Swinburne University of Technology has partnered with business intelligence and analytics company Tableau to launch a new tertiary-level course aimed at improving students’ data literacy and decision-making through analytics. 

The course will be offered through Swinburne’s Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship (AGSE) as part of the Master of Digital Business Management (MDBM) degree.

Swinburne expects between 35 to 50 students to enrol in the new unit throughout 2018.

Course director Dr Paul Scifleet said the course will focus on creating “data literate” managers rather than merely a production line for data scientists.

“What we’ve been really focusing on is designing a degree that’s about the advanced knowledge and capabilities that management students will require to lead the kind of complex change digital change that’s significant at the moment,” he said.

Students will study a foundation unit in business analytics and an introduction to the tools and platforms utilised for data analytics. 

Tableau has worked alongside the University in modelling and building the unit, as well as providing software for student use. 

Nigel Mendonca, Australia and New Zealand country manager for Tableau believes there is an increasing demand in Australia for data literate talent.

He said Australia is facing a “severe shortage” data literate individuals, “with a burning need to look at ways to narrow this gap.”

“Collaboration between the government, private sector and educators is essential to upskill the workforce of today and embed data literacy in the workforce of tomorrow,” Mendonca said.