Data Analytics Course Moves Online

The Business Intelligence and Data Analytics short course is the first of its courses to move from the classroom to the laptop. The Carnegie Mellon University Australia commenced delivering the first module of its course at Asia Pacific College’s Magallanes campus in February before the lockdown commenced in mid-March.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steve Robinson AO (L-2) together with (L-R) Dr. Emil Bolongaita, Head of Carnegie Mellon University – Australia, Former National Economic Development Authority Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, President Teresita Medado of Asia-Pacific College, and Professor Murali Viswanathan, Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (BIDA) Short Course Director during the opening ceremony of the BIDA Short Course last 24 February 2020 held in Asia Pacific College (APC), Makati City.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steve Robinson AO (L-2) together with (L-R) Dr. Emil Bolongaita, Head of Carnegie Mellon University – Australia, Former National Economic Development Authority Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, President Teresita Medado of Asia-Pacific College, and Professor Murali Viswanathan, Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (BIDA) Short Course Director during the opening ceremony of the BIDA Short Course last 24 February 2020 held in Asia Pacific College (APC), Makati City.

.

‘Necessity is the mother of invention’ has been demonstrated in changes to Australia Awards’ delivery of its short courses. With the pandemic still affecting the Philippines, the program decided to move from face-to-face classes to online learning.

The Business Intelligence and Data Analytics short course is the first of its courses to move from the classroom to the laptop.  The course is based on Carnegie Mellon University’s program in data analytics has been recognized and awarded as among the best programs in the world.  Carnegie Mellon University Australia commenced delivering the first module of its course at Asia Pacific College’s Magallanes campus in February before the lockdown commenced in mid-March.  Travel restrictions also meant that the University’s academics could not travel to the Philippines to deliver the course. 



Participants of the Business Intelligence and Data Analytics short course in one of their face-to-face classes held in Asia Pacific College in Makati City.

Participants of the Business Intelligence and Data Analytics short course in one of their face-to-face classes held in Asia Pacific College in Makati City.

.

Without missing a beat, the University transitioned the short course to remote live and online classes delivered from its campus in Adelaide.  Working together with the Australia Awards Program, its 10 Philippine Government agencies and course participants from those agencies, the course managed a successful transition to online learning.



Dr Zbigniew Zdziarski from Carnegie Mellon University Australia conducts his online class via Zoom.

Dr Zbigniew Zdziarski from Carnegie Mellon University Australia conducts his online class via Zoom.

.

The course is training 31 technical and policy staff from the Department of Finance, National Economic  and Development Authority, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Transportation, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Information and Communication Technology, Philippine Statistics Authority and the Civil Service Commission.

The short course is designed to strengthen competencies in Information Management and Data Analytics in these government agencies.  Course participants are gaining substantial training and career experience, learning both cutting-edge theoretical knowledge and practical market-oriented approaches.  The curriculum combines business intelligence, data analytics and management subjects with industry-based data analytics projects to enhance the analytics capacity of their home agencies when participants return to full-time work in August. 

Six more Australia Awards short courses will be conducted online commencing in June 2020 for its partner agencies.  Visit www.australiaawardsphilippines.org/shortcourses for details.  To learn more about CMU’s courses visit www.australia.cmu.edu.