1. 1 Workshop on a European Masters in Official Statistics Natalie Shlomo University of Southampton

2. 2 Online Survey Questionnaire Design Main findings from NSIs Main finding from Academic Institutions General conclusions

3. 3 Questionnaire iSurvey software developed at the University of Southampton Questionnaire split into 2 components: those answering from NSIs and those answering from Academia NSI Questions included: Information about NSI expectations for staff development Current training programmes at the NSI Collaborations with Academia on research and PhD supervision Preferred format of study for training in official statistics Academic Questions included: Information about Academic collaborations with NSIs Participation in official statistics research The types of collaborative partnerships of interest to Academics Preferred format of study for training in official statistics There were 52 ‘completed’ questionnaires, 5 of them were blank for a total of 47 completed questionnaires for evaluation

4. 4 Results from NSI questions: 29 of the 47 (61.7%) questionnaires were completed by representatives from NSIs Out of the 29 representatives, 2 had missing country, 4 were from the former Eastern bloc (Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Romania and Latvia), 23 were from Western Europe 23 out of the 29 (79.3%) had over 20 statisticians working at the NSI. Countries from the former Eastern bloc had less than 5 26 out of the 29 responded to minimum entry requirement: 15 (57.7%) said the minimum entry requirement was an under graduate degree with some statistics background (1 required an under graduate in statistics) and 11 (42.3%) said the minimum entry requirement was at a masters level with half of those a masters in statistics and the remaining with some statistics background 16 NSIs (55.2%) encouraged the publishing of papers in professional journals and in the last 3 years, the number of published papers was varied from 10-15 to a hundred

5. 5 Results from NSI questions: 28 out of the 29 responded to the question of having a Statistical Methodology Advisory Committee with only 10 (35.7%) saying yes 8 out of the 10 said they have academics on their Advisory Committee 28 out of the 29 responded to the question of participation in EU 7 th Framework projects with 16 (57.1%) saying yes. Only 1 out of the 4 from the former Eastern bloc participated in an EU project Current training programmes at NSIs:

6. 6 Results from NSI questions: 27 out of 29 (93.1%) responded to in-house training courses: Out of those, 25 responded to the target audience of the training courses 16 (64.0%) reported that the training courses are directed to staff outside of methodology, 7 (28.0%) reported to new entry methodologists and 2 (8.0%) to veteran methodologists 26 responded to further details about the in-house training: (76.9%) responded that the courses are 2 days or more, 18 (69.2%) said that the courses are assessed and 10 (38.5%) said that the participants receive a certificate of completion. 9 (31.0%) said that the courses are both assessed and a certificate provided Example of in-house training courses: Time series and seasonal adjustment, sample theory, editing and imputation, statistical quality, European statistical systems, labour statistics, indicators, software training, national accounts, data analysis and modelling, business architecture, safety at work, management and organization, general statistical theory and probability, demographic methods, confidentiality and dissemination, small area estimation

7. 7 Results from NSI questions: 9 out of 29 (31.0%) responded to collaboration on PhD research 6 out of 8 (one missing) (75.0%) responded to joint supervision between the NSI and the University There are a full range of PhD topics, including macro and micro- economics, demography, survey methods (edit and imputation, mixed mode data collection, adaptive sampling designs) and dissemination 13 out of 29 (44.8%) responded to collaboration with Universities through research and consulting contracts 6 out of 12 (one missing) (50.0%) responded that the academics visit the NSI once a week, 5 (41.7%) visit every 1 - 3 months and 1 (8.3%) visit once a year

8. Results from NSI questions: 8 out of the 29 (27.6%) responded to (non-accredited) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training Range of topics covering: survey methods, time series, longitudinal analysis, general statistical theory, small area estimation, management and organization, national accounts 4 out of 7 (one missing) (57.1%) responded that the CPD courses are assessed and 3 out of 7 (42.9%) that a certificate of completion is awarded. 2 NSIs have both assessed CPD courses and a certificate of completion 7 out of 29 (24.1%) responded to accredited degree programmes 5 out of the 7 (71.4%) have a masters in statistics out of which 4 are considered masters in official statistics (NSIs: Slovenia, France, UK, Spain). Of these 4 masters in official statistics: 1 is part time through short courses, 1 is part time through long courses, 1 is full time one year and 1 is full time two years There is a wide range of number of students on these degree programmes

