We are the only foundation university in the field of statistics
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Istanbul Commerce University, the only foundation university with a statistics department in Turkey, took soundings of statistical science with the panel “TURKSTAT in its 98th Anniversary and Statistics from Production to Presentation”. In the panel where the management of TURKSTAT Istanbul Regional Directorate was also a speaker, the impact of statistical science on society and the past and future studies of TURKSTAT were shared with the participants.
Our university hosted an important conference on the occasion of Türkiye Statistics Day. Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) Istanbul Regional Director Ali İhsan Yücedağ, our Rector Prof. Dr. Abdulhamit Avşar, Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) Istanbul Statistical Group Directorate Expert Ahmet Gök and Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) Istanbul IT Group Directorate Expert Fatih Çekiç, academicians and students attended the event titled “TurkStat and Statistics from Production to Presentation in its 98th year” held in the conference hall at Sütlüce campus.
OUR STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS THE UNIQUE AMONG FOUNDATION UNIVERSITIES
The conference was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seda Bağdatlı Kalkan, Head of the Department of Statistics and in his opening speech, Prof. Dr. M. Said Yazıcıoğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, celebrated the 98th anniversary of the establishment of TURKSTAT and the Turkish Statistics Day and emphasized the role of the institution in the development of statistical science in Turkey. Prof. Dr. Yazıcıoğlu emphasized how important the science of statistics is on society and he reminded us of the value our university attaches to the statistics department by stating that our university is the only department among foundation universities.
THE FOUNDATION OF STATISTICS IS BASED ON THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
Our Rector Prof. Dr. Abdulhamit Avşar, in his speech at the opening, reminded that we live in close contact with statistics, knowingly or unknowingly. Prof. Dr. Avşar said, “Today, there is almost no field where statistical studies are not used. Statistics are widely used to solve problems that arise in almost every field, from agriculture to medical sciences and quality control. “Today, it is necessary to use statistical methods to produce or extract meaningful information from collected and observed data in industrial and commercial activities and even in the decision-making processes of governments.”
TURKEY’S STATISTICAL HISTORY DAILS FOR CENTURIES
Noting that tax-centered records constitute the majority of the main sources of Ottoman history containing concrete data, Prof. Dr. Avşar gave the following information: “The most comprehensive of the records; Tahrir Registers mainly cover the 15th and 16th centuries, but some examples are also seen in the 17th century. Other tax-centered book types are Avarız and Cizye Books, which filled the gap in the 17th and 18th centuries, and Temettüat Books, which were kept in the 19th centuries. In the Ottoman Empire, a census of certain lands and the population on them was carried out between 1326-1360 and 1360-1389. According to the results that can be drawn from the records kept in the Defterhane unit established in 1389; “It seems that compiling statistical information is also one of the duties of this institution.”
STATISTICS CENTER WAS FOUNDED IN 1875
In every century since the 1500s, the article regarding a general census was included in the Code of Laws in the form of a written law. Starting from the beginning of the 19th century in the Ottoman Empire, statistical offices began to be systematically opened in the center and in the provinces within the scope of the innovation process, and a separate control mechanism was established to supervise the activities of these offices. In the Ottoman Empire, a statistical office affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce was established in 1875. “From this perspective, the history of the Statistical Institute is over 100 years old.”
CAREER TIPS FROM TURKSTAT ISTANBUL REGIONAL MANAGER
TURKSTAT Istanbul Regional Manager Ali İhsan Yücedağ started his speech on “TURKSTAT and Career Opportunities” by answering questions below: “Why is statistics important?” and “What do statistical institutions do?” . Yücedağ announced that Istanbul alone provides 40 percent of the statistical data given by TURKSTAT and 10 percent of the total personnel works in Istanbul. Giving important information about the organizational structure of TURKSTAT, Yücedağ noted that data collection for statistics is now done through different channels with technology. Providing guiding information to young statisticians, Yücedağ also made suggestions for TURKSTAT’s projects and for those who want to make a career in the field of statistics.
TURKEY’S ELDERLY POPULATION PROFILE RESEARCH
Expert Ahmet Gök from the Statistics Group Directorate, in the section titled “Statistics from Production to Presentation”, gave examples of the studies carried out by TURKSTAT in the past on a subject for which the state did not have sufficient data, and conveyed the studies carried out on the elderly population profile in Turkey. Gök presented striking statistical data to the participants about the demographic structure of the elderly population and the place of this group in society.
TURKSTAT’S OLD AND NEW INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
Expert Fatih Çekiç from TURKSTAT Information Technology Group Directorate gave information about the information distribution channels and information sharing processes used in TURKSTAT. Çekiç showed the channels for creating and sharing data on TURKSTAT’s news bulletins, report systems, statistical database and metadata. The question and answer session led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seda Bağdatlı Kalkan added dynamism to the event. The issues that the participants were curious about regarding the data creation process and artificial intelligence in statistical data were clarified. The event ended with certificates of appreciation presented to the speakers.
