Civil servants and representatives of academic institutions in the CIS member states have participated in the first round of advanced training courses on Population Projection (PP), National Transfer Accounts (NTA) and Population and Development (PD), held from 30 November to 11 December 2020. Conducted by the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE), the courses were attended by 87 participants working for different ministries, National Statistical Offices, universities and demographic institutions.
The courses are not a one-time training, but continuous education divided into three rounds, with ongoing technical support and follow-up provided by HSE experts. At the end of the training, participants will present their papers and/or findings in an international symposium that will take place in the Russian Federation. In the first round of training, participants learned the theoretical aspects of the selected course (PP, NTA or PD). The next two rounds will comprise more practical training, where participants will learn how to put theory into practice. For example, participants in the PP training will conduct population projections for their respective countries and examine the implications for development.
The training provides a unique opportunity for participants to discuss their findings with their peers in the region and learn from each other, while receiving technical assistance from the HSE for the duration of the process. Participants will be mentored on how to perform various analyses and will present their research findings in a symposium by the end of 2021.
The intensive course is being delivered by prominent scholars and experts from the HSE under the leadership of Mikhail Denisenko, a tenured professor and a member of the HSE Academic Council. The programme is carried out within the framework of advanced vocational training. Upon successful completion, participants will receive an official certificate from the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
The training courses are organized in accordance with an agreement signed between the HSE and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) within the framework of the regional project CISPop: Better Data for Better Policies, funded by the Russian Federation. The project aims to strengthen the collection, analysis and utilization of data for evidence-based policymaking in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
