The Data Decade Means Companies Are Hungry for Qualified New Workers

DAYTON, Ohio, March 24 /PRNewswire/ --

• A recent survey shows universities around the world lack the technology and content to prepare the next-generation work force in the science of business intelligence
• Their instructors are struggling to teach to the expanding demands for data analytics
• With the rapid growth of business data, professors need access to larger systems and data sets to teach proper analysis of information
• Now universities are partnering with Teradata for free access to needed data warehouses, databases and data sets

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News Facts

• Survey respondents reported the challenges are: Technology (43%), Content (41%), Marketing (11%) and Staffing (5%).
• Most frequently cited problems:
  • Teachers can’t adequately prepare students because they lack access to the needed software, hardware and real-world business problems;
  • Students are ill-prepared for the rigorous statistical analysis required. They shy away from the tough preparatory courses needed to make sense of query results.
• Teradata University Network has stepped forward with the needed tools, including free software, hardware, and real world business problems.
• Responding to the survey were professors from more than 80 universities around the world, including Canada, China, Germany, Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Spain and the United States.
• The survey findings were presented to the Business Intelligence Congress in Phoenix on December 14.
• The Internet survey was distributed to university professors who are members of the Association for Information Systems listserv.
• The survey was conducted by Barbara Wixom, co-Executive Director of the Teradata University Network, an associate professor at the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce, and Director of UVA's M.S. in M.I.T. graduate program. She is an associate editor of the Business Intelligence Journal and a research fellow of The Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI).

Universities around the world struggle to develop the next-generation business intelligence work force. The two largest areas of concern are an inability to provide relevant and meaningful problems for students to solve, and the cost of providing the database technology needed to solve the problems.  Teradata Corporation has stepped forward to provide the needed tools, including free software, hardware through the Teradata University Network.  

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100324/CL76155 )

Barbara Wixom, associate professor at the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce:

“It’s clear from the survey that instructors want to change the way students learn about business intelligence. Professors want to provide large data sets, contemporary software tools, and real-world content within their classrooms. But, factors like high technology costs, complex maintenance requirements, and steep learning curves present insurmountable obstacles.”

“When we can help students understand what it means to use business intelligence to address problems faced by companies today, they are much better prepared to become productive employees.”

Scott Gnau, vice president and general manager, Research and Development, Teradata Corporation:

“We recognize the obstacles universities face in teaching BI. By helping them prepare students, we’re helping the business world capitalize on data analytics, one of the top technology priorities for companies today.”

"Increasingly, companies compete on knowledge about their own business.  Leveraging business intelligence for that strategic advantage requires a well-prepared workforce.  We currently need to develop those capabilities in people after they are hired. Our strategy of assisting universities with tools is so they can scale the talent pool and prepare the next generation of BI professionals.

About Teradata University Network

Teradata University Network is a free web-based portal for faculty and undergraduate and graduate students in data warehousing, business intelligence/decision support, and database. Led by academics, Teradata University Network currently has more than 2,000 registered faculty members from over 1000 universities in 85 countries, and thousands of student users.

Teradata is a trademark or registered trademark of Teradata Corporation in the United States and other countries.

NOTE: the full social media release is available in the Teradata News Room at http://www.teradata.com/t/news-and-events/  It contains links to A and B-roll video and to related videocasts and audiocasts.

SOURCE Teradata University Network