RAII-16/Doc.4.8(2), DRAFT 2APPROVED, p. 7
World Meteorological OrganizationREGIONAL ASSOCIATIONII (ASIA)
Sixteenth Session
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
12 to 16 February 2017 / RAII-16/Doc.4.8(2)
Submitted by:
Secretary-General
15II.2017
DRAFT 2APPROVED
AGENDA ITEM 4.8: CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
SUMMARY
DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED:
(a) Adopt draft Decision 4.8(2)/1 – Enhancing support to WMO education and training activities and facilitating bilateral and multilateral assistance from Members;
(b) Adopt draft Decision 4.8(2)/2 – Regional priorities for education and training;
(c) Adopt draft Decision 4.8(2)/3 – Report on the status of WMO Regional Training Centres (RTCs) in the Region.
CONTENT OF DOCUMENT:
The Table of Contents is available only electronically as a Document Map[*].
DRAFT DECISIONS
Draft Decision 4.8(2)/1 (RA II-16)
ENHANCING SUPPORT TO WMO EDUCATION AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES AND FACILITATING BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL ASSISTANCE FROM MEMBERS
THE ASSOCIATION,
Recalls Decision 63 (EC-68) – Capacity development priorities for 2016-2019;
Acknowledges further the outcome of the Seventh Regional Conference of Management of NMHSs in RA II;
Acknowledges that the WMO Education and Training Programme (ETRP) is an important part of the Organization’s capacity development endeavors and that the ETRP has over the years made important contributions to the development of capacity of human resources in the fields of meteorology, hydrology and allied disciplines;
Notes that despite the contributions of the ETRP to capacity development at the global level, many Members in the Region still face acute shortage of adequate human resources in their NMHSs;
Noting further that lack of adequate education and training opportunities may be having a considerable negative effect on capacity of several NMHSs for: (a) service delivery; (b)optimum contribution to scientific knowledge; (c) support to national socioeconomic and development policy; (d) broader partnerships at national and international levels; (e)development and implementation of relevant international agreements; and (f) resource mobilization,
Recognizing the importance of regional and national initiatives such as “Nanning Initiative on China-ASEAN Cooperation in Meteorology”, China Study Tour and the provision of scholarships for long-term fellowships by China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation,
Urges Members to develop bilateral and multilateral cooperation on education and training initiatives aimed at enhancing the capacity to develop weather-, climate-, and water-related services to a full range of socioeconomic and development activities;
Encourage Members to take full advantage of the long-term and short-term scholarship opportunities offered by RTCs in RA II, such as China, Republic of Korea and Russian Federation and other institutes such as the WMO Virtual Laboratory Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Training for Satellite Meteorology for Southwestern RA II Members hosted by Oman;
Calls on Members to update WMO on their Education and Training National Focal Points (ET-NFPs), a network already established to ensure an effective and a rapid communication on education and training matters;
Requests Members to consider putting in place initiatives such as Study Tours and provision of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in support of fellowship provision by institutions and developments partners;
Requests also the Secretary-General to:
(1) Put in place training and related initiatives aimed at enhancing the management capacity of officials of NMHSs in key areas such as strategic planning, human resource management, policy development, resource mobilization, management of infrastructure, intergovernmental coordination, international relations and communications as given in the Annex to the Decision;
(2) Render training assistance to NMHSs on how to take account of weather-, climate-, and water-related information in the implementation of international agreements, socioeconomic and development related initiatives.
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Draft Decision 4.8(2)/2 (RA II-16)
REGIONAL PRIORITIES FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
THE ASSOCIATION,
Recalls Decision 63 (EC-68)- Capacity development priorities for 2016-2019;
Notes that there are various challenges facing NMHSs in the Region;
Notes further that education and training play a pivotal role in building enabling capacity for dealing with those challenges;
Having considered the need to identify the priority needs that are relevant to these endeavors,
Agrees on the following as the priorities for education and training, within the framework of priority areas which are expressed in the Strategic Plan of WMO:
(1) Development and implementation of appropriate competency frameworks and augmentation of existing curricula and learning outcomes with advances in science and technology;
(2) Continuous education and enhancement of research capabilities to keep pace with developments in science and technology research;
(3) Broadening of partnerships with organizations and agencies for initial and continuous education;
(4) Fellowships for education of the future generation of meteorologists and hydrologists;
(5) Embedding of education and training as critical elements in the management and modernization of NMHSs;
(6) Promotion of research and operational capacity through stronger connections to WMO research programmes, graduate level fellowships and personnel exchanges;
(7) Exchange of experience and competencies through exchange of human resources and dissemination of good practices;
(8) Enhancing the capacity of RTCs to deliver learning opportunities to meet the regional education and training needs;
(9) Resource mobilization in support of national needs and institutional development;
Urges Members to take these priorities into consideration in their national and international activities on education and training;
Requests the Secretary-General to assist in formulation of appropriate response actions to the regional priorities on education and training in the Region, particularly through RTCs and allied institutions.
