The Vitebsk Region Statistics Department celebrates its professional holiday

Statistical bodies in the Vitebsk region received state status 180 years ago. Since then, both information processing methods and the requirements for specialist training have changed.

In our republic, the Central Statistical Bureau was established by the Decree of the Military Revolutionary Committee of Belarus dated August 23, 1920. This day has become a professional holiday for all residents of our country working in this field. However, if we look into the past, we will find that the history of statistical research in the Dvina region spans much more than 95 years. It turns out it's time to celebrate the 180th anniversary!

In those distant times, our region was an integral part of the vast Russian Empire. Under Nicholas I, during a reform aimed at "compiling detailed and, as far as possible, accurate descriptions of the state of all parts under the Ministry of Internal Affairs," it was decided to establish provincial statistical committees locally. In Vitebsk, it was founded in May 1835. The committee prepared a geographical description of the province and developed a research program for it. It was at this institution that the Museum of Antiquities opened in the city in 1868. In addition, from 1861 to 1914, "Memorable Books of the Vitebsk Province" were published – a total of 31 issues. They contained reference and address information, as well as various local history materials. A significant amount of statistical data was also included: for example, on the number of residents (both total and by social class, religion, gender), enterprises in the region, and so on. One can even find information on the number of abandoned children in the districts of Vitebsk province over a decade. Moreover, the collection not only provides the number of abandoned children but also analyzes the reasons why mothers from different social classes acted this way.

I learned about all this and much more at the exhibition hosted by the Main Statistical Office of the region. Although the exposition dedicated to the history of this service is not very large, one can find a lot of interesting facts there. Thanks to them, you immerse yourself in the past of your native region and clearly understand that statistics are far from being as dry and monotonous as some may think.

Another confirmation of this is the exhibition of creativity of the employees of the statistical office, organized in connection with the professional holiday. It gave people an opportunity to talk about their personal and family hobbies, as a result of which many looked at their colleagues in a completely different way. It turned out that some are engaged in beadwork in their free time, others have mastered quilling, third ones sew masquerade costumes for children and grandchildren, fourth ones successfully perform at sports competitions… The works made of wood, provided by the Makovetsky family, leave no one indifferent. The striking embroidered paintings by Anastasia Sigutkina are also mesmerizing. The exposition once again proves that one can succeed in everything – both in work and in creativity, if there is a desire.

And such wonderful employees are selected with the direct participation of Elena Ivchenkova, the head of the organizational, personnel, and legal work department of the Main Statistical Office of the region. Elena Konstantinovna has held this position for 20 years, and in the office in general – for another decade longer. Over such a long period, thousands of people have passed through her hands, so to speak, as employees or job applicants. Elena Ivchenkova is a witness to many changes in her field of activity.

— Probably, the most defining of them can be called the measures to improve our structure. For example, in 1987, the Vitebsk Regional Statistical Office was established on the basis of the regional statistical office and the computing center, which in 2008 became the Main Statistical Office of the Vitebsk Region. Another significant transformation was the optimization of the staff in 2013, as a result of which our structure lost 4 departments and 90 civil servants, — she says.

Not only the number of employees changed, but also the requirements for them.

— The level of staff training is completely different now, — notes Elena Konstantinovna. — If in 2011 there were 30 civil servants with secondary vocational education in the department, then today there are only two, and only in the regional statistics departments. All the others have higher professional education.

Currently, the main areas of personnel work include improving the educational level of staff and the level of professional knowledge of both managers and specialists, as well as creating a rational human resource management mechanism. Today, the statistical department uses the open education system of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus when conducting qualification exams for persons entering civil service for the first time; the automated system "Personnel Training Order"; computer attestation testing of civil servants; the software product "Personnel Management", the capabilities of which have allowed to bring personnel work to a new qualitative level. Also, once every three years, a survey on 4 blocks of questions is conducted in the Belstat system. Thus, information is collected about employees' attachment to the organization and its image, personnel risks, satisfaction with working conditions, and the need for additional knowledge. The information obtained allows state statistics bodies to successfully solve many practical problems, including those related to replenishing the ranks of employees.

However useful new technologies and modern approaches to work may be, they are unlikely to be more effective than a personal example. And Elena Ivchenkova not only knows her stuff when it comes to personnel selection, but she is also a good role model herself. She is an excellent specialist with numerous awards. Among them is the Gratitude of the Chairman of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus for high professionalism and significant contribution to the implementation of personnel policy. Among Elena Konstantinovna's diplomas and certificates, one can also find those awarded for active participation in trade union work and sports achievements (for prize-winning places in the republican industry Spartakiad of Belstat, city volleyball competitions, and table tennis tournaments among employees). Today, in the regional statistics department, more than 20% of the staff, like Elena Ivchenkova, have over 20 years of work experience in the system, so the youth, who will celebrate their professional holiday tomorrow with their colleagues, have someone to look up to and gain experience from.

Liliya IVCHENKO, "Vitebskiye Vesti". Photo by Anton STEPANISHCHEV, "Vitebskiye Vesti".