Summary Report of KIMAP Intensive Lecture by Dr. Nuttanan Wichitaksorn
From June 30th to July 9th, Dr. Nuttanan “Nate” Wichitaksorn led an intensive course at KIMAP titled “Statistical Data Analytics for Social Sciences.” Dr. Wichitaksorn is a faculty member at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in New Zealand and specializes in areas such as data science and forecasting.
This hands-on course introduced students to data science using the R programming language, no prior coding experience required. Across 15 sessions combining lectures and labs, students developed core skills in data wrangling, exploratory data analysis, and data visualization, and progressed to more advanced techniques such as time series decomposition, forecasting, exponential smoothing (ETS), and Machine learning models. Quizzes, individual assignments, and a final project presentation allowed students to apply the tools they learned on real-world data.
The course emphasized reproducible research practices using R, preparing students not only for academic research but also for data-driven roles in public policy, consulting, and business. This intensive course was an invaluable learning opportunity, which enriched the KIMAP program.
