Course description
Data Visualisation: Graphics for Impact (UG)
In the business world, data is critical for making informed decisions and justifying policies and budgets. One of the most effective ways to communicate data is through data visualisations, such as graphs, maps, bar charts, and interactive trendlines. These visualisations can quickly tell a complete story, bring reports to life, and spread important messages. However, to be effective analysis tools, they must be trustworthy, accessible, and able to facilitate better understanding. This course is designed to help you plan, create, and distribute powerful data visualisations that aid decision-making, enable effective reporting, and communicate clear messages.
Suitability - Who should attend?
It is suggested that learners on this course are educated to at least SCQF Level 6 and have an IELTS equivalent of 6.5.
Outcome / Qualification etc.
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Plan, create, and distribute data visualisations that aid decision making, enable effective reporting, and convey clear messages;
- Articulate standards for impactful, trustworthy, and accessible visualisations that empower users to learn from data and comply with legal requirements and aesthetic guidance;
- Analyse, report, and communicate data in a powerful way without the need for any prior data analysis or statistical and mathematical training;
- Bring attention to and highlight data that might otherwise go unnoticed;
- Define and discuss different types of data visualisations and their uses in the context of providing evidence for practical questions;
- Use data visualisations to answer questions and tell "data stories" in the context of short reports;
- Use the open-source software ‘R’ and free Amazon Web Services.
Training Course Content
This course is designed to provide learners with a progression of skills from basic to intermediate in the field of Data Visualisation. It will cover the following topics:
- Week 1: Understanding Visualisations: Looking At & Analysing Data
- Week 2: Making & Reporting Visualisations
- Week 3: Mastering Visualisation: Trust, Best Practices & Reporting
- Week 4: Diversifying Graphs: Maps, Networks, Text & Data Narratives
- Week 5: Empowering Visualisations: Interactive Graphs & Publishing on the Web
Course delivery details
Applications open in February 2024
Continuing Studies
This course is designed to equip learners with skills to progress into the following roles and industries:
- Data visualisation
- Those intent on commissioning high-quality visualisations
- Professionals in SMEs
- Third sector
- Public sector
- Administration
- Communications
Completion of this course grants potential for:
- Further academic study
- Promotion
- Increased earning potential
- New career path