9. 9 Results from NSI questions: 6 out of 29 (20.7%) responded to other training programmes These include: European Statistical Training Programme SFSO and University of Neuchatel NSI staff teaching on academic degree programmes Other general comments on collaborations with universities: Monthly workshops and seminars by University and PhD students Student training programmes (internships) at the NSI One-off post graduate courses at university for NSI staff Ad hoc exercises and regular training sessions Non-formal collaborations Finance of professorships at Universities Special contracts, joint projects and research projects

10. 10 Results from NSI questions: All 29 responded on preferences for the format of study for a European Masters in official statistics: 24 (82.8%) said that the programme should be part time with 8 (33.3%) responding long courses, 13 (54.2%) responding short courses, and 3 (12.5%) both types of courses 5 (17.2%) said that the programme should be full time with 4 (80.0%) responding a one year programme and and 1 (20.0%) responding a two year programme

11. 11 Results from Academic Questions 18 (38.3%) respondents out of the 47 completed questionnaires were representatives from the Universities Out of the 18 respondents, 3 were from the former Eastern bloc (2 from Hungary and the Czech republic), 15 were from Western Europe (4 from Italy) 12 out of 17 (one missing) (70.5%) participate in EU 7 th Framework projects 13 (72.2%) stated that there are collaborations with NSIs and 5 (27.8%) no collaborations

12. 12 Results from Academic Questions Out of the 13 respondents with collaborations with NSIs: 12 out of the 13 (92.3%) respondents have research contracts and 3 (23.1%) have consultancy contracts with NSI

13. 13 Results from Academic Questions Topics under research: Small area estimation, estimation methods based on linear mixed models with time correlated random effects, mean square error and variance estimation nonresponse bias and nonresponse adjustments, restrictive imputation of incomplete survey data, motivation of respondents in business surveys, population size estimation in Census 2011, edit and imputation, SDC, administrative data and linkage, georeferencing and geocoding, indices and poverty measures, analysis of survey data, sample coordination Topics under consultancy: Methodology auditing in official statistics, regional statistics, spatial statistics, census, demographic methods, labour market, visualization

14. 14 Results from Academic Questions 4 out of the 13 (30.8%) provide CPD training Topics include: survey methods, randomized response, general statistics theory, programming in R and statistical computing, demographic methods, data analysis, time series, index numbers, national accounts, legislation All 4 respondents on CPD training report more than 2 days length of the course 3 out of the 4 (75.0%) have assessments and 3 out of the 4 (75.5%) offer certificates of completion

15. 15 Results from Academic Questions 3 out of the 13 (23.1%) provide accredited degree programmes 2 of the respondents reported an entry requirement of an undergraduate degree in a related topic with some statistics and 1 required an MA/MSc equivalent with some statistics Subjects include those of CPD and in addition: Economic theory, legislation, math, general statistical theory, data sources, probability and inference Of the 3 programmes, 1 offers a Diploma only and 2 offer a Diploma or an MSc

16. 16 Results from Academic Questions 17 out of 18 responded to the type of collaboration of interest with NSI 12 out of the 17 (70.6%) said they would like all of the following: Exchange of PhD students, research/consultancy contract, accredited MSc programmes

17. 17 Results from Academic Questions 15 out of the 18 (83.3%) responded to the preferred format of study for an MSc in Official Statistics 9 (60.0%) want part time through short courses 2 (13.3%) want part time through long courses 3 (20.0%) prefer full time one year 1 (6.7%) prefer full time two years Other comments related to collaborations with NSIs: Scientific books, journals Statistical software development Ensure continuity of commitment of NSIs to ensure long term programmes NSI funds a professorship and also a prize for best masters thesis in research methods Memorandum of understanding with Eurostat Contract agreement for collaborative academic program and shared teaching Need for EU to sponsor participation in a degree programme

18. 18 Appears to be different expectations for the level of staff with some NSIs more focused on research and development than others How will this impact on a common platform for a programme of study Large majority of NSIs promote in-house training courses but not necessarily to statisticians Appears to be much academic collaborations with NSIs through research and consultancy, exchange of students and training Universities favour accredited degree programmes as opposed to CPD training A majority of all respondents (NSIs and Academics) favour the part time approach with short courses as a preferred method of study Comments: Small sample size –incomplete questionnaires which could be a result of the IT system General Findings