WAM Abu Dhabi, May 26th, 2012 (WAM)--Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD) announced that 441 trainees attended the various courses organized by SCAD's Statistical Training Institute in the first five months of 2012. The course participants belonged to 18 out of the 29 departments and other local Government entities that the STI collaborates with, along with trainees from SCAD.

Butti A. M. Al Qubaisi, Director General of SCAD pointed out that the Centre is keen to meet training needs of Abu Dhabi local government entities in various statistical disciplines. SCAD seeks to promote cooperation with these government bodies through the provision of specialized statistical training programmes for their staff, and coordination with the entities concerned in the evaluation of the inputs and outputs of these courses, depending on the nature and requirements of their work.

By May 2012 trainees had attended 36 courses in specialized statistical areas, including metadata for beginner and intermediate levels, introduction to sample surveys, sample design and data analysis for Al Gharbia region municipality, use of financial statements in the completion of economic survey questionnaires, survey methods, statistical report writing for beginners (in English), sample frame and design, and foreign trade statistics. The STI also organized five courses in non-statistical secretarial areas, namely, the use fire extinguishers, two courses in etiquette, a workshop on the evaluation of staff performance of in collaboration with Musanada, operation with the support of, in addition to several other workshops, seminars and open discussions on a range of vital topics to enhance the staff knowledge.

SCAD also announced approval of the STI's action plan of the Institute for June 2012, which provides 6 courses in areas of economic, demographic, social, agricultural, and environmental statistics, in addition to courses in surveys, general statistics, statistical research and etiquette.

According to SCAD the most important courses scheduled under the Institute's training calendar for 2012 include: Statistics for Non-statisticians and a course in demography entitled: "Economic Characteristics of the Population", along with courses in economic classifications, statistical survey, design / preparation of questionnaires, national accounts, metadata, the Environmental Performance Index and a wide range of other courses for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi asserted that despite the rise in the number of government agencies that the STI has cooperated with since its inception, the Institute looks forward to broadening the participation of the staff of government agencies in the foreseeable future, in fulfillment of its mission to raise the efficiency of personnel working in the statistical units of these agencies.

Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi assured it is working in coordination with several internationally recognized universities and institutes in the field of statistics as strategic partners of the Institute in the delivery of high-quality courses in accordance with international standards. The Institute also seeks to provide access to its statistics through e-learning, thereby enabling students follow-up training sessions online. It is worth noting that a website was designed for STI in September 2011 featuring electronic registration for the institute's courses.

Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi called on all government entities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to take advantage of the training programs organized by SCAD's Institute of Statistical Training, which are presented by highly competent experts in the various fields of theoretical and applied statistics, including population censuses and specialized field surveys. The STI frequently invites expert trainers from prestigious institutions worldwide, so that Institute's trainees can benefit from their high level of expertise and long experience in official statistics.

Butti Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Director General of Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi, pointed out that the STI represents the latest strategic initiative undertaken to support statistical work in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, since a specialized institute that caters to the preparation of statistical cadres, with a view to upgrading performance is one of the fundamental requirements for building an advanced statistical system in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and supports Emiratization in this strategic area with competent, adequately trained UAE nationals. \ --MORE-- WAM/MN