Data Literacy Short Course Series

A three-part short course series on data literacy

In today’s data-driven world, the responsibility of public service demands more than experience and intuition; it requires evidence-based decision-making grounded in a deep understanding of data. For government officials, from local administrators to national policymakers, and non-governmental organisation staff, from field managers to headquarter officers, data is not just a tool but more so an indispensable asset in crafting policies that are effective, equitable, and accountable. For managers and leaders of industry and commercial companies, data is essential because it transforms intuition into informed decision-making. By analysing performance metrics, customer trends, and financial reports, leaders can identify opportunities, address inefficiencies, and allocate resources strategically. In a competitive environment, data-driven leadership not only reduces risk but also builds credibility and accountability across teams.

Across public sector domains such as public health, education, transportation, environmental policy, and private sector fields such as finance, retail, telecommunications, construction, real estate, and manufacturing, the availability of data has never been greater. But with this abundance comes complexity. Making sense of it by identifying relevant patterns, understanding root causes, evaluating outcomes, and anticipating future trends demands a strong foundation in the principles and practices of modern data use.

The Data for Decision Makers three-part short course series is developed with this audience in mind: to support those entrusted with public leadership in leveraging data to serve communities more effectively.


Course 1: Data Concepts and Applications

Course 2: Programming Data

Course 3: Data in Production


Together, the three courses provide a progressive pathway from understanding data, to working with data through code, to operating data workflows in real-world environments. Data Concepts and Applications develops the conceptual foundation required to interpret evidence and assess analytical claims. Programming Data develops the practical ability to manage and analyse data through reproducible code. Data in Production extends these capabilities into the deployment and maintenance of dependable analytical systems.

The Data for Decision Makers three-part short course series therefore equips participants not only to use data, but also to understand how data products are created, assess whether they are trustworthy, and support their responsible use within organisations. By combining conceptual knowledge, practical programming, and production-oriented thinking, the series helps public, non-governmental, and private-sector leaders build a stronger culture of evidence-based decision-making.