Data Visualisation & Insights (using PowerBi)

Information and Communications Technology (ICT), in particular data-driven technology, is a constant and integral element of the world we inhabit and affect. Advances in technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and the Internet of Things are transforming the way we live and work. They are radically affecting how business is done and the Fourth Industrial Revolution is set to dramatically change society.

The disruptive impact of such change on world labour markets  has already been felt and is anticipated to grow in an increasingly data-driven future. Skilled ICT workers are the driver of new development and of economic growth, and access to highly-skilled, analytical and adaptive citizens capable of dealing with, and making sense of, the massive amount of available data, is becoming a key factor in the success of companies worldwide.

The past decade has seen increased recognition of the importance of numeracy and mathematical skills in the technology sector, and acknowledgement that the ability to generate, understand and analyse empirical data is crucial for technological advancement. We note that the OECD Skills Outlook 2017, in discussing the types of skills that give countries global advantage, pointed to the increasing need for numeracy and mathematical skills, particularly in technologically advanced industries.

Today, data is viewed as the new international currency and the data-driven global economy is regulated by this incredible but revolutionary change from data poor to data rich. This can be seen in the domination by numerous data-centric capital entities. In-depth research of the storage, analysis and use of big data is attracting interest, from giant private data-centric enterprises to smaller data-driven companies, major government organisations and academic institutions. Examples include data-centric projects in Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Alibaba, the global pulse project initiation by the United Nations and strong EU data legislation, GDPR, to regulate the use and analysis of personal data.

We are living in the age of big data,  data analytics and data science.  The growth of big data presents tremendous knowledge, insights and challenges that result in ingenious innovations and economic growth opportunities. The availability of the right data and the ethical considerations around its use clearly comes into play.

Data-driven technology is changing the way we communicate, learn, live, work, and entertain. Hence, it is essential that we as a society develop the capability to utilise and understand data, it benefits and its implications. This is a view that is reflected in the Strategic direction and goals set out by many government agencies.