WHAT IT IS

As an OIE collaborating centre we want to provide relevant expertise and training to other OIE Collaborating Centres, OIE Reference laboratories and organisations within the European Region.  We want to target our training according to the requirements of the OIE Member Countries and, in particular, we plan to focus on areas of our speciality where the need is greatest.  To help us do this, in May 2020 we approached European region CVOs with a survey designed to help us determine the skills gaps and needs across countries in the European region and inform plans for future training provision and events. The survey sought information of existing skills and interest in skill-building for the following areas within our speciality: Risk Analysis, Mathematical Modelling, Epidemiological and Statistical Modelling, Economic Modelling and Data management.  We very gratefully received responses from 18 organisations across 13 countries in the OIE European region. Within the responding organisations we identified some skills building needs, particularly in the areas of mathematical and economic modelling. For all areas we identified opportunities for training in the use of outputs specifically for policy development and evaluation. There was a strong interest in training provision and events across all aspects of our centre’s specialities indicating a strong desire for both building and maintaining skills within the remit of our collaborating centre for risk analysis and modelling.

WHAT NEXT

The centre now has a working group tasked with identifying opportunities for the provision of training. We are pleased and grateful to have the full detail of the survey responses to inform this future training programme.  We will always welcome contact from any organisations who would like to propose skills training within the scope of the centre. Please do not hesitate to email us (RAM.OIECollaboratingCentre@apha.gov.uk).