Structured Internship Programme for EMOS Students

1. The internship programme for EMOS students: a structured approach M.P. Sorvillo A. Di Ciaccio A. Petrucci M. Pratesi NTTS, 15 March 2017

2. The EMOS network in Italy M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

3. The EMOS network in Italy M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

4. Florence University Master Degree (“LaureaMagistrale”) Statistics and Actuarial & Financial Sciences Three curricula (first year in common, second one specific) Statistics (general) Statistics EMOS Actuarial and Financial Sciences • Internships to start in a.y. 2016/2017, II semester: • Duration of about 8 weeks (10 ECTS) • Tasks should be related to the topic chosen for the Master thesis (supported by the institution) • Agreements with the NSI (ISTAT) and the Statistics Department of the Municipality of Florence. • Intern’s activities jointly monitored by a university supervisor and a supervisor of the hosting institution M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

5. Rome University EMOS is a curriculum in the Master Statistics and Decision Sciences (Department of Statistics) • The internship programme has just started with Istat on: • Environmental statistics • Statistical methodologies • Survey methods • Time series • And with FAO on: • Models for agricultural statistics • Duration of about 8 weeks (plus thesis 4-6 months) • University supervisor and supervisor of the host institution • Assignment of topics: joint discussion with the students to choose among the topics proposed by the host institution M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

6. Pisa University Master of Science in Economics (jointly with Sant’AnnaSchool of Advanced Studies) • Internships: • run between September and December 2016, open also to students in the second year • same topic also for the final dissertation • Applicant selection jointly run by University and Istat based on: • Academic records (courses and average marks) • Motivation letter • Relevant extra-curricular activities • Consideration of available vs requested topics • Selection of 15 interns out of 26 candidates M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

7. Main interests for internship applicants • Practical skills • Despite the formation and the cultural baggage given by Universities, students should be more involved in the professional life • I could have the chance to put into practice what I studied during my academic years • This internship represents for me one of the most important step I can do in order to acquire the practical and theoretical knowledge that is needed to write an experimental thesis and to form myself as an economist • Specific interest in Official Statistics • I really appreciated the methods used for studies and analysis in OS • I'm curious and fascinated by how the most important institution in forecasting and collecting and analyzing data on the Italian scene works • Relational aspects • I consider this traineeship a huge opportunity to compare, exchange and share opinions and knowledge with other students M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

8. Building an internship programme at ISTAT • Collecting proposals for topics and tutors • Open consultation within Istat networks • Methodologists • Social and economic researchers • Call for proposal to head of divisions/directorates • 50 topics about: • Economic statistics • National accounts • Time series analysis and forecasting models • Demography • Social analysis • Statistical methods M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

9. Building an internship programme at ISTAT • 2. Organization • Matching topics/interns and periods/tutors • For tutors • Support from the Training service • Leflet with useful information • For interns • Support to carry out initial administrative requirements • And during the internship M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

10. Building an internship programme at ISTAT • 3. Assessment • A survey to evaluate the success of the programme: • To improve the next round of internships • To have a feedback on actual utility • To measure the impact on tutors’ current work M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

11. Assessment instruments • A. Questionnaire for interns • About the tutor • Clear in communication (about tasks and OS activities) • Helpful in doubts • Quality of interrelation • About the internship • Length • Achievement of targets • Support from the Istat Training office • Support from the University • Overall opinion M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

12. Assessment instruments • B. Questionnaire for tutors • About the intern • Adequacy of initial competencies • Level of autonomy • Respect of agreed deadlines • Usefulness for the intern • About the internship • Length • Achievement of targets • Hindrance to current work • Cooperation with University • Assessment with regard to: human experience; current job; overall M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

13. Main results • INTERNS • In general, very positive evaluation • Especially appreciated in tutors: • quality of interrelation • availability to discuss doubts and questions • More varied opinion about the internship: • Some issues in completely achieving targets • More support from the University • Communication and organization of administrative • aspects to be improved M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

14. Main results • TUTORS • Less enthusiastic, but overall satisfied • Highly appreciated: • Interns’ autonomy • Initial competencies (satisfactory or very good) • Human relations • More varied opinion about: • Length (just sufficient) • Cooperation with university (not at all) • Added value for the current job (5.8/10) • Not an impediment to current activities M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

15. Positive evaluation of the first round of internships • Further value added is expected by activities linked to master thesis • New rounds in stricter cooperation with universities • Better tools to support tutors(e.g. ad hoc training) • To simplify / standardize organizational and administrative requirements • To increase recognition of the tutor activity inside the organization M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017

16. M.P. Sorvillo, NTTS 2017