Data Science: U-M Partners with Google to Offer Job-ready Tech Skills Program 

A new flexible online training program on data science will prepare job-seekers in Michigan and beyond to quickly enter one of the fastest-growing labor markets and advance their careers. The University of Michigan’s Center for Academic Innovation created the program, “Data Analytics in the Public Sector with R,” for data science and other professionals interested in how public data sets can drive decisions and policymaking in the public sector. The course complements current Google career certificates, flexible online “Grow with Google” job-training programs for high-demand fields.

Video Highlights: Data Theory in the World Seminar: How Data Drives Business Decisions

I was pleased to learn that my alma mater UCLA has taken a very innovative direction by creating a new Data Theory undergraduate major, a collaboration of the Mathematics and Statistics departments. The video presentation below is a recent panel discussion that explains the genesis of the new major “Data Theory in the World Seminar: How Data Drives Business Decisions.”

Why Predictive Analytics Is Crucial for Maximizing College Retention Efforts

In this contributed article, Bryan Bell, Chief Data Scientist at Aviso Retention, discusses how using data analytics and business intelligence programs to make smarter student enrollment choices helped colleges reduce their “summer melt” by about 1 percent last fall. These colleges also performed three times better than the national average in terms of their fall 2020 enrollment figures.

ACM Issues Computing Competencies for Undergraduate Data Science Curricula

Recognizing the explosive growth of data science as a field, as well as the demand for data science training at the undergraduate level, a Data Science Task Force convened by the Association for Computing Machinery’s Education Board recently released “Computing Competencies for Undergraduate Data Science Curricula.” The ACM report seeks to define what the computing/computational contributions are to this new field, as well as to provide guidance on computing-specific competencies in data science for departments offering such programs of study at the undergraduate level.

Qlik Announces Inaugural Professor Ambassador Class to Celebrate Educators Helping to Create a Data-Literate World

Qlik® announced its first-ever Academic Program Professor Ambassador Class, a select network of academics from the Qlik Academic Program, that have demonstrated dedication and excellence in leveraging Qlik to drive data literacy with analytics in the classroom and preparing students for the data-driven economy.

How to Launch Your Data Science Career

Are you interested in getting into the field of data science? We don’t blame you. Data science is an exciting field that’s constantly changing and developing, which gives data scientists’ work endless potential. Here are six tips for ways that you can launch your data science career.

Big Data & Higher Education: How Are They Connected?

In this contributed article, freelance human Avery Phillips points out the many ways that higher education is incorporating big data to make the educational experience better for students. Big data is helping to improve responses to learning style, benefit targeted enrollment, and increase retention rates.

No degree? No Problem: US Employers Shifting Hiring Mentality for Data Skills

Job seekers owning demonstrable experience with data might soon overtake those with data science degrees when it comes to the candidates global enterprises are seeking, according to a major survey of global business decision makers commissioned by data and analytics firm Qlik, on behalf of the Data Literacy Project.

The Data Talent Market Continues Its Ascent

We’re at an important inflection point in history where a glaring shortage of data-centric skills, coupled with an increasing demand for data professionals, represents a unique opportunity for those willing to make a commitment to “tool up” or “retool” as the case may be, in preparation for a career in analytics. The good thing is, after all the time and effort, the newly acquired skills will keep on giving because the analytics field shall continue to be in favor for a very long time.

Online Education is Paving a Smoother Path to Earning Data Science Skills

In this contributed article, Devavrat Shah, MIT Professor of Computer Science, highlights how many professionals are seeking rigorous training in data science skill, and want them without having to leave their day job. They need the practicality and flexibility that online learning provides, so the operative question becomes: can MOOCS deliver these skills without compromising quality?