IBL News | Denver, Colorado
Experts agree that data and analytics are critical for running today’s educational institutions. In fact, 60% of CIOs in higher education say that they are essential, according to Gartner.
But these implementations are not taking place. There are several inhibitors, according to Marlena Brown, a Senior Research Analyst at Garner Inc.: Ineffective technology, misalignment of needs, and lack of understanding and trust.
In an opening talk on the main stage during the 2022 Educause in Denver, Colorado, last Thursday, Marlena Brown [in the pictures above and below], revealed that 42% of higher ed CIOs indicated that they want to increase investment in business intelligence and data analytics, while 16% would grow their expenditure in AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning).
In order to put analytics capabilities to work, Garner Associated examined cases ranging from simple descriptive and diagnostic analysis through predictive and prescriptive analyses that enable institutions to identify and bend trend curves.
Analytics, with the help of AI and Machine Learning, will determine scenarios impacting student success, as several experts indicated to IBL News during the Educause event. Prescriptive analytics will help to increase the retention of students at risk and avoid the high number of dropping learners.
According to Gartner, these are the four needed stages of analytics:
- Descriptive — What happened?
- Diagnostic — Why did it happen?
- Predictive — What will happen?
- Prescriptive — What should I do?
Technologies involved include regression analytics, forecasting, simulation, predictive models, complex event processing, neural networks, recommendation engines, data hub, and data lake, and analytic sandbox.
Marlena Brown highlighted the importance of establishing a clear vision, outlining what every institution is trying to achieve. “I’d suggest creating an environment for exploration of advanced analytics as well,” she added.
