Goldsmiths, University of London will expand its Data Academy, offering more staff training in data analytics, in a drive to improve the student experience.
Staff across all functions of the university will be invited to enrol on the Data Academy, where they will study skills including analytics, AI and predictive modelling through apprenticeships.
The training will be delivered by Multiverse, a tech company focused on high-quality education and training through applied learning. Multiverse has trained more than 11,000 apprentices in areas such as software engineering and data analytics.
Two programmes will be offered on the academy. The 13-month Data Literacy programme covers the core technical skills required to transform data into insights, as well as softer skills like building narratives and presenting findings.
Meanwhile, the 15-month Data Fellowship will give apprentices the skills to clean, analyse and model data, and tell data stories to non-specialists.
The Data Academy was first launched last year, and ten members of staff are currently completing apprenticeships. Goldsmiths hopes that the additional investment in the academy will empower its staff to use data for better decision making and time savings; and ultimately making the student experience smoother.
David Minahan, Chief Information Officer at Goldsmiths, says ‘“Our five year digital transformation plan aims to develop a fully integrated data estate, enabling all of our students and staff to have personalised data dashboards and for Goldsmiths to benefit from data analytics and data driven decision making. The Goldsmiths Data Academy in partnership with Multiverse will provide the technical and data skills we need to achieve these aims”.
Matt Wedlake-Millecam is an accommodation administrator at Goldsmiths and applied to the Data Academy to find ways to streamline the accommodation services offered to students.
He said: “The most valuable aspect of the programme has actually been thinking about the way that I approach problems. The apprenticeship has definitely encouraged thinking proactively rather than reactively about the way that I do things.
“Thanks to the programme, I’m able to save hours of work by processing data automatically rather than manually. That time can be spent on ensuring student enquiries are answered quickly, therefore, improving the student experience."
Multiverse delivers world-class training in a wide range of qualifications in tech, data and engineering. Apprentices benefit from coaching with an industry expert and are supported by a thriving community with events, socials, mentoring and leadership programmes.
