About the Program
SARA Institute of Data Science, an Ambedkarite non-profit educational trust based in Sonipat, Haryana, presents its 3rd Winter School - a five-day, hands-on introduction to statistics using R, designed specifically for first-generation learners from Social Science and Humanities backgrounds.
In line with SARA’s mission of building data science capacity among first-generation and Dalit-Bahujan learners, this program is offered at a nominal, need-based fee, with waivers available on request - because access to quantitative skills should never depend on one’s ability to pay.
Program Details
| Dates | 20–24 November 2026 (Friday to Tuesday |
| Duration | 5 days, approximately 40 instructional hours |
| Mode | Offline |
| Venue | Dr. Ambedkar Bhawan, Sonipat, Haryana |
| Seats | Limited to 25 participants |
| Fee | ₹5,000 (includes all meals and shared accommodation for 5 days) |
| Fee Waiver | Available on request, no questions asked |
| Eligibility | Open to students and early researchers from Social Science and Humanities backgrounds — no prior coding or statistics experience required |
Curriculum Overview
The program is structured to take complete beginners to a confident working knowledge of statistical analysis in R, using examples drawn from real social issues throughout.
Day 1 - Foundations Introduction to R and RStudio; descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, spread)
Day 2 - Date Visualization Working with categorical and numerical data; data visualization; reading and interpreting distributions
Day 3 - Probability & Sampling Foundations of probability; the normal distribution; sampling methods and survey design
Day 4 - Inferential Statistics Hypothesis testing; confidence intervals; t-tests and chi-square tests
Day 5 - Relationships & Regression Correlation and regression; a hands-on applied research project; closing session on research ethics
Each day combines conceptual teaching with hands-on practice in R, using datasets relevant to education, employment, gender, and social policy.
Speakers
All sessions will be taught by SARA faculty (Dr. Ajay Kumar Koli) along with pro bono online guest speakers and researchers who apply R and statistics in their own work, offering participants real, research-driven examples of how these tools are used to answer meaningful questions.
(Speaker names and profiles will be updated as confirmed.)
Who Should Apply
Any student or early researcher from a Social Science or Humanities background is welcome to apply. No prior statistics or programming experience is required - only curiosity.
How to Register
Take Screen Shot of Bank Transfer or UPI Payment:
Account Name: SARA EDUCATION TRUST
Account Number: 42920911856
Bank Name: STATE BANK OF INDIA, Sonipat
IFSC Code: SBIN0000721
Registration link: https://forms.gle/tdzyssw6F3CmtVjB8
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Since seats are limited and SARA commits in advance to catering and accommodation arrangements, the following refund policy applies:
| Cancellation Window | Refund |
|---|---|
| On or before 23 October 2026 (4+ weeks before) | 100% refund |
| 24 October – 6 November 2026 (2–4 weeks before) | 50% refund |
| After 7 November 2026 (less than 2 weeks before) | No refund |
Seat Transfer: If you’re unable to attend, you may transfer your seat to another eligible participant at any time before the program begins, at no additional cost.
Exceptional Circumstances: In cases of genuine medical or family emergencies, please reach out to us directly - exceptions may be considered at SARA’s discretion.
Waitlist: Any cancelled seat will be offered to participants on the waitlist, in order of registration.
For cancellations or queries, please contact us at sara.institute.info@gmail.com or call at 925 315 2024.