SUPPLY OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY RELATED TO THE SETUP OF A EUROPEAN MASTER PROGRAMME IN OFFICIAL STATISTICS (EMOS)

Curricular

GExp Meeting 11/20/2013

I. Objectives and Structure

II. The Master specific Core Programme

III. The EMOS Module

IV. Internships and Masters Thesis

V. Discussion and Conclusions

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OVERVIEW

I. OBJECTIVES AND STRUCTURE

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1-1. OBJECTIVES

EMOS Module – 3 objectives:

European methodology

Innovation (pedagogical methods, tools and new methods)

Regulation and organisation of European statistical system (code of practice, nomenclatures, quality, etc.)

Internships and Master thesis

Professional orientation

Master specific core programme

Diversity

Quality

Open to professional and practical problems

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1-2. STRUCTURE

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Core Programme (compulsory courses)

Core Programme (compulsory courses)

Elective Courses

EMOS

Module (compulsory)

Elective

Courses

Initially With EMOS

Elective

Courses

For all the students EMOS

students

Other

students (if any)

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II. THE MASTER SPECIFIC CORE

PROGRAMME 6

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2-1. DIVERSITY…

… of programmes, but in line with the objectives

of the EMOS project

… of application fields (health, labour,

education, economics, social science,

demography, finance, etc.)

This variety will meet the expectations of key

stakeholders (NSIs, Eurostat, ESCB, ESS, etc.).

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2-2. QUALITY

Academic National accreditation

Programme

Staff

Research

Professional Balance between theory and practice

Communication skills

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2-3. OPEN TO PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL

PROBLEMS

Open Master where they accept foreign students

Open on IT tools

Software

MOOCs: in the sense of a MOOC system and a platform

conceived at first for the benefit of the “closed” community

EMOS (NSIs and university departments of the labelled

Masters)

E-learning

Web management

Innovation

Scientific publications

Applied methodology

Statistics for the future

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2-4. CONTENT OF THE PROGRAMMES

Four main configurations have been detected:

Configuration n°1: The content of the second year programme corresponds to a master in statistics (FI, FR, IT, RO, SP, TR)

Configuration n°2: The program is built on two academic years (PL)

Configuration n°3: Two Master’s programmes of the same country are complementary and their association would lead to a complete master in statistics (HU, NL, PT, SP)

Configuration n°4: Masters could enter into the EMOS community but the corresponding NSIs are not yet ready to participate (DE, SE, UK)

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III. THE EMOS MODULE 11

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3-1. CONTEXT

The Label EMOS should not impact the existing “national/regional/local” accreditation/recognition of the master

Almost all Masters programmes comprise two main parts:

the compulsory part

the optional part

The EMOS Module will be integrated in the optional part

Consequently, the EMOS Module duration should be designed accordingly

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3-2. GENERAL OBJECTIVES

To provide a minimal common denominator of

statistical knowledge and skills for the

professional and expert staff of:

The European Statistical System

National Statistical Institutes

Other stakeholders

The general scope of the EMOS Module is:

Mission and mandates of Official Statistics

Statistical standards and their role in data harmonization and

integration

Modern IT environment and prospective innovations

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3-3. STRUCTURE (1/2)

We propose three main topics…

1. Current and normalised statistical tools and

practices

2. European Statistical System

3. Innovative approaches

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3-3. STRUCTURE (2/2)

… with five subjects:

1. Current and normalised statistical tools and practices

EM1: Sampling techniques

EM2: “Timeliness” modelling

2. European Statistical System

EM3: Principles and Organisation

EM4: European Standards

3. Innovative approaches

EM5: New advanced methods

Each subject accounts for 20% of the EMOS Module

(The order of the modules is not imposed)

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3-3.1. EM1: SAMPLING TECHNIQUES (1/3)

Nowadays, sampling techniques are the main tools for

data collection and aggregation in social and

economical statistical surveys in all countries

Objectives

Provide the links between:

theoretical knowledge

practice in official statistics

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3-3.1. EM1: SAMPLING TECHNIQUES (2/3)

Contents

It is assumed that students have already studied sampling theory.

Therefore, in this part we suggest to focus on concrete survey issues as: business statistics (structural, short-term, groups…)

household statistics (living conditions, employment, health, education…)

Example

Sampling design, data control, non-responses treatment and imputation, small area estimation, use of administrative data and other sources

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3-3.1. EM2: TIMELINESS MODELLING (3/3)

Objectives

Analysis of temporal data or series of cross sections

Two topics:

Times Series

Panel data

Contents

It is assumed that the students already have a basic knowledge on these topics

Example

Short-term survey sampling design, seasonal adjustment and calendar effects (Demetra+, X13as), cycles (HP, PAT/MCD), indicators, panel data (longitudinal vs. transversal, fixed effects vs. random effects, endogenous vs. exogenous attrition)

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3-3.2. EM3: PRINCIPLES AND ORGANISATION (1/3)

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Objectives

Provide a basic knowledge on ESS legal foundations,

organisation, and functioning

Two topics: the role of ESS in the global statistical system

statistical ethics as the foundation of data quality and confidence in official statistics

Contents

General overview due to the broadness of the topics

Example

ESS in the global statistical system, ESS and Eurostat

activities, fundamental principles of official statistics,

code of professional ethics, EU quality requirements

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3-3.2. EM4: EUROPEAN STANDARDS (2/3)

Objectives

To explain why standards in international statistics are

needed

To provide knowledge on the main principles

underlining aspects as creation, rules of functioning

within ESS ...

