The teaching of sample design to government statisticians from developing countries

This paper discusses the education and training given to participants specializing in Sampling and Statistical Methods at the ISPC. This education and training in survey sampling is conducted through linkage of sampling concepts with the various other survey-related skills and fields. This means, among other things, that it is not sufficient to merely offer a course on sampling theory when the objective is to train participants to be functioning sampling practitioners and technicians. While this paper primarily discusses the training in sampling conducted at the ISPC for statisticians from developing countries, it is nevertheless felt that most of the remarks are relevant to the teaching of survey sampling in general.