There is the need for evidence-based and informed decision making for policy formulation, and hence fundamental statistics is important to generate useful information to support decision making. This course 
  • introduces descriptive and inferential statistics applied to analysis of data from development studies, and
  • familiarize with key statistical concepts and acquire practical skills for understanding and conducting quantitative research in areas related to sustainable development.

The course is intended to introduce students to the main components of a research framework i.e., scientific inquiry, problem statement, research design, ethical issues in research, report writing, and presentation. Once equipped with this knowledge, the students would be well‐placed to conduct graduate level research under supervision in an area of their choosing in the Department of Development and Sustainability.


Course objective:  As the natural resources are shrunken, global population is growing, and climate change is threatening our existence, achieving sustainable development needs new thinking. To harmonize human and nature for long-term co-existence and to address the socio-economic, political and cultural development in the region, it is important to have a broad-based understanding of development and sustainability. This course provides basic concepts related to development and sustainability especially in analyzing the situation in Asia. It equips students to have a sound basis to go further into their own specializations, by understanding the interlinkages of the frameworks and issues pertaining to development and sustainability.