Program Overview

Introduction to the Teachers4DataAnalytics Program

The Teachers4DataAnalytics program is a teacher training initiative that aims to provide hundreds of teachers with the knowledge and tools to inspire their students to pursue careers in data analytics. This program is a result of a partnership between the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and SAS, a global analytics leader.

Program Description

The program is designed to empower teachers with the knowledge and tools to better place students for careers in the digital and data-driven age. It focuses on secondary school teachers and learners in South Africa, with the goal of encouraging curiosity and providing exposure to practical applications behind the curricula in STEM subjects.

Program Objectives

• To provide teachers with the knowledge and tools to inspire students to pursue careers in data analytics
• To empower teachers to reach more students and encourage their curiosity in STEM subjects
• To provide learners with exposure to practical applications behind the curricula in STEM subjects

Program Implementation

The program was launched at UKZN on 13 August and will be taken to the Universities of the Western Cape and North-West to train local teachers in those provinces. The training workshops will culminate in a SAS DataFly poster competition for teachers, where they can use SAS's DataFly technology to bring statistics to life in a data exploration exercise.

Program Expansion

The long-term vision is to expand the project across the continent to help connect schools, universities, industry, and government in creating a data analytics talent pipeline for a digital future. Feedback on this cross-Africa initiative will be shared at the World Statistics Congress in Ottawa, Canada.

Data Science Qualifications at UKZN

Under the guidance of Professor Delia North, UKZN has introduced a suite of Data Science qualifications, including:

• A BSc degree
• A postgraduate diploma
• A master's programme All of these offerings are fully SAS endorsed, making UKZN a recognized institution in the industry for studying and planning a career in data analytics.

Benefits of Data Analytics Skills

Having top-end data analytics skills during the 4th Industrial Revolution gives graduates a huge advantage in the job market. STEM provides graduates with elevated employment opportunities, and UKZN's specialized data science degrees and dedicated faculty make it an ideal place to study and plan for a career in data analytics.