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Draft Decision 4.8(2)/3 (RA II-16)
REPORT ON THE STATUS OF WMO REGIONAL TRAINING CENTRES (RTCs) IN THE REGION
THE ASSOCIATION,
Recalls Decision 63 (EC-68)- Capacity development priorities for 2016-2019;
Acknowledges the report on education and training activities in RA II;
Appreciates the contributions of Regional Training Centers in RA II which are located in China, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Qatar and Uzbekistan; and also those who provide support from outside the Region;
Aware of the fact that the performance of the RTCs in the Region depends on: (a) the primary goal of their parent institutions; (b) level of support they receive from their governing body; (c)cost of procuring training by potential beneficiaries; (d) catchment population; (e)language; (f) outreach activities; and (g) their relationship with international organizations and development partners;
Considering the strategic importance of the WMO RTCs, their continued relevance and the need to have a more concerted approach to their management, to enable them to make more effective contributions to socioeconomic and development issues,
Agrees to:
(1) Recommend to EC to confirm the RTC Islamic Republic of Iran based on the report of the EC Panel of Experts on Education and Training conducted in August 2016;
(2) Recommend to EC to reconfirm the RTCs in China, India, Republic of Korea, Qatar, Russian Federation and Uzbekistan, through the next external review by the EC Panel of Experts on Education and Training or the next RA II Session, whichever occurs first;
(3) Recommend to EC to postpone the external review of RTC Iraq, until a suitable arrangement is made for assessment;
(4) Advise the RTC in Uzbekistan work to increase its service to the Region through short courses in WMO priority areas and degree programmes;
(5) Commend RTCs in China, India, Republic of Korea, and Qatar and Russian Federation for their continued service to the Region;
(6) Encourage RTCs to begin documenting how they meet RTC criteria for reconfirmation prior to their next planned external reviews, and to report this in their annual reports to the ETR Office;
(7) Encourage RTCs to cooperate with WMO in the promotion of the Global Campus initiative, inter alia, by way of offering to share their educational resources;
Urges Members hosting RTCs to increase their support to RTCs, and all Members to give maximum possible cooperation to RTCs in the Region, to enable them to serve more effectively in line with their mandate;
Requests Members hosting RTCs to update WMO of the status, particularly regarding management and organizational changes that could affect their relationship with WMO and counterpart RTCs;
Requests RTCs to ensure that they all:
(1) Align their courses along the lines recommended in the Manual on the Implementation of Education and Training Standards in Meteorology and Hydrology (WMO-No. 1083);
(2) Send their annual major reports and plans for their course offerings on a regular basis;
(3) Broaden the focus of their activities in the areas of management and application of meteorological and hydrological knowledge to socioeconomic development;
(4) Work more closely with other WMO centers such as the Regional Climate Centres (RCCs) and Regional Instrument Centres (RICs), and with scientific and research institutions in the areas of education and training;
(5) Aim at continuous improvement of their approach to delivery of education and training activities, especially by taking into account relevant information provided by WMO;
Requests the Secretary-General to assist RTCs in repositioning their programmes and activities to enable them to deliver more appropriate support to NMHSs as they respond to various challenges facing their Services;
Requests further the Secretary-General to facilitate exchange of manpower between RTCs in and outside the Region.
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Annex to draft Decision 4.8(2)/1 (RA II-16)
Management Skills
Summary and Recommendations RECO 7
Effective management of an NMHS ensures that the functions of the institution are oriented towards ensuring its optimum possible contribution to sustainable development, reduction in loss of life and property, scientific development and technological advancement.
Hence, in order to build an effective management capability for a typical NMHS, it is important that its manager:
(1) Should ensure that the NMHSs operates in tandem with the goals, aspirations and operations of other national institutions, particularly those with close sectoral objectives such as water resources, agriculture, energy, environmental management, transport and aviation, oceanography, seismology, tourism and so on.
(2) Work within / puts into place appropriate national legislative and institutional frameworks and considers the relevancy of the role and activities of the NMHS to national and international policy environment;
(3) Ensure that a comprehensive forward looking and long term development / business plan is in place;
(4) Ensure availability of adequate financial resources as much as is possible;
(5) Take into account the changing user requirements as well as political and socio-economic situations;
(6) Maintain a mutually beneficial relationships with all stakeholders at national and international levels;
(7) Put in place appropriate mechanism to ensure effective internal and external communications and public outreach;
(8) Ensure that a comprehensive human resource capacity development and transition strategy is in place in key areas such as strategic planning, human resource management, policy development, resource mobilization, maintenance of adequate infrastructure, intergovernmental coordination, international relations and communications;
(9) Undertake regular staff and customer satisfaction reviews.
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