Designing Big Data Analytics Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes for Employability

Using National Skills Frameworks

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University of Derby, UKr.j.self@derby.ac.uk

http://computing.derby.ac.uk/wordpress/people-2/richard-j-self/

Richard J Self, Senior Lecturer in Analytics and Governance

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Context A very wide gap between demand and supply of

“Analytics” skilled and literate graduates with

» “analytics smarts” UK 56k new practitioners annually by 2020 USA 150k by 2018, plus 1.5M analytics aware staff

Businesses and Universities need plans B and C

Computer Science tends to be Technology Focused

Multi Disciplinary skills and teams – very few “unicorns”

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Big Data Analyst Skills

e-skills UK and SAS, 2014

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SAS Data Science Survey 2014

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See http://www.sas.com/en_gb/offers/14q4/data-scientist-report.html

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Foundations for Programmes Common Theme - Employability, Skills and Evidence

Skills For an Information Age (SFIA) SFIA Foundation, E-skills UK and British Computer Society, etc

Tech Partnerships (UK) (Draft) National Occupational Standards for

» Data Analysis

» Data Management

» Data Science

Threshold level of achievement on the QAA Benchmark for Computing (2007)

Use many environments (IBM, SAS, R, Cloud-based etc.)

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SFIA Structure1. Levels of Responsibility

2. Skills

See

http://www.bcs.org/content/conCertification/102

http://scripts.bcs.org/sfiaplus/sfia.htm for full description of Skills

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skills_Framework_for_the_Information_Age

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SFIA Levels of Responsibility 1. Follow

2. Assist

3. Apply

4. Enable

5. Ensure and advise

6. Initiate and influence

7. Set strategy, inspire, and mobilise

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SFIA Skills 6 Categories of skills

Strategy and architecture Business change Solution development and implementation Service Management Procurement and management support Client Interface

Each section sub-divided (see http://scripts.bcs.org/sfiaplus/sfia.htm )

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Using SFIA Framework SFIA licence the framework to academic institutions

“If you exploit SFIA commercially, to support the sale of your products or services to clients, you will need to pay a licence fee”

Individuals (including academics and students) have free registration for personal use for CPD “For organisations or individuals using SFIA only as a resource

for their own management or development, SFIA licences are free of charge”

See http://www.sfia-online.org/get-sfia/choose-a-licence/

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Tech Partnerships 2014 Draft NOS for Discussion Data Analysis Levels (e.g.)

ESKITP802301 Assist in Delivering Routine Data Analysis Studies

ESKITP802401 Design and Implement Data Analysis Studies ESKITP802501 Manage Data Analysis Services ESKITP802601 Lead the Delivery of the Data Analysis

Capability, Strategy and Framework

Performance Criteria

Knowledge and Understanding

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Programme Design Impact (1) Conceptual development guidelines (coverage)

Develop stretching curricula Some U/G work can be at SFIA level 7 (e.g. Set strategy)!

Develop CPD practice for career development Choosing career pathways Planning areas of study Recognizing and evidencing acquired skills for job application

Potential for accreditation (subject to fees?)

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Programme Design Impact (2) Module designs emphasise soft skills (as well as hard)

Curiosity Problem solving Creativity Collaboration Story telling Communication Continuous Research

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Approach Applied to BSc (Hons) IT

BSc (Hons) Analytics (Joint Honours)

MSc Big Data Analytics

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Programme Operation Impact Embed employability skills development into all modules

Using the new SAS / University certificates of competence

Highly enthusiastic students

High levels of achievement (75% 2:1 and 1st )

High levels of employment following graduation some during final year (after placement year)

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Session ID #3201