The ESS Vision 2020 and the European Statistical Training Programme (ESTP)
The ESS Vision 2020 is a common strategic response of the European Statistical System (Eurostat, EU Member States and EFTA countries) to the challenges that official statistics is facing.
The ESS Vision 2020 identifies FIVE KEY AREAS in which common action is needed in order for European statistics to be “fit for the future”. As agreed by the ESS Committee, the implementation of the ESS Vision 2020 is taken forward by progressing on a PORTFOLIO OF COMMON PROJECTS that is complemented by so called “SUPPORTING FRAMEWORKS“, and is steered by a dedicated ESS GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE.
The PM² Methodology with an Agile Twist
In March 2017 a first ESTP Course with PM² was offered by Eurostat to the ESS members, and provided a great opportunity to really dig into and discuss how we manage our projects and how we can work together better. The course lasted three days during which the 19 attendees went through the entire project lifecycle, from conception to conclusion, with a good look at the benefits and sustainability of the project. One overall feedback was about the usefulness of the Commission’s PM² Methodology, which had just launched its PM² Open Edition and is now freely available to all.
The course highlighted differences in the degree of usage of project management good practices showing the gap that still needs to be filled to work together with utmost efficiency. This is also reflected in the participants’ request for a follow-up advanced course to further develop their practical knowledge of project management.
Building on experience, Eurostat is repeating the course and adding an extra day to discuss the Agile PM² approach to project management. Agile is mainly used in IT projects (software development) – but not only: any project that has to deliver results in a very short period of time can benefit from using some Agile techniques. Source
The European Statistical Training Programme (ESTP)
The purpose of the European Statistical Training Programme (ESTP) is to provide European statisticians the opportunity to participate in international training courses, workshops and seminars at postgraduate level.
Courses under the ESTP have a truly international dimension to meet the challenges of comparable statistics at European and international level. Courses focus on harmonised European concepts and legislation, as well as the implementation practices at national level.
The ESTP Core Programme 2020 is available to officials and employees of National Statistical Institutes or corresponding Other National Authorities (ONAs) of EU Member States, EFTA countries, candidate countries and potential candidates as well as Eurostat can apply.
Occasionally, and on an individual basis, applicants from other administrations, international organisations and statistical offices of non-European countries may be admitted.
Registration to the programme is coordinated by Eurostat. Courses are delivered either at Eurostat premises in Luxembourg or at national training sites of EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries.
For all further questions concerning the programme and the registration procedure, please refer to the NATIONAL ESTP CONTACT POINTS (as of February 2020). Source Eurostat/ESTP
ESTP 2020-2024
PM² Project, Programme and Portfolio Management offered to Officials and employees of National Statistical Institutes or corresponding Other National Authorities (ONAs) of EU Member States, EFTA countries, candidate countries and potential candidates as well as Eurostat.
Courses will enhance the theoretical and practical knowledge related to project, programme and/or portfolio management. Participants should become familiar with PM² Methodology and, if applicable, other methods and instruments succesfully used in the ESS.
The course will equip the participants with the competences required to be effective when managing projects:
- Develop a common vocabulary and understanding in the ESS regarding project management.
- Develop essential skills for managing projects in the ESS Increase cooperation in the ESS in the field of Project and Portfolio Management. Source European Commission E-Tendering Portal
About the ESS
The ESS comprises Eurostat and the National Statistical Institutes, ministries, agencies and central banks that collect official statistics in EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Member States collect data and compile statistics for national and EU purposes.
The ESS functions as a network in which Eurostat’s role is to lead the way in the harmonization of statistics in close cooperation with the National Statistical Institutes. ESS work concentrates mainly on EU policy areas – but, with the extension of EU policies, harmonization has been extended to nearly all statistical fields.
PM² Alliance – www.pm2alliance.eu is an international, not-for-profit organisation with a broad membership across the Member States of the EU. Founded by PM² practitioners, the Alliance brings together individuals from institutions, companies and academia to inspire dialogue, share resources, and address the field’s challenges while promoting the wider adoption of the PM² Methodology. As the world’s only society of its kind, the Alliance strengthens the community’s collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of professional excellence.
See also:
Working together with PM²: The ESS Vision 2020 Project, Programme and Portfolio Management, ESTP, 2018. European Commission CIRCABC selected presentations (publicly available):
- PM² Overview
- Building Success on Lessons Learned
- Executing, Monitor & Control
- Business Implementation – Managing Organisational Change
- Project, Programme. Portfolio
- ESS VISION 2020: BUILDING THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN STATISTICS (YouTube)
- FULL TEXT OF THE ESS VISION 2020
- ESS VISION 2020 KNOWLEDGE BASE ON CIRCABC (no registration needed; click a second time on this link if prompted to log in).
