STATISTICAL TRAINING AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL – CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN STATISTICIANS Paris, 12-15 June 2006 Richard La

1. STATISTICAL TRAINING AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL – CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN STATISTICIANSParis, 12-15 June 2006Richard LauxOffice for National Statistics, UK

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

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

4. 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

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

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

7. 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 - Planning

8. 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 - Delivery

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

10. 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? Summary of issues

11. Issues for Discussion – 1Resources 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?

12. Issues for Discussion – 2Skills 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’ ?

13. Issues for Discussion – 3Better 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?