Kansas Data Science Consortium Impacts
Linking Learners & Employers
Got data? Of course you do! Digital information flows freely across every segment of the economy. But harnessing the power of data takes specialized skills in math, statistics, coding, and more.
The Kansas Data Science Consortium (KDSC) launched in 2022 to build those skills statewide. This educational pillar of the ARISE project is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR).
At its core, the KDSC links learners and employers to advance both workforce and economic development.
Here’s how.
Businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations partner with the KDSC, sharing data for class projects. College students then work on those projects as part of a course at Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, Wichita State University, and other colleges across the state. As they learn to wrangle and analyze data, students glean insights for their partner organization, creating reports, dashboards, slide decks, and code.
Impacts
What partners are saying about KDSC
“Working with the KDSC has been fantastic,” said Derek Kwan, executive director of the Lied Center of Kansas. “Most arts organizations and nonprofits in general do not have the bandwidth to rigorously analyze their customer relationship management databases. The insight provided by KDSC student Nikita Kuzin has been invaluable in helping the Lied Center refine our approaches to both fundraising and attracting ticket buyers. We look forward to a continued relationship.”