Explainer: What is data literacy?

“Data literacy is the ability to read, work with, analyze and communicate with data. It's a skill that empowers all levels of workers to ask the right questions of data and machines, build knowledge, make decisions, and communicate meaning to others.” Qlik 2019

Our programme aims to develop data literacy, or the ability to derive meaningful information from data.

This skill-set is not the same as digital literacy, although in practice working with data often requires digital skills such as using analysis software or programming, and improving data literacy is also likely to improve digital literacy.

Because data is so crucial for organisational success, data literacy, and associated meta-skills, are increasingly in demand for all employees.

There is a societal need to educate data citizens about how data impacts their everyday lives on topics such as how personal data is processed by companies, individuals’ rights with respect to data and the wider societal implications of data and automation within a democracy. 

We want to ensure every citizen will have the opportunity to learn about how their personal data is used, their legal rights and privacy implications. 

The data worker is in demand. Such workers can apply basic knowledge of statistics, programming and / or analysis software to generate and interpret datasets from their organisation to answer questions, target markets and develop business models. 

We want to ensure every citizen can move from being data citizens to data workers if they choose through additional education or training.  

As the global competition for digital talent intensifies and our own local demands increase, the lack of availability of data professional skills within the City Region will inevitably impact upon business competitiveness. 

We want to ensure equality of access for all learners to become data professionals in the region. 

Data leaders have the ability to assess how an organisation can make best of its data to drive value, and develop and implement a data strategy. 

We want to ensure leaders in the City region are at the forefront of driving value from data through good governance and investment in workforce development.