Deakin University and IBM collaborate to foster analytics skills for the next generation of Australian workers
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jane den-Hollander and Business Unit Executive, IBM Business Analytics, Australia and New Zealand, Mike McKee.
12 October 2012 Melbourne, Australia
Deakin University and IBM announced the launch of Australia's first Centre for Excellence in Business Analytics following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The new collaboration between IBM and Deakin University is part of an ongoing effort to expand and strengthen student skills and understanding of big data and analytics in order to meet the growing demand for highly skilled analytics workers.
IBM estimates 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created every day. With the creation of this amount of data, it is essential the next generation of Australian business and marketing leaders possess strong analytics skills to garner insights from the flood of information.
The new centre will be based at the University's Melbourne Campus on Elgar Road and will act as a springboard for the University's plans to deliver a suite of postgraduate programs in Business Analytics, as well as showcasing IBM's business analytics technology solutions. IBM will also offer certifications programs in Analytics through the Centre.
Professor Dineli Mather, Head of the School of Information Systems, said Deakin's School of Information Systems was well positioned to expand its academic offerings into Business Analytics as it has combined expertise in Information Systems and analytics and was able to offer students the opportunity to develop in a broad range of disciplines already offered by the Business Faculty.
"We anticipate students on the Master of Commerce and MBA will be able to specialise in Business Analytics and students from all degrees across Deakin will have the opportunity to take elective offerings in Business Analytics.
"Our collaboration with IBM is a positive step forward in terms of fostering these skills with the next generation of students," she said.
"Analytics skills are already emerging as an important part of business," said Mike McKee, Business Analytics Business Unit Executive, IBM Australia and New Zealand.
"Big data and the explosion of business information systems are creating more complex work environments.
"The Australian business leaders of tomorrow will need the skills and training to harness these information and technology tools to turn the data into business insights.
"Deakin University and the Centre for Excellence in Business Analytics is creating a new education environment in Australia that will bring business and technical skills together for the growth of our economy."
More information about the IBM Centre for Excellence in Business Analytics.
Related stories
School of Information Systems sponsors peak business analytics body
