Data analytics

What data analytics is and why it matters

A shop manager wants to know which products ran out too early last month. A logistics coordinator wonders why deliveries to one district take longer than to others. A school administrator needs to see how attendance changed over the term. In each case the answer is hidden in a table. Data analytics is the practice of finding such answers: collecting figures, organising them, comparing them and presenting the result so that others can make a decision.

Analytics in this program does not require programming. The main tools are spreadsheets, databases and visualization software — the same tools found in many offices today. As organisations collect more and more records, people who can turn a messy spreadsheet into a clear report are needed in almost every department.

What you will learn and do in class

The program requires no programming background — the focus is on practical tools. It lasts 4 months and includes 40 lessons in four modules. Every session works with a real dataset.

Excel in depth. You move beyond basic tables to formulas and functions for lookups, conditions and dates. You build pivot tables that summarise thousands of rows in seconds — for example, totals by month and by product group. With conditional formatting and data validation you learn to highlight unusual values and to prevent input errors before they happen. Google Sheets is used alongside Excel, so you also practise working together in a shared table.

Databases and SQL. You learn how data is stored in tables and how tables are linked to each other. You write queries with SELECT, JOIN and GROUP BY — for instance, listing all orders from a particular region or counting customers by city. You also learn how to make a query faster and easier to read.

Visualization. A good chart answers a question at a glance; a poor one confuses. You practise choosing the right chart type for each task — line charts for trends, bars for comparison, and so on. Then you learn Power BI basics and build an interactive dashboard where a viewer can filter by date or category.

Practice. The final module brings everything together. You take a real dataset, clean and analyse it, write a report and give a final presentation. At the end you produce a full analytical report and dashboard in a field of your choosing.

A typical working day of an analyst

An analyst’s day usually mixes technical work with communication:

• receiving a question from a manager or colleague and clarifying which decision it should support;
• exporting data from a database with SQL or collecting it from several spreadsheets;
• checking the data for errors, gaps and duplicates;
• building pivot tables and calculations to find the answer;
• updating a regular dashboard so that the team sees fresh figures;
• preparing a short summary or presentation in plain language.

Accuracy and clear explanation are often valued as highly as technical speed.

Where these skills are used

Analytics is needed in sales, marketing, logistics, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, education, public administration and non-profit work. After the course, common next steps include junior analyst or reporting roles, taking on analytical tasks in your current job, or continuing to study — for example, deeper Power BI, statistics or a programming language such as Python. The course gives a practical foundation and a finished report and dashboard you can show; further growth depends on your continued practice.

How to prepare before the course starts

Basic Excel experience is expected, so it is worth refreshing it:

• practise simple formulas such as sums, averages and counts, and sorting and filtering a table;
• revise school mathematics: percentages, ratios and averages;
• keep a small table of your own — a reading log, sports results or weekly tasks — and update it regularly;
• pay attention to charts in news and reports and ask yourself whether they are easy to understand;
• plan fixed study time in your week now so that regular practice becomes a habit.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know programming? No. The program is built around Excel, Google Sheets, SQL and Power BI, and no programming background is required. Experience working with spreadsheets in Excel and school-level mathematics are enough to start.

Is the program free, and who can apply? Yes, it is free, like all programs of the association. Anyone aged 16 or older can apply. Only your name and phone number are needed; a passport copy may be requested after admission for the certificate. Our specialists call you back within 1–2 working days.

Are classes held in person or online? Classes take place offline in the association’s training centres or online, depending on the group schedule. Online programs are open to participants across the country.

How much time does it take? Plan for at least about 6 hours of classes per week plus independent work. Short, regular practice with real tables helps much more than occasional long sessions.

Will I receive a certificate? Yes, a certificate is given on successful completion. Missing more than 30% of classes may mean no certificate, so plan your attendance in advance.

If you want to learn to turn tables into clear decisions, apply using the enrolment button on this page.