Developing International Cooperation, Enhancing Training Capability and Carrying out Big Scale of Trainings for Professional Staffs

Specialized in Statistical Surveys

Wang Jili

Director-General

Statistical Education Center

National Bureau of Statistics of China

1. Much more higher requirement was brought to the training of statistical special personnel by the reforms of statistical survey method.

With the development of socialist market economy, there is a big change in the main part of the surveys. Data collection through traditional statistical survey method, that is overall statistics reporting system, has affected the accuracy and timeliness, and made it difficult to realize the standard of “rapid, accurate and precise” required by the statistical work. To meet the need of socialist market economy, we are conducting a profound reform on statistical methodology and system in China, changing it from a system which mainly relies on overall statistics reporting system under the traditional planed economy to a new system in which multiple methods are applied comprehensively, in which, taking the periodical census as basis, with the regular sample surveys as the principal method, and taking statistics reporting system, key-point investigation and integrated analysis as supplement. The quality and timeliness is the value of life for statistical data, while with the sample survey which are generally adopted internationally, high quality data could be achieved quickly and accurately. And thus it could promote the scientificity and veracity of statistical work, and enhance the flexibility of statistical work, so that the statistical works in China could transform from a traditional type to a modern one, and better meet the requirement of the development of socialist market economy and conform to the reform and opening up drive. The key point for the success or failure of the reform on the statistical survey method is the qualification of personnel. It is quite urgent for us to train a group of working staff in large scale with specialties on statistical surveys who can apply the sampling survey techniques expertly. And at the same time, the deepening of the reforms has put forward much more higher requirement for the training of personnel.

2. Taking full advantage of the source of international cooperation, promoting the training capacity of National Bureau of Statistics, and implementing large scale of training on survey skills for statistical staff.

Because of the influence of traditional planned economy system, generally speaking, most of statistical staffs in China are used to filling out statistics reporting tables, and they are not quite familiar with modern sample survey methods, lack necessary survey skills. Their knowledge structure and professional competence cannot meet the need of reforms on the statistical survey methods. The real situation is as follows: lack of statistical core workers who are proficient in designing and organizing the sample surveys, the sample selection is not appropriate and lack of representative feature, most of interviewers are not familiar with the skills and methods for visiting and surveying under the market economic situation, without grasping the theory and methodology for analyzing and processing the incomplete data and exceptional data, lack of capability to setup modules and conduct further data analysis using modern statistical theory and methods, insufficient ability in conducting comprehensive development and making use of statistical data.

In allusion to the present situation of the statistical staff, it is very urgent for China to train a large number of specialties in the field of statistical survey and we are facing a very heavy task. How to implement the training and what kind of training material to be selected are the key issues for the success of the training program, and it is also the primary problem we are faced with. At the same time, the quality and result of the statistical training rely on two aspects, one is that we have to know the level of the trainees and teach them in accordance with their aptitude, second is that we should make full use of the sources both domestically and internationally, and introduce advanced techniques and training methods in respect of sample surveys as well as compatible equipments used for training. A set of training courses must be developed in accordance with the situation in China, and conduct the training program designedly as they are scheduled. In this case, it has came to a common understanding to provide cogent intellectual and technical support for the survey skill training through international cooperation.

Statistics Canada has an abundant practical experience in respect of conducting statistical training, and on this base, a set of systematic, comprehensive and exercisable training material has been formed. In the sub-project of survey skill training under the Information Management Project between NBS and STC, both sides will cooperate together to develop a set of all-embracing training material, both with the features of advanced techniques and theories on the statistical survey applied in STC, and with the related actual cases occurred in China. China will make full use of the result of this international cooperation and train the vast statistical staff. Through the training, the trainees could be taught to grasp the methodology and thinking clue applied in statistical survey of Statistical Canada and make them experience the interactive teaching method adopted by the Statistics Canada in the training, and thus the training efficiency will be promoted. Different level of statistical staff will received the training to according to the different requirement by their works, make them grasping survey theories, methodologies and techniques comprehensively or with particular emphasis. The professional level and working capability of statistical staff will be promoted progressively and make them accommodated to the need of statistical reform and development.

As everybody knows, China is a country with large population. And there is a huge statistical working troop with about 3 million statistical workers, and they are distributed among different places and different sections, of which there are 80 thousand statistical staffs in governmental statistical system. With a vast territory, the development of China’s economy is imbalanced. The outlaying and depressed areas are not capable of affording to retain teachers with both profound theory and abundant practical experience. On the basis of this training material, making a set of video course and using it to carry out large scale of training will achieve high output with low input and enhance the nation’s training capability, and get twice the result with half the effort. For many years, National Bureau of China has achieved great success in conducting various kinds of trainings nationwide through video courses, and accumulated abundant experiences. To cooperate with Statistics Canada and produce a set Video Course on the basis of developing survey skills training material, was imperative under such a situation.

3. The initiation of the China-Canada Survey Skills Training Project

Under the general framework of China-Canada Statistical Information Management Program, National Bureau of Statistics of China signed the Initiative Agreement of the Survey Skills Training Project with Statistics Canada in October 1998.

