University of Melbourne launches Master of Business Analytics

The University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Business School has joined with SAS, a business analytics software and service company, to establish a Master of Business Analytics degree program. The program will address an Australian and worldwide shortage of graduates with advanced data analytics skills related to the needs of industry.

Melbourne Business School introduced the Master of Business Analytics program late last year. A full-time, intensive one year program, the degree takes students through a wide variety of analytics methodologies as well as the business contexts in which they are set. The first intake began in January this year. Students graduate with a Masters in Business Analytics degree from the University of Melbourne along with an SAS Certificate in Business Analytics.

Dean of Melbourne Business School Professor Zeger Degraeve and SAS Australia and New Zealand managing director David Bowie said the primary objective was to boost the number of qualified analytics professionals entering the job market, which is currently experiencing a worldwide skills shortage, with both advanced technical skills and a strong business understanding.

“We are delighted and proud to be associated in this way with one of the world’s leading business schools,” said Bowie. “Every day, the marketplace tells us how difficult it is to find analysts to help unlock the value of data assets. And the problem is not only one of numbers. Too few job applicants have both good analytical skills and an understanding of how business actually works. This collaboration bridges the gap and will greatly aid the growth of a much needed talent pool.”

Professor Ujwal Kayande, who led the partnership agreement with SAS, said collaboration was inevitable considering the current state of the industry. “In early 2014 we started thinking about how we could effectively address the big changes that are now occurring in the business world, and particularly changes related to organisations needing to become more data-informed, more evidence-based in their decision making. This led to our aim of establishing Melbourne Business School as a global thought leader in analytics for business and since SAS is the dominant player in this area, we started the conversation with them that led to our collaboration”.

The three-year partnership will also support world class research related to advanced analytics for business.