Trier University is a young, dynamic university with a clear focus on training young academics. All departments are active in research and benefit from robust international networks. Collaboration is particularly strong with university partners in neighbouring France, Belgium and Luxembourg, with research focusing on European history and present-day Europe. Founded in 1473, Trier University was closed under Napoleon’s reign in the 18th century and not reopened until 1970. Today, the university staff of approximately 1,500 makes for a good student-teacher ratio for Trier’s 14,000 students.

The department of Economic and Social Statistics is part of the economics department within faculty IV of Trier University. Since 2006, when Prof. Dr. Ralf Münnich was appointed full professor at Trier University, the Economic and Social Statistics Department has focused its research on survey statistics and computational statistics. Variance estimation methods, survey designs and new estimation methods like small area estimation are the primary areas of research at the department. As simulation studies are essential in these areas, Monte Carlo simulation techniques and computational statistics are an integral part of the department´s research as well.