Main content of the Agreement is as follows:

1) To produce a Video Course entitled “practical survey skills”, edit and publish a compatible Survey Skills Manual;

2) The Statistical Education Center of National Statistical Bureau of China will utilize the video course to carry out large scale of survey skills training throughout China and recommend related colleges and universities to use it in statistical teaching courses or use it as a reference;

3) To guarantee the smooth implementation of the project, both sides agreed to establish a Joint Project Steering Committee as the overall project authority; and a project team to be responsible for the implementation of the project.

4) Both sides set the preliminary framework of the video course and the material, and the basic principle for evaluating the video course and material, as well as the preliminary working division.

In order to produce “survey skill training” video course with high quality, Statistics Canada provided to NBS of China a set of video producing equipment, which is the most advanced one at that time. This set of equipment was mainly composed of first phase videotaping system and last phase processing system. With this set of equipment, Statistical Education Center of National Bureau of Statistics finished the production of the 21-hour videotape of Survey Skills Training Course, and promoting its level of technology from analog to digital.

4. Implementation of the Project

In 2000, Statistics Canada finished the editing of Survey Skills Manual. The aim of this manual is to provide practical guidance for the planning, designing and implementing of the statistical surveys. In 2001, the Project Team of China part made a supplement and adjustment to the manual in accordance with the actual situation in China, and made amendments four times after several discussions by the two sides. Finally, it was completed with the two sides’ satisfactory. China part translated the manual into Chinese, according to which the Filming Script was finalized, and then a 21-hour videotape of Survey Skills Training Course was produced. In October 2001, National Bureau of Statistics of China formulated a survey skills training scheme for statistical personnel from 2001 to 2003. According to requirement by the objectives of the Project Initiation Agreement, it will finish the training for 30,000 statistical staffs within 3 years, from which 16,000 staffs are from governmental statistical system. In the same month, National Bureau of Statistics of China held a news conference on the teaching video course and manual of the China-Canada Survey Skills Training Project. The conference was chaired by Mr. He Keng, former deputy commissioner of NBS, who was in charge of the statistical education and training works. Mr. Zhu Zhixin, former commissioner of NBS delivered an important speech. Main leaders of each department of NBS attended the conference. After the conference, NBS issued a document of the Survey Skills Training Plan within the Chinese Statistical System (NBS document No. 76, 2001) to the governmental statistical system, which indicates beginning of a large-scale survey skills training work among the statistical staffs in China.

1) Taking responsibility for assigned works, Making a unified plan, and organizing the implementing work.

As a principle, the training work in different levels are managed by the respective levels, the Statistical Education Center of NBS is responsible for the training of teachers at the national and provincial level; and provincial bureaus are responsible for the training of statistical staff in the local statistical system and in statistical staff in other sectors.

① Chart of the organization work for the training

② Classification of trainees

Statistical personnel among governmental statistical system: including working staff from statistical bureaus at national, provincial, prefectural and county level, as well as from the three survey organizations;

Statistical personnel among non-governmental system: part of interviews, assistant interviews and statistical workers in basic enterprises or institutions.

③ Scale of the Training

November 2001 to September 2003: 110,000 people were trained all over the country.

Number of People Participated in the Survey Skills Training Courses

                                                   Unit: person

Briefing on the fact of training at the governmental statistical system

Total number of people finishing the training at the governmental system is 19694. They are statistical staffs mainly engaged in the works of sample survey scheme designing, questionnaire designing, dada management, data analysis and paying visits to households. In which:

① Staffs from National Bureau of Statistics central office are 134

Number of people and sex structure of participants

from each departments of NBS

② Staffs from statistical bureaus and three survey organizations of provincial, prefectural and county level are 134.

Briefing on the fact of training for statistical staff at the non-governmental statistical system

Total number of people finishing the training at the non-governmental system is 911178, in which include:

① Interviews and assistant interviewers. These people will be employed to be interviewers to do the surveys paying visit to households when sample surveys are carried out by NBS or provincial bureaus.

② Statistical workers in enterprises and institutions. These people are engaged in statistical works in their own organizations. The survey skills training for them will help to promote their professional capabilities.

2) Demonstration of Training Model, To Guarantee the Training Quality

In order to unify the training standard and promote the training quality, on the basis of leaning and making reference of the experiences on the survey skills training from Statistics Canada, the Statistical Education Center of NBS adopted a series of effective training method and finished 10 teachers training courses directly for the statistical bureaus and three survey organizations of provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities).

Training measures for teachers training courses:

   To watch video courses;

   Lectures given by teacher and answering question;

   In class discussion;

   Case study;

   Finish the assignment

   Simulation of interviews;

   Evaluation of the Simulation of interviews by teachers and trainees;

   Test;

   Evaluation of the effect of the training courses.

This kind of training could not only provide training teachers for local places, but also give a demonstration for the training in local places.

