European doctoral school of demography

The European Doctoral School of Demography (EDSD) was founded in 2005 by a consortium of the European Association for Population Studies (EAPS), the Institut National d'Etudes Démographiques (INED), the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR), the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI), the universities of Amsterdam, Groningen, Lund, Rome and Rostock, and the Vienna Institute of Demography(VID).

Background

The European Doctoral School of Demography (EDSD) was founded in 2005 on the initiative of the European Association for Population Studies (EAPS). It currently receives the support of 6 universities (Lund, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Groningen, Roma, Rostock) and 4 research organisms (INED, NIDI, MPIDR, VID).

The EDSD is open to students of all nationalities with a master's degree and enrolled in the first year of a European PhD programme. Students will acquire a solid knowledge base on causes and consequences of demographic change, population data, statistical and mathematical demography, as well as modeling, simulation and forecasting. Teaching is provided by leading international experts in the fields of study covered. Since the School places great importance on both teaching demographic methods and preparing the student for a career in demography, each course will expose the students to a number of guest lecturers discussing their topics of expertise. By the end of the year, EDSD participants will have developed an extensive network of contacts with established researchers from throughout Europe.

The EDSD admits a new cohort of about 20 students every year. The EDSD does not charge fees, and makes available a number of scholarships to enable students to attend the School's course program. The language of the school is English.

The EDSD is an eleven-month program (from September to July). For school years 2007-8 and 2008-09, the School has been located and operated at INED in Paris (France). For school years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, the School will be hosted at the Center for Economic Demography at Lund University (Sweden). The preparatory courses (from September to mid-October) will be offered at the Max Planck Insitute for Demographic Research in Rostock (Germany).

Curriculum

Theories of demographic behavior and change (CAUSES): The aim of the course is to introduce students to macro-level theories of population change, micro-level theories of demographic behaviour and the micro-macro interactions. At the end of the course, students should comprehend the major theories that explain the level and timing of fertility, family formation and dissolution, the ageing of individuals and society, migration behaviour and migration systems. These theories are situated within the overarching framework of the human life course, embedded in institutional contexts that reflect economic, social, cultural and historical conditions. In addition, students should understand the demographic transition and the demographic response to situational changes such as technological change, economic development, food shortage and economic crisis. Students should be able to apply these theories to interpret data on levels and differentials in demographic change and the drivers: fertility, mortality and migration.

Statistical demography (STATISTICS): The course deals with statistical models and approaches where time events and states are the central concepts of the 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 consists of two modules, event history analysis and panel data models.

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.

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.

Consequences of demographic change (CONSEQUENCES) The course examines the impact of demographic change on the social and economic fabric of society, with a focus on issues of importance to today's policymakers. Following topics are addressed: world population growth, family and work, the demographic future of Europe, health and population ageing, social and economic issues related to population ageing, the effect of population ageing on pensions and the labour force, and migration and integration.

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.

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 start preliminary 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.

Alongside the courses, invited guest lectures are held each week.