European doctoral school of demography

The [http://www.eds-demography.rog European Doctoral School of Demography] (EDSD) was founded in 2005 by a consortium comprising the [http://www.eaps.nl European Association for Population Studies] (EAPS), the [http://www.ined.fr Institut National d'Etudes Démographiques] (INED), the [http://www.demogr.mpg.de Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research] (MPIDR), the [http://www.nidi.knaw.nl/en Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute ] (NIDI), the universities of [http://www.uva.nl Amsterdam] , Groningen, Helsinki, Lund, Rome and Rostock, and the Vienna Institute of Demography (VID). [www.eds-demography.org]

Background

For its first four years (2005 – 2009), EDSD will be organised and managed by the International Max Planck Research School of Demography (IMPRSD) and for school years 2005-6 and 2006-7, EDSD will be held in Rostock, Germany. In subsequent years, parts of the curriculum might be given elsewhere in Europe. After three years, an external evaluation will be carried out under the aegis of EAPS. On the basis of this evaluation, the partners will decide about continuation. Instruction will be at the level of first year doctoral students. Ordinarily every student in EDSD will be enrolled or is expected to enrol in a doctoral program at a European university. The curriculum consists of three preparatory courses (basic mathematics, basic statistics and basic computer programming for demographers), six core courses and a research seminar. The core courses are theories of demographic behaviour and change, consequences of demographic change, population data and summary measures, statistical demography, mathematical demography and modelling, simulation and forecasting. The research seminar will focus on designing a research project, research presentation, research writing and funding application skills. The entire one-year program will consist of 60 ECTS credits and the School will offer a European Research Master in Demography degree to successful students. Each year EDSD will enrol 12 to 24 students. Professors and senior researchers who send students to EDSD will be expected to help support the School. An Admission Committee will admit students. . [ [http://www.eaps.nl/activities/training.html EAPS training ] ]

Curriculum

"Theories of demographic behavior and change (CAUSES)": This course covers theories of fertility and family dynamics, theories of mortality and morbidity, and theories of migration. Some attention is devoted to historical demography and to the history of demographic thinking. Micro-macro interactions is discussed. The course meets for four hours per week for 14 weeks. Hence, the course involves 56 class hours.

"Statistical demography (STATISTICS)": This course focuses on statistical methods for demographers, with emphasis on survival analysis and event-history analysis. Students are expected to learn the concepts underlying these methods as well as how to use the methods to analyze empirical data. The course meets for four hours per week for 14 weeks. Hence, the course involves 56 class hours.

"Population data and summary measures (DATA)": This course covers the sources of demographic data, methods for assessing the quality of data, methods for working with incomplete or inaccurate data, basic summary measures including life-table statistics, Lexis diagrams, rates of the first and second kind, period vs. cohort statistics, tempo distortions, and related topics. Some attention is devoted to qualitative methods for gathering and analyzing data. The course meet s for four hours per week for 10 weeks. Hence, the course involves 40 class hours.

"Modeling, simulation and forecasting (MODELING)": This course covers the concepts of modeling and simulating heterogeneous (age-structured) and interacting populations, population projections including alternative approaches like stochastic and multi-state population forecasting, micro-simulation, and agent based computational demography. The course meet s for four hours per week for 10 weeks. Hence, the course involves 40 class hours.

"Consequences of demographic change (CONSEQUENCES)" This course focuses on the economic, social, and political consequences of demographic change, with emphasis on Europe but with some discussion of other areas and of the world as a whole. The course meet s for four hours per week for 10 weeks. Hence, the course involves 40 class hours.

"Mathematical demography (MATH)": This course covers various advanced topics in formal demography, including stable population models, matrix population models, Markov chains, unobserved population heterogeneity and dynamic systems. The course meets for four hours per week for 10 weeks. Hence, the course involves 40 class hours.

A "research seminar" runs together with the core courses from mid-October to the end of June. Students will learn how to design a research project, how to make a research presentation, how to write a research article, and how to organize an application for research funding. Students are expected to either develop a proposal for doctoral research or to startpreliminary doctoral research. In addition, students are expected to attend a series of lectures given by invited researchers. Students meet for two hours every week to learn about presentations, publications, and applications, and to present their ideas for doctoral research.

The invited lectures take up an additional two hours every week.

Faculty

Heiner Maier, PhD
James W. Vaupel
Tommy Bengtsson
Jutta Gampe
Gabrielle Doblhammer

References