Table of Participants in the Teachers Training Courses

5. Outputs of the project

Though implementing the survey skills training program, the theoretical level and capacities of the statistical staffs on the sample surveys had been promoted evidently. The project has resulted in a remarkable effect, which is listed as follows:

1) Successfully developed a set of practical training manual and tutorial material, upgraded and supplemented necessary training course video producing equipments. Making fully use of the TV education program, over fulfilled in achieving the target of the training 30,000 statistical staff as scheduled.

2) The capabilities of the statistical staffs in the governmental statistical systems were improved significantly in designing the sample survey schemes and questionnaires.

In the training courses for teachers, the trainees would carry out discussions and exchange views in association with their practical works. The trainees responded that the Survey Skills Training Course is systematic in structure and very easy to manipulate, with the basic flow of works of the sample surveys clearly described. It is also regarded as not only a training material but also a sample survey tool book. Through the training, the trainees had a much more clear understanding about the systematic descriptions of the survey objectives, designing of the sample survey scheme and questionnaires and other key issues. Following the principle of the training manual, the systematic features were enhanced, the statements are much more accurate and the scheme designing are more rational when conducting a survey.

3) The data cross checking and data interpolation techniques had been improved noticeably.

As expressed by the feedback of the trainees, they have never grasped the data cross-checking and interpolation theory and methods systematically before. And their capability in this aspect has improved a great deal after participating the training course. It is a great help in promoting the data quality.

4) Having a good command of the basic ability in field survey will assist the promotion of response rate.

A simulated face to face interview was conducted in each of the training courses, and it will reviewed by the trainees together with the teacher who gives the lecturers, pointing out which part of the techniques were good in the application, which part are not good. And then, the face to face interview would be conducted again, and resulted with much better results than the previous one.

5) The basic knowledge of sample surveys is popularized among the statistical staff.

The Education Center of NBS listed the Survey Skills Course as a required course by statistics continue education, and many statistical staffs in enterprises and institutions took part in the training courses. Some of the statistical workers in enterprises would often conduct market research, sample surveys on product quality related to their enterprises. As they expressed, through the training they have learned the basic method and applicable way of sample surveys, and it was a great help for the improvement of the statistical work.

6) Making use of the video production equipment supplied by Statistics Canada, we have fulfilled large quantity of works besides the tasks stipulated by the project, such as producing the video courses of in-service training and diploma education for statistical staffs as well statistical propagation and reporting works. We have also accomplished China-France Cooperation Project on Business Register - the last phase processing for the production of the Chinese version of a video course SIRENE for French Business Register.

6.  To carry out further International Cooperation at a much higher stage, widening the training project, in order to make the professional skills and working capabilities of the statistical workers meeting the need of statistical reform and development.

The Survey Skills Training could only provide to the statistical workers with professional knowledge and skills needed for conducting statistical surveys to a certain extent. While at present, the socialist market economy system is developing increasingly and the statistical reforms and undertakings are getting deepening developed. The requirements for statistical workers’ professional qualification are getting higher and higher, representing in a good command of comprehensive knowledge and skills. In this case, besides the training on the knowledge and skills in dada collection and processing, we must enhance the training on data analysis, data development and data application, so that to improve the comprehensive competence of the statistical staffs.

Besides the Survey Skills Training, Statistics Canada also provided training courses on the following three aspects: Business & Economic Statistics Training Course (BEST), Data Interpretation Workshop (DIW) and Enterprise Survey Skills Training Course. These three courses are good references for the training of the statistical staffs. The Survey Skills Training program has promoted the professional qualifications and working abilities of statistical staffs in the governmental statistical system and statistical workers in non-governmental agencies in China. After having attended the Survey Skills Training, the statistical staffs in China also need to take part in the Business & Economic Statistics Training Course (BEST) and Data Interpretation Workshop (DIW). The three courses combined together to constitute a quite perfect training course system for statistical staff. The Survey Skills Course attaches importance to training the statistical personnel of the ability to obtain data utilizing sample survey measures, the Business & Economic Statistics Training Course stresses that the statistical personnel should acquire general knowledge on economic statistics, and Data Interpretation Workshop emphasizes the explanation and interpretation of the data collected, and increases the level of data development and utilization. With the result of the international cooperation in this aspect, the Chinese statistical staffs could grasp the basic contents of the economics statistics, have a good command in using sample survey techniques and measure to collect data, and could be able to conduct scientific, systematic analysis and utilization to the data collected. Thus, the overall quality of statistical staffs in China will be totally promoted.

7. Conclusion

The 5-year period of China-Canada Survey Skills Training Project has successfully concluded. It is the crystallization of wisdom and common efforts of statistical colleagues of the two countries. The project has achieved its expected objectives and accomplished successfully, promoting the professional qualifications of statistical staffs in China significantly. The coverage and influence of the positive result of the project will be extended continuously. It will contribute a great deal to the continuous, steady and healthy development of China’s economy. At the same time, the project laid a foundation for the future international cooperation in the aspect of China’s statistical education and training. We will try to find more channels for further cooperation and create a glorious future for statistical education and training undertakings together with colleagues from international statistical community.