How can an organization take a group of individuals of varying skill sets and experience, and teach them the essentials of data science and machine learning in a fairly short timeframe – and in the midst of the usual hustle and bustle of employees’ work-life?
The solution? The Data Champions Programme.
Enhancing business transformation through data awareness
We don’t need to tell you that it’s critical for your employees to become data competent. Both in terms of employee self-improvement and as a business aid, it’s a no brainer.
UPM is a global leader in forest-based bioindustry. Their renewable solutions are spread across six business areas with the focus firmly on developing a future beyond fossils.
They wanted their employees to become data-aware. Why? To aid the competitiveness of mature businesses, to develop emerging business lines and to accelerate data-driven business transformation.
UPM had already carried out a series of data boot camps. But they realised that some of this stuff is hard to teach. To effect lasting learning, they would need a more comprehensive and long-term form of training. They knew they needed to try another angle in training their people in data science and machine learning.
A course catered to all needs
The goals were clear from the start. This would have to be a practical course, with the spotlight on hands-on activities.
– I recognised we had lots of super capable people who maybe have been using the same IT tools for the last 10–15 years. Perhaps they haven’t put new tools in use because they’ve been too busy with operational tasks. Maybe the last time they thought about these things was when they were studying at university, says Anssi Käki, Director, Advanced Analytics at UPM.
This was a fully tailored training right from the beginning. The content of the course was designed through close collaboration between Solita and UPM’s analytics team.
