and pottery in the Mekong Delta and playing a crucial role in preserving Vietnam's traditional craft.
The extracurricular field trip in Vinh Long.
The Summer School on Bayesian Modeling, Computation and Applications has concluded after ten rewarding and meaningful days. At the closing ceremony, Dr. Tran Thi Tuan Anh, on behalf of the Organizing Committee, extended her sincere thanks to the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics, Prof. Nguyen Xuan Long, the Program Committee, and all supporting members for their contributions to the program's success. The Summer School not only provided professional value to the participating lecturers and researchers but also promises to foster the strong development of the Mathematics and Statistics field in Vietnam in many aspects.
More photos from the event:
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