On 10^th April, 2026, Moon Chun Memorial College, University of Macau organized an “R Language for Beginners” hands-on workshop for students with no prior programming experience. The workshop was conducted by Evelyne Liang, a resident tutor from the College’s Mandarin House. The event aimed to help beginners acquire fundamental concepts and practical skills in data analysis within a short period of time, become familiar with the R and RStudio environments, and gain a practical tool for bridging their disciplinary studies with real-world research. Participants from diverse academic backgrounds, including the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences, were all able to benefit from the workshop.

The instructor began by introducing several commonly used data analysis software platforms, outlining their respective features and application scenarios. Through vivid analogies, participants were guided to understand the basic characteristics of the R language and its interface, RStudio. The instructor then led students step by step through the installation and setup of R and RStudio. Unlike traditional classroom teaching that focuses primarily on syntax, the workshop emphasized core concepts such as “objects”, “functions”, and “vectors”, while highlighting effective use of RStudio’s built-in features, accurate interpretation of error messages, and practical tips for everyday use. This approach aimed to cultivate participants’ independent learning skills and problem-solving abilities.

Following this, the instructor arranged several simple yet concrete hands-on exercises. Through a “learn-by-doing” approach, participants developed a more intuitive understanding of R’s operational logic and its potential applications. At the end of the workshop, a range of useful learning resources was shared, and participants were encouraged to integrate R with their own academic disciplines, further exploring its application in different research contexts.