Our relationship with SAS
SAS has developed a diverse relationship with the University of Bradford over recent years. With a multi-focus approach to both Corporate Social Responsibility and Industry-informed Curriculum they aim to deliver programmes in collaboration with the University which support students, academics and the general public.
The relationship initially developed through collaboration with Professor Sankar Sivarajah (Dean of School of Management) and Professor Vishanth Weerakkody (Associate Dean of International & Enterprise). The direct approach has allowed for a diversified portfolio of offerings which benefit not just the University and SAS but those who interact and engage with both.
This relationship has seen the offering of curricular and extra curricular activities and teaching for students including Career Booster sessions, the SAS STEP Programme which offers upskilling and reskilling opportunities to jobseekers, research academics in collaborations with academics and the development of a SAS Skilled footprint in the Bradford region.
Delivering impact
SAS endeavoured to create a relationship with the University through previous academic work delivered with Sankar & Vishanth. As Deans and Associate Deans of the University they sought to create a working relationship that not only impacted student delivery but also the local community.
With these already existing relationships SAS aimed to design, develop and deliver a Corporate Social Responsibility Programme but also make a mark in a region that becomes more reliant on data analytics and the skill sets that it pairs with. With a focus on creating a customer friendly market by working with an industry focused University the team at SAS knew they would be able to benefit the region, University and students by creating industry-ready workers upon graduation.
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SAS works with over one hundred universities across the UK and Ireland. The University of Bradford welcomes engagement with commercial organisations, provides research-based and pedagogical insight whilst remaining flexible and understanding of SAS’ community and business goals.
Nigel Armstead, Customer Education Manager & Head of CSR for Northern Europe
SAS STEP programme
One of the key programmes that Nigel Armstead (Customer Education Manager UK & Ireland and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Northern Europe) has implemented in his time working with the University of Bradford is the SAS STEP Programme.
The University of Bradford was the first to deliver the programme in it's pilot phase prior to full public launch. The programme, which currently offers 3 levels of training, aims to boost data analytics skills to jobseekers giving them a skill set which is so often sought in the current job market.
More information can be found on SAS STEP here.
Since collaborating with the University Nigel has noted that it has been able to deepen its relationship by getting access to it's staff, subject experts, student, alumni and networks on local, regional and national levels.
The SAS STEP Programme has won four awards since it's full public rollout for innovation, impact and community engagement.
Working with the University has been a great pleasure. No matter which area of engagement, the can-do enthusiasm and pro-active pace of the University's academic and business leadership sets it apart from many other HE institutions.
Geoffrey Taylor, Global Academic Programme Manager
Supporting our students
Geoffrey's work has a greater focus on what can be delivered to the next generation of data analysts being taught and trained at the University of Bradford. His focus is on curricular and extra-curricular activities which support student development throughout their journey at the University of Bradford.
The initial curriculum collaboration was on a Business Analytics module for the MSc in Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics but has since expanded to become a core module on a number of postgraduate courses which currently accommodate over 700 students.
The success it has seen on it's teaching has seen it expanded to include shorter extra-curricular courses in Career Booster week. This has seen over 150 students get teaching on a bi-annual 2-day course which has seen popular demand and is often over subscribed.
In collaboration with the University Geoffrey has found that SAS has gained a consistent and responsive partner which delivers hundreds of SAS-skilled graduates to it's customers every year.
Future ambition
Nigel & Geoffrey continue to work hard to figure out "what next" in their collaboration with the University as both sides continue to have ambitious goals year on year.
For Nigel this includes expanding the SAS STEP Programme with the aim of reaching 10,000 participants in 2023 across the UK and Ireland. He also aims to work collaboratively to develop new CSR programmes and Academic programmes which can be rolled out on an international basis.
Geoffrey continues to focus on how the SAS programmes delivered at the University can continue to be expanded. There is currently a review of the curriculum aiming to modernise the to the latest version of the SAS Software and explore ways of delivering in other areas.
There is also work ongoing to ensure accredited curriculum modules and courses which meet global SAS criteria and qualify for SAS digital skills badges and SAS Certifications exam entry are in place at the University. This plays into SAS' ambition of the University of Bradford becoming widely known for the strength of its SAS offerings, and for its graduates to be highly prized by SAS customers.