SPB Newsfeed: Taking part in SPB activities - Impressions from Serbia
As a participant, I was involved in the two SPB courses jointly organized by the CEF and JVI at ReSPA facilities in Montenegro; the course on Macroeconomic Policy Analysis in January 2014, and the course on Macroeconomic Forecasting in October 2014. I gladly accepted the CEF’s invitation to these interesting learning activities. I observed that all preparatory logistics were arranged on time, and I received helpful supporting information ahead of the event. Facilities, organization and atmosphere during the whole event were at a very high level.
I can encourage my colleagues in the region to attend CEF activities, because they give exceptionable opportunities to get a comprehensive insight in core activities related to our work, especially in the field of research, analysis and project implementation.
Having in mind that the courses were very extensive, the CEF organized excursions for us, which allowed us to better get to know the host country Montenegro, including its history and tradition. Those excursions presented a great opportunity for participants to be in a more informal atmosphere and to create bounds that will be helpful in our work in future, when implementing the knowledge gained at the course.
The courses provided me unique experiences to get familiar with certain topics that will help me through my daily work at the Ministry, extending my previous knowledge and work experience. Also, the courses gave me an excellent opportunity to share experience with my colleagues in the region and the faculty from the JVI in dealing with challenges that we are facing on our job every day. I will thus have easier access to solutions and advice of experts deal with similar issues in their work routines.
Attending the CEF courses enabled me to further grow my confidence in working with complex issues related to my everyday work, involving econometrics and other modern quantitative economic techniques. The discussion of such issues has changed my perspective, helping me to get more out of my work and my communication with my colleagues. Also, the courses gave me a lot of creative ideas related to the analytic part of my work, as it gave me a chance to talk about everyday work issues with colleagues from other institutions and countries. This helped me also with sharpening my self-perception with respect to my position, and in comparison with others.
Moreover, the courses allowed me to communicate with my colleagues on an informal level outside of the classroom, which will help solving some current working and academic issues. Having in mind that the participants at the course were from various educational and institutional backgrounds, it was interesting for me to relate my work to theirs within our academic and professional environment.
During the CEF events, I have definitely strengthened my skills and gained new ones, which I integrated as an addition to my daily working routine. The course on Macroeconomic Policy Analysis provided me with a comprehensive insight in economic analysis and a practical application of the gained knowledge, whereas the course on Macroeconomic Forecasting also enabled me to widen the level of reporting in all of the publications I am involved in drafting, editing or writing. I can surely say that such skill upgrade would have been impossible without this kind of courses. I am very thankful for having got the opportunity to attend those CEF activities, and am looking forward to attend some more in future.
Dimitar Točkov
Department for Macroeconomic and Fiscal Analysis and Projections
Ministry of Finance
Serbia