STATISTICAL TRAINING AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL – CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN STATISTICIANS Paris, June 2006 Richard Laux Office for National Statistics, UK

Overview Summary of Papers Characteristics of Statistical Training (by International Organisations) Existing good practice, and areas for development Issues for discussion

Summary of Papers - Eurostat ESTP Collaborative approach Network of HR experts Scope / reach

Summary of Papers - IMF Survey of International Organisations –small training budgets –English is the dominant training language –recent growth in training –better co-ordination is required in providing technical assistance –organisations need to make more of the potential of the internet, for training –the training gap IMF experience

Summary of Papers - SIAP Mission TMA Programme Outreach Programme Scope/reach

Characteristics of Statistical Training Objectives –National level –International level Key elements of (international) statistical training –Planning –Delivery –Review

Good practice, and areas for development - Planning Good practice Demand driven Development by stakeholders Experts involvement Economies of scale Areas for development Secure funding List of experts Better co-ordination of technical assistance

Good practice, and areas for development - Delivery Good practice Importance of accessibility – relevance – flexibility – high tech Networking opportunity Goodwill from host countries Areas for development To train the trainers, and to improve cascading Greater use of e- learning Meeting unmet demand

Good practice, and areas for development - Review Good practice Post-course feedback Areas for development Evaluate impact of learning Clarify objectives of training programmes upfront

Summary of issues Planning Long term benefits of training Emerging issues Collaboration Increasing demands for training/TA What is quality training? Delivery Use of e-learning/web Review Measuring the impact An international statistical competence framework?

Issues for Discussion – 1 Resources Training can be resource intensive, with direct and opportunity costs. But it is widely recognised as a vital investment. How can the statistical community work together to make a stronger case for appropriate resources to be made available for training?

Issues for Discussion – 2 Skills and Competences Official statisticians are increasingly being asked different sorts of questions; at the same time we have more tools and more data available to us. Are our skills developing in order to meet these needs? Do we need core competences for official statisticians, which might include the skill of ‘training’ ?

Issues for Discussion – 3 Better co-ordination The CCSA is considering ways of increasing the co-ordination of statistical training for staff in international agencies. It would seem desirable to extend this co- ordination, where appropriate, to staff in NSIs and ministries. What are the barriers to a more global, less-fragmented approach to statistical training, and how might they be overcome?