With the demand for analytical talent
projected to outpace supply by 60 percent in the next few years, and a
persistent shortage of female analytic experts, new educational options
are required to help address these needs. SAS and Capella University are
helping adult learners jump-start careers in the hot field of analytics
with two minor degrees.
Capella University, a regionally
accredited* online university, is now offering a Bachelor of Science in
Information Technology minor in data analytics and a Bachelor of Science in Business minor in business intelligence.
Capella University offers online degree programs that help working
adults advance their careers. Students in the new minors gain free
access to SAS Self-Paced e-Learning courses to prepare for SAS Certified
Base Programmer professional certification.
Capella's collaboration with business analytics leader SAS
provides students with SAS knowledge and the high-demand competencies
that address the nation's analytics skills gap.
"Students benefit
from an interactive, collaborative learning environment that blends
theory with practical application, including sophisticated SAS tools
accessible from their desktops," said Sue Talley, EdD, Capella's Dean of
Technology. "Working with SAS lets Capella provide a well-rounded,
foundational education in data as well as a deep dive into specific
skill areas."
Talley described Capella's efforts to increase the
participation of women in analytics at this week's Analytics 2014
conference and will revisit the topic at The Premier Business Leadership
Series. Women represent only 24 percent of US IT professionals, and
just 22 percent of 2013 graduates in computer and information sciences.
A revolutionary new path to a degree.
Both
female and male data analysts interested in becoming SAS experts may
find they are well on the way to a Capella University degree, thanks to
the university's FlexPath
learning option. FlexPath is a self-paced style of learning that allows
students to move more rapidly toward their degrees by directly
demonstrating competences, regardless of how they learned them. This can
also leave more time to work through new or more challenging material.
FlexPath's self-defined deadlines, robust and timely faculty feedback,
and responsive support structures can result in decreased time to degree
and lower tuition costs. Degrees earned through the FlexPath option are
the same as those received through Capella's traditional,
credit-bearing programs.
"Employers are clamoring for analysts
that can turn data into knowledge. Capella and SAS help adult learners
combine workforce experience with new analytics skills to seize
lucrative jobs," said Emily Baranello, Director of the SAS Education
Practice.
Career opportunities fuel popularity of SAS Analytics U.
Collaboration with colleges and universities is pivotal to SAS Analytics U,
a broad academic initiative that includes free software, university
partnerships and engaging user communities that support the next
generation of SAS users.
Driven by rising employer demand for
analytics talent, more people than ever before are pursuing SAS skills,
aided by free SAS software and training. SAS University Edition
has been downloaded more than 111,000 times since its launch in May. It
provides free access to foundational SAS software faster and more
easily for students, professors and adult learners.
Read more...
Source: Broadway World