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UNF hosts discussion on business analytics skill needs with top Jacksonville companies

participants at the business analytics breakfastThe University of North Florida’s (UNF) Coggin Graduate & Executive Programs, in conjunction with JAXUSA Partnership, and UNF’s College of Computing, Engineering & Construction recently hosted a breakfast for leading local Jacksonville companies to discuss the most needed employee skills in the field of business analytics and to outline UNF’s newest business analytics program offerings.

Among the speakers were Anna Lebesch, vice president of workforce development for JAXUSA Partnership, the economic development arm of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Richard Buttimer, UNF Coggin College of Business dean; Dr. William Klostermeyer, UNF College of Computing, Engineering & Construction dean; Dr. Sherif Elfayoumy, UNF School of Computing director; and Dr. Lakshmi Goel, UNF Coggin Graduate and Executive Programs associate dean. Companies represented included Haskell, FIS, Ernst & Young, and Adecco. The discussion addressed the high demand for local workers with strong critical thinking and business analytics skills.

The field of business analytics entails strong training and talent to combine the art and science of deriving insights from data in organizations to inform decision making. UNF is rising to meet these local industry demands by developing interdisciplinary programs to train the business analysts of the future, rich in data knowledge, data skills, coding, machine learning models, business acumen and soft skills. 

UNF’s Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics and the new Master of Science in Business Analytics programs combine business and data science with courses such as making decisions with data, data analytics, data visualization, management of IT and computing practicum, and opportunities for hands-on applied project work.

UNF’s business analytics programs deliver a learning experience that integrates academic excellence with exposure to the pulse of business in Jacksonville. UNF is proud to work with our local business leaders to prepare our students to meet the in-demand needs of the business community.