Professors of University of Freiburg Visited NBS

Ms. Zhang Guorong, member of the Party Group, and Head of the Discipline Inspection Group of the Party Group of the NBS, met with Prof. Günther Schulze, and Prof. Oliver Landmann from Institution of Economics, University of Freiburg, Germany, on 29 March 2007.

Ms. Zhang Guorong welcomed the visit of the two professors, and expressed gratitude on the success to the first phase of the Continuing Education Courses for Senior Chinese Economist/Statisticians in University of Freiburg.

Ms. Zhang Guorong said that the 30 participants in the first training course made a special report to the leadership and relevant staff of NBS on March 7. All the participants studied and worked hard, and such hard spirit should be admirably by other staff. She pointed out that the first phase of the Continuing Education Courses for Senior Chinese Economist/Statisticians was prominent on updating knowledge, and with the strict management; but still existing shortcomings with lack linked to the world economy, and practical problems. Ms. Zhang made recommendations for improvements in three areas: First, to adjust the schedules of modules, to increase difficulties step by step, more difficulties should put into the second phase of the training courses; Second, to try new assessment methods, recommend for adopted the examination, essays, and other examining methods which might be better suited to serving staff with the better results; Third, to increase in local visits, and case studies combined with world, and German economy which could enable students to broaden their field of vision and understanding of the global economic trend. Working to adapt the characteristics to reduce the traditional teaching spoon-feeding, enhance teaching interactive, to increase relaxed and lively teaching, recommended that the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, and Eurostat to introduce the statistical work of Germany and the European Union.

Ms. Zhang said that the first phase of course was a pilot, and hoped that on this basis, China and Germany could continued to sum up, keep improving, and improve the quality and effectiveness of training.

Ms. Zhang emphasized that China will pave the way further for the second phase of the trainees’ selection, strengthen on the participants’ professional knowledge and English training before they study in Germany; NBS will strengthen on the effectiveness of study results, and practices.

Prof. Schulze said they felt much honored that the selected persons from NBS to University of Freiburg were on a high-level training, excellent, quick thinking, and achieved good results through training. China's proposal will be carefully considered, the University will adjusted the teaching methods, evaluation methods, and teaching content so that students could gained larger harvests on study, and better combination with the work.

Messrs. Zhang Zhongliang, Director-General of Statistical Education Center, Shi Zhanqian, Deputy Director-General of Training Institution, Xia Rongpo, Deputy Director-General of Statistical Education Center, Zhang Jun, Deputy Director-General of Department of International Cooperation, and Luo Yanping, Assistant Counsel of Department of Personnel, attended the meeting.