Banda Aceh, August 29, 2025 — The USK Statistics Corner, under the Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Syiah Kuala University, in collaboration with Statistics Indonesia (BPS) Aceh, organized NgopiStat (Ngobrol Pintar Statistik) — a casual yet insightful session themed “Training on Accessing BPS Data Online and Offline.” The event took place at the Statistical Computing and Programming Laboratory and was attended by enthusiastic USK students eager to learn more about utilizing official statistical data for their coursework and final research projects.
The main objective of this session was to familiarize students with various ways to access BPS data, both online and offline, as an essential skill for conducting meaningful and data-driven academic work. In her opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Zurnila Marli Kesuma, S.Si., M.Si., Head of the Department of Statistics, emphasized the growing importance of data literacy in today’s digital era, especially for Statistics students. “The need for data has become essential for everyone from all walks of life. Besides knowing how to analyze data, we must also know how to access and obtain it — particularly now that we have both micro and macro data available,” she stated.
To support this initiative, USK Statistics Corner invited guest speakers from BPS Aceh: Nur Hasanah, Coordinator of the BPS Aceh Statistics Corner, and Anandika Dian Pramesti, who delivered comprehensive sessions on BPS statistical products, free data access through the Zero Rupiah Service Scheme, and hands-on training on using the BPS website features, creating accounts on the Integrated Statistical Service (PST) portal, and utilizing BPS Data APIs for application development.
The atmosphere grew lively as students actively engaged in discussions with the speakers. Beyond listening to presentations, participants also took part in practical exercises to directly access BPS datasets, particularly from BPS Aceh, allowing them to immediately apply what they had learned.
Through this NgopiStat event, the Department of Statistics at USK hopes to encourage students to regularly explore official data sources, such as the BPS website and other credible platforms. By accessing and analyzing real data, students can broaden their knowledge and strengthen their research foundation for the future.