UNITED NATIONSECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFICSTATISTICAL INSTITUTE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (SIAP)

e-Learning Course
INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTS
24 November - 25 December 2020

I. About the Course
This e-Learning course, developed by SIAP, provides a strong foundation onInternational Accounts based on Balance of Payments and International Investment
Position Manual (BPM6). The aim of the course is to introduce participants the components
of international accounts: International Investment Position (IIP), Balance of Payments(BOP) and Other changes in financial and liabilities accounts.
This course comprised of five modules (lessons). First module starts with anoverview on international accounts and explains the harmonization between national
accounts and international accounts. Second module continues with definitions andaccounting rules used in international accounts. Instrument classification and functional
categories under international accounts are defined in Module 3. Following module
demonstrates possible data sources for compilation IIP and External debt statistics. Last
module highlights the importance of foreign direct investment on sustainable development
and introduces the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and relevant investment sector.
Covid-19 impacts on investment flows will be also examined in this module.

1II. Target Audience
Target participants are early and mid-level government statisticians with someknowledge of the BOP, IIP and SNA or involved in the collection and compilation ofstatistics that support BOP, IIP and SNA statistics. It is also recommended for users ofBOP/IIP statistics outside the compiling agency or those who are planning to develop theircareer in these fields.

III.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be expected toa) Identify the international accounts framework and its harmonization with nationalaccountsb) Explain the main components of international accounts: IIP, BOP and otherchangesc) Obtain deeper knowledge on instrument classification and functional categories ofinternational accounts and demonstrate their relationshipd) Compare possible data source for the compilation of IIP and external debt statisticse) Identify importance of foreign direct investment on sustainable development andget familiar with relevant SDG indicators

IV.

Course Design and ContentThe course covers the following five modules and each module consists of voiceover slides with explanation. Interactive lessons can be printed in pdf format. Each module2

is expected to take 45 minutes to 75 minutes to complete. The course is expected to take amaximum of 10 hours to complete.

ModuleCoverage

1. Overview of the Framework

Part 1. Harmony between national accounts
and international accounts
Part 2. International accounts

2. History of BPM6, Basic Definitions

Part 1. History of BPM6and Accounting Principles

Part 2. Main concepts and definitions
Part 3. Accounting rules

3. Financial Assets and Liabilities byPart 1. Financial Assets and Liabilities bytype of instrument and Functional

type of instrument

categories

Part 2. Functional categories

4. International Investment Position

Part 1. IIP

and External Debt Statistics and data

Part 2. Possible data sources in IIP

sources for compilationcompilation
Part 3. External debt statistics

5. Foreign Direct Investment andPart 1. Contribution of direct investment toSustainable development

the sustainable development
Part 2. SDG-Relevant investment sectors
Part 3. Covid-19- Investment flows

For each module, the course material consists of interactive lesson with embedded
quizzes. The course also includes lesson completion tests for each module and twoassignment regarding the special aspects raised in the course. Active participation andinteraction in the discussion forum are strongly advised by the lecturer.

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Lesson materials will be made available on a staggered basis to help learners tofollow the required sequence in mastering the material and achieving the learning outcomes.

There will be two webinars to supplement the e-Learning course.

V. Evaluation
Evaluation will be based on•Participation in discussion forum for five weeks (30% of score, 6% each):
Posting questions/replying to questions in the discussion forum (at least one
post in the forum per week)•Two webinars-Participation in webinars (20% of score, 10% each)First webinar:

10 December- Thursday-4pm Japan time

Second webinar: 17 December- Thursday-4pm Japan time

Further instruction on joining the webinars will be communicated separately
via email in due course.

•Five open book on-line module completion tests (50% of score, 10% each):
Maximum three attempts per test, with the highest score out of the threeattempts to be recorded.
Due date for Test 1-November 30 at 11pm Japan time
Due date for Test 2-December 7 at 11 pm Japan time
Due date for Test 3-December 14 at 11pm Japan time
Due date for Test 4-December 21 at 11pm Japan time
Due date for Test 5-December 25 at 11pm Japan time4The overall evaluation of the participants’ performance is based on the total scoreobtained in the above.
A certificate of successful completion will be issued to participants securing thetotal score of at least 70%.

NO EXTENSION WILL BE GIVEN TO PARTICIPANTS WHO FAIL TO
COMPLETE THE COURSE DURING THE DESIGNATED PERIOD.
Successful participants are required to complete a course evaluation form, which
will be available to them immediately after the completion of the course. Participants will
be able to print the certificates in the system in January.

VI.

Source Material

This course draws upon Sixth Edition of the IMF's Balance of Payments andInternational Investment Position Manual (BPM6), OECD Benchmark Definition of FDI
Fourth Edition, System of National Accounts Manual (2008) and other sources.

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