Using public procurement datasets for teaching and learning

As part of the African Data Initiative, this poster focusses on the procurement menu of R- Instat, a tailored product of R-Instat designed specifically to analyse datasets on public procurement. The menu, initially tailored around an online-available dataset of World Bank funded public procurement tenders awarded across 171 countries, implements a new, objective methodology for measuring corruption risks. By specifying recognised procurement variables in their dataset, such as number of bidders, users can allow R-Instat to suggest appropriate analyses of their data. Experience using this data in a hands-on workshop for mathematical science MSc students in Tanzania demonstrated the educational value of this tool. The menu has also been used to teach Public Procurement Management Masters students in Italy about corruption risks methodology using European procurement datasets. There is a growing movement towards more data becoming open, with initiatives such as the Open Contracting Partnership. Open data has exciting consequences for training statisticians and public procurement students. However, being able to fully take advantage of the open data movement requires tools that enable users to easily carry out appropriate analyses. Trainings using R-Instat have shown this has the potential to fill this gap. Future development of the procurement menu to support more varied datasets could make it easier for trainers to incorporate more real- world data into courses.