SCAD signs an MoU with Korea's KOSTAT and Participates in two Overseas Conferences

Memorandum of Understanding

SCAD has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the South Korean statistical bureau Statistics Korea 'KOSTAT', for the provision and management of mutual support between the two sides and the development of various forms of cooperation in the field of official statistics.

The MoU was signed in the South Korean capital Seoul, by HE Butti Ahmed Mohammed Bin Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of the SCAD and Mr. Ki Jong Woo Commissioner of KOSTAT.

The MoU aims to promote, support and manage cooperation between SCAD and the KOSTAT in such areas as the development of human resources, technical support, sharing of knowledge and data, etc.

The parties emphasized the need to promote closer relations in a range of statistical and research areas, and agreed on the exchange staff on a temporary basis to increase the technical knowledge and professional experience of SCAD and KOSTAT staff.

SCAD and the KOSTAT also agreed to promote mutual technical support through audit jobs. In this regard, each side will audit as requested the work done by the other party in the field of official statistics. This includes reviewing of the methods and procedures followed in the production of official statistics.

Furthermore, the parties agreed to facilitate the sharing knowledge, experiences, ideas and best practices in all areas of activity in order to strengthen and improve the performance of SCAD and KOSTAT, with due care to be taken by both sides to protect the confidentiality of shared data.

HE Al Qubaisi commended the agreement, adding that it would be extremely beneficial to SCAD's official statistics, given the fact that the KOSTAT is the body responsible for the preparation of official statistics and all related activities in Korea.

SCAD takes part in Korea workshop

SCAD participated in the 4th International Workshop on Internet Survey Methods, organized by Statistics Korea at the Statistical Center in Daejeon, Korea on September 12-13, 2012. The workshop took place under the provisional theme of 'Quality Improvement of Official Statistics and the Role of Internet Survey Methods' and offered a platform for meeting with web survey experts from various statistical authorities worldwide, including national statistical bureaus, international organizations, universities, etc.

The workshop addressed such topics as the advantages and disadvantages of internet and multimode Survey methods for official statistics, design and implementation issues in web-based surveys review of cases of statistical production utilizing internet survey methods in economic/household surveys and censuses, and data quality issues in web-based surveys.

A number of countries gave presentations on their respective experience with internet surveys as in the case of Zealand census, dealing with the public opinion in Hong Kong, redesigning the French e-business system, survey methodology in Japan, and the recent developments in the Netherlands.

SCAD's delegation delivered an excellent presentation on web based data collection in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, a contribution that enriched the workshop discussions, providing important inputs for the lessons learned and recommendations put forth.

Experience and partnerships

HE Butti Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Director General of SCAD emphasized the significance of the timing of this intensive international activity for all the sectors and departments of Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi, as the center is currently preparing for the implementation of a portfolio of important statistical projects as part of its first strategic plan '2010 - 2014', which seeks to place the statistical system of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and put it on a par with the systems of developed countries in terms of the number of statistical indicators and the services provided, as well as the quality of statistics and their relevance to the diverse requirements of its users, and the accuracy and timeliness of the Centre's outputs.

This comes in the context of the strategic orientation of the supreme leadership of Abu Dhabi towards the application of best practices and international standards of governance, benefiting from international experiences in this regard in order to upgrade performance in local departments and bring it into line with the developed world.