An increasing demand for young professionals who are proficient in analyzing data to identify trends and patterns for limitless business growth cannot be discounted. Among the various digital tools used for data analysis, Microsoft Excel is the most popular. A research report by Burning Glass Technologies has confirmed that 8 out of 10 middle skills jobs require proficiency in Excel. It is against this background that AYE developed its Data Analysis training to offer young professionals the needed Data Analysis skills to help them break into the next level of their professional endeavors.

Together with the Worcester Public Library, AYE launched its first Data Analysis on Saturday, June 20, 2015. The launch of the Data Analysis training was graced by the Mayor of Worcester, Joseph Petty, and Head of the Worcester Public Library, Geoffrey M. Dickinson. Both dignitaries commended AYE for taking up the challenge to arm the youth in our community with the right and much needed skills. Mayor Petty also emphasized on the need for students to take full advantage of acquiring skills that are in high demand in order to build sustainable careers and better their lives.

The AYE Data Analysis training is designed for young business owners, early in career professionals, high school graduates and college graduates who are looking for additional skills to advance their careers. The first Data Analysis training was a six week training that started on June 20th, 2015 and ended on August 1st, 2015. The three hours per day classes started at 2pm and ended at 5pm. The training was facilitated by the Vice President of Record Management, Daniel Boakye-Mensah and Vice President of Risk Management, Greg Hjelte, both at RBS Citizens. At course completion participants learned to do the following:

• Leverage features of Excel to facilitate business decisions.
• Gather and synthesize data.
• Combine data from multiple sources using lookup functions.
• Identify trends and patterns in a large dataset.
• Summarize and analyze large amounts of data using PivotTables and Charts.
• Export and Import Data, Sort, Filter, Concatenate, Conditional formatting and Text to Columns.

Students who successfully completed the training by attending 5 out of the 6 sessions were awarded certificate of completion at the just ended AYE Awards on Saturday, August 8, 2015. This professional development training was fully funded by AYE and supported by the Worcester Public Library and came at no cost to students who participated in the training. AYE hopes to acquire resources so it can offer new Data Analysis classes and launch other trainings in the near future.

AYE is a non-profit organization committed to honing and developing the skills and talents of young Africans abroad. We embrace the culture of excellence and professionalism in order to help young Africans develop skills that are relevant to today’s economy.