Page 108 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 3

CPS1955 Solange Correa O. et al.

Master’s programme in Data Analytics for
Government: The UK experience
Solange Correa Onel, David Johnson
UK Office for National Statistics

Abstract
This paper presents the phases of the process of planning, launching and
implementing an innovative Master’s programme in Data Analytics for
Government by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS). This Master's
programme is a flagship capacity building project created and managed by
ONS in collaboration with multiple UK universities to support the "Better
Statistics, Better Decisions" strategy for UK statistics. Successes and challenges
in implementing the Master's programme are outlined and priorities for the
next phase of the process are described.

Keywords
Capacity building; Data Science; academic partnership; training; skilled
workforce

1. Introduction
The UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) is undergoing a data
transformational journey to ensure that government can make the best
possible use of traditional and alternative data sources currently available to
improve people’s lives. The ‘Better Statistics, Better Decisions’ strategy
(Government Statistical Service, 2015) for UK statistics highlights the critical
importance of readily accessible data, speedy data sharing across government
departments, up-to-date data architecture and data processing mechanisms
and a workforce with cutting-edge analytic skills to extract value from data.
Growing data analytics skills across the UK government plays, therefore, a key
role in this transformation.
This paper describes the implementation process of one of the flagship
capacity building initiatives of the ONS: the UK Master’s programme in Data
Analytics for Government (MDataGov). Section 2 introduces the MDataGov
Framework, its scope, structure, timeline and implementation plan. Section 3
presents the impact of the programme since its launch in 2017 and how the
growth of a data analytics community in government is supported by former,
current and prospective MDataGov students and academic partners. It also
shows the MDataGov expansion plan currently in progress, aimed at
broadening the geographic coverage of the Master’s programme and
increasing support to civil servants in other UK regions and abroad.

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