Statistical Literacy

With the support of the Otto A. Malm Foundation, the Foundation for Economic Education, Palkansaajasäätiö and the Ministry of Justice, we are developing the International Statistical Literacy Project (ISLP) on statistical literacy. The project's contact persons are Reija Helenius (reija.helenius (at) stat.fi) and Elisa Falck (elisa.falck (at) helsinki.fi). More information about the project can also be found on its website at https://iase-web.org/islp/.

The ISLP (International Statistical Literacy Project), a project to promote international statistical literacy, is part of the ISI (International Statistical Institute) and its subdivision IASE (International Association for Statistical Education). The ISLP project is run by participants from all continents and has 163 country coordinators. The activities are largely based on voluntary work in cooperation with associations, universities, research institutes, statistical offices and educational institutions. The project aims to promote statistical literacy in all areas of life. A special focus is on young people and children. Statistical literacy promotes a democratic society in which citizens and decision-makers base their decisions on knowledge, not assumptions.

The International Statistical Literacy Project (formerly the World Numeracy Project) was established in 1994 under the auspices of the International Statistical Institute (ISI) with the task of promoting quantitative skills. Since 2010, the project has been led from Finland. The project contributes to the promotion of Finnish expertise through the project and its stakeholders, such as the Finnish school network. During the period led by Finland, a global network of country coordinators has been formed, the website has been renewed, poster competitions have been launched, a newsletter has been edited and the importance of promoting statistical literacy has been actively highlighted in the form of conference presentations and articles, both in Finland and in the international community.

The current project management team includes the following people:

  • ISLP Director, Group Leader Reija Helenius, Statistics Finland (Finland)
  • Deputy ISLP Director Prof. Pedro Campos, The University of Porto (Portugal)
  • Deputy ISLP Director Prof. Adriana D’Amelio, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (Argentina)
  • Deputy ISLP Director Prof. Saleha Naghmi Habibullah, Kinnaird College for Women (Pakistan)
  • Deputy ISLP Director Prof. Irena Ograjenšek, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia)

The project management team works mainly on the principles of volunteerism — out of a desire to promote an important cause. The ISLP project in Finland is promoted by the Finnish Statistical Society and Statistics Finland.

Supporters

The Finnish National Statistical Poster Competition 2024-2025 is part of the Ministry of Justice’s Talous tutuksi project.

The project's supporters during its operation have been Kansan sivistysrahasto, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, the Olvi Foundation, Palkansaajasäätiö, the Foundation for Economic Education, the Otto A. Malm Foundation, Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation, Nordea, Nokia and SAS. International supporters have been JMP/SAS and the ISI Tokyo Memorial Fund.

In recent years, the project's activities have gained momentum and the network's belief in joint development, cooperation and sharing of expertise is strong. The project and its activities have emerged prominently in the international statistical community and also in Finland, especially among educational institutions.

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