UPGRADING HUMAN RESOURCES SKILLS FOR AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS IN 21ST CENTURY

1. UPGRADING HUMAN RESOURCES SKILLS FOR AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS IN 21ST CENTURY FAO Statistics Division October 2009

2. OUTLINE • Introduction • Competence management and capability development • Skills required for statistics in new technological environment • Implications of new technological environment on statistical curricula • New training methods based on IT • Short term courses/degree courses in IT • Conclusions

3. INTRODUCTION • Increasing demand for statistics for evidence-based decisionmaking and in response to emerging issues at international level • Implementation of Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural Statistics will include statistical capacity building at country and international levels • Human resources development is an important aspect for statistics offices • Upgrading staff’s skills in new technology and new statistical tools are very important

4. Competence management and capability development • Competence management involves training/learning at every stage of career: • formal classes; • largest part of competence development happens in daily work; • Statistics Sweden’s “Competence Development Policy”. • capability development: • core competencies common to all domains; • specific competencies for a particular domain; • Australian Bureau of Statistics’ “Organisational People and Learning System” • Training in various subjects may be organized through special training sessions at the beginning of, or during, the career

5. Skills required for statistics in new technological environment • Computer Skills: Common software, eg. Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint; SPSS or SAS • Geographic Information System (GIS) • Communication through Internet • Staff training in new information technology

6. Implications of new technologicalenvironment on statistical curricula • Training institutions should include IT topics in their curricula • In both formal educational institutions providing degrees and for those that provide short-term training programmes • Statistics training institutions in Africa: IASE; ENSEA; University of Pretoria; INSEA; • IASRI in India offers MSc and PhD in ag. stat

7. New training methods based on information technology • distance learning • e-leaning offer possibilities for students or participants to benefit from their training while staying at home or in offices • combination of traditional classroom lessons with e-learning

8. Short term courses/degree courses in information technology • Short courses at the premises of the institutions or in the work place • Degree courses in computing: for training specialists in data processing and in information technology • Degree courses prepare participants to take on responsibilities for large scale data processing or for managing computer services • Statistics offices need both high level specialists in computing and computer literate staff

9. Conclusions • Building staff capability is beneficial to both statistics office and individual staff member • Competencies are acquired through transfer of knowledge during daily work • At least every statistical staff should be computer literate • upgraded staff’s skills in IT result in better statistical products showing attractive outputs • Interest of users and development partners in statistics products will help facilitate financing of statistical undertakings

10. Points for Consideration by the Working Group Considering the changing environment of statistical work, the changing demand for and training needs, and the current training supply the Working Group is requested to provide its views on: • Training gaps • Role of International Organizations in supporting training activities • Role of National Organizations in supporting statistical training activities in their oen countries

11. THANK YOU !