The European Master in Official Statistics from a

The European Master in Official Statistics from a national point of view: the Italian contribution Maria Pia Sorvillo (Istat-Italian National Statistical Office) Monica Pratesi (University of Pisa) Workshop on Human Resources Management and Training 5 - 7 September 2012, Budapest

Background Previous discussions involved • Eurostat • National statistical offices • Academy Training European Comprehensive High level NSIs ESS

Background Why a European Master in Official Statistics? • • To improve official Statistics in Europe To spread a shared vision of the ESS To reinforce the network of European statisticians To enhance the academic offer of Master programmes in official statistics

The Italian contribution ISTAT (the Italian Statistical Office) • Supported the project in its initial stage • Fostered discussion with issue papers • Established the Advanced School for Statistics and Socio- economic Analyses

A School to boost statistical literacy in the country….

…with more than one target audience

NSIs and EMOS A number of possible advantages: • • Facilitating innovation in data production and analysis Increasing the European dimension Reinforcing NSI-Academy cooperation Making available young graduates with specific training

NSIs’ contribution: an added value Professionals and researchers as teachers… …and as trainees • Definition of contents

Training needs First of all: • Statistical tools to improve data production and analysis Estimation techniques, innovation in sampling, integration of data sources, exploitation of big databases, … But also: • New technologies Web for dissemination, data capturing, … • And “soft skills” Management techniques, Interacting with users, Communicating data, …. .

Open issues How? • self-contained modules ü offering learning paths/different levels Where? • centralized ü widespread For whom? • NSIs’ staff ü Young graduates/phd Ø EU/candidate countries/others

The Italian Initiative Advanced School for Statistics and Socio-Economic Analyses / Istat Italian Statistical Society Academy

A new training in official statistics • Modular approach / overarching framework • Maximum value from previous experiences • Close coherence between topics of the training and official statistics’ needs Creating synergies between scholars and practitioners in designing single modules •

Target • Istat researchers • Staff of the National Statistical System • Statisticians in various institutions • Young graduates • Selected cooperation projects • …and EMOS

Conclusions Mostly needed in NSIs: • Training for innovation and upgrading subject to budget constraint • International perspective staff deeply rooted in the national context Shared initiatives and EU support can help taking over difficulties a strong planning effort is needed

Thank you for your attention sorvillo@istat. it scuola@istat. it