Two topics: The role of European Standards in international statistics

production,

The main European Standards

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3-3.2. EM4: EUROPEAN STANDARDS (3/3)

Contents

The second topic covers various sectors of statistics,

so we can present the general overview of the

European statistical standards and European

System of statistical classifications and some

examples from economic, social or environmental

statistics

Example

European System of National Accounts, NACE and

CPA, Statistical classification of regions in the EU,

European Waste Classification for Statistics

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3-3.3. EM5: NEW ADVANCED METHODS

Objective

To propose scientific innovations, based on methods, for the future development in official statistics

Contents

It must be updated periodically in order to follow progress in statistics and related sciences, and in official statistics

Example

New forms of interview and data processing, and storage, big data – data sciences, simulations, bayesian statistics, micro-econometrics.

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IV. INTERNSHIPS AND MASTER

THESIS 23

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4-1.1. EMOS INTERNSHIPS (1/3)

The challenge for these internships is to fill the gap or to

build a bridge between theoretical knowledge and

professional practices of the statistical institutions ready

to propose subjects.

It is expected to be a win-win process for the two parties:

for the academic side: an immersion in the organisation of the administration and the services and their real problems

for the operational statistical agencies: a different vision and perspective of the current practices

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4-1.1. EMOS INTERNSHIPS (2/3)

Both sides have to be involved into the definition of the subjects in order to reach this equilibrium of benefits.

This first challenge will be managed step by step by the EMOS community. An audit system/peer review of the subjects/thesis, with the responsible of the masters and Eurostat, has to be established.

Year by year a catalogue of relevant topics and prospective needs will be built.

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4-1.1. EMOS INTERNSHIPS (3/3)

According to the budgets and the various support

received in the future by EMOS, foreign students in NSIs

should be expected as a “plus”.

The international conference in Helsinki in April 2014

should enable to gather the first subjects.

The language problem cannot be ignored since the

documents are in national languages. Nevertheless the

internship reports should contain at least a summary in

English.

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4-1.2. MAIN SUBJECT CATEGORIES

FEW EXAMPLES… (1/3)

Statistical production tools and processes:

Survey with questionnaires: face to face, CAPI, CATI, new ICT methods…

Administrative sources… big data!

Monitoring a production chain.

Data files administration/dissemination:

Building and cleaning the raw files,

Metadata for dissemination,

Matching statistical sources… confidentiality.

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4-1.2. MAIN SUBJECT CATEGORIES

FEW EXAMPLES… (2/3)

Data analysis and modelling

Time series analysis

Econometrics (micro, macro, panel)

Forecast

Statistical categorisation and indicators

Building process of official indicators

Methodological problems of official indicators: international comparability, timeliness…

Statistical nomenclatures

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4-1.2. MAIN SUBJECT CATEGORIES

FEW EXAMPLES… (3/3)

Benchmark between statistical systems,

statistical sources, statistical production

schemes, statistical indicators.

It could be relevant to propose the same subjects for

two or three students in different statistical agencies

of different countries with a clear benchmark

mission.

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4-2. EMOS MASTER THESIS (1/2)

The EMOS master thesis could be managed in the

same context and for the same professional

objectives as for the EMOS internships.

The role of the academic supervisor would certainly

be more important in this case.

The audit/peer review of the subjects/master thesis

should take into consideration this risk.

But solutions can be found through a management

of the work as for statistical consulting through a

well defined contract between the parties.

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4-2. EMOS MASTER THESIS (2/2)

The master thesis can be proposed through a

collaboration between an EMOS Master in one

country on a subject proposed by a NSI or a

stakeholder in another country.

It seems at first sight, that master thesis with a

benchmark goal across boarder could be easy to

organize and could be of first interest for the

European statistical community.

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4-3. REMINDER OF EMOS INTERNSHIPS/

MASTER THESIS - RULES

Internships or master thesis should be proposed by:

ESS (NSIs, Eurostat, etc.)

ESCB and stakeholders

Students

Universities

Validation by:

Director of the concerned Master?

Eurostat?

Scientific Council?

Allocation/assignment of internships and master thesis:

The assignment should be based on the interest of the students by the entity in charge of the professional mission set up by Eurostat 32

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V. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 33

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QUESTIONS ABOUT?

Financial aspects

English language

The EMOS Module

Internships and master thesis

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