Data Capability

Data Skills Practitioner

Level 1 of the DataSMART series in partnership with The Analytics Institute and Microsoft.

Built for regular Excel users, this programme develops the full data-handling pathway from raw data through to a polished presentation - cleaning and preparing datasets, working efficiently with functions, and visualising and telling stories with data. It closes with two future-ready skills modules on communicating with impact and critical thinking, so participants can present and defend the insights they produce.

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At a glance

What you need to know

Data Skills for Practitioners is the introductory level programme in our DataSMART series, in partnership with The Analytics Institute and Microsoft. An overview of DataSMART and the framework behind it can be found here.

The programme at a glance

6 modules

12 weeks

Blended

Outcomes

What you'll learn

Future-Ready Cognitive Data Skills

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Agile Project Delivery

Communicating with Impact

Data & Digital Fluency Skills

Data Preparation & Cleaning

Data Analysis with MS-Excel

Building Better Charts

About the programme

Data Skills for Practitioners is designed for:

Busy professionals who want to add data analytics to their skillsets or to generally improve knowledge of the latest trends and applications in data and analysis of data. Suitable for full-time employees who can seamlessly incorporate the training into their working calendar. The course is suitable for professionals working in varied industries and sectors and offers a pathway to continuously advance in a data driven environment.

Why attend?

You’re seeking to upskill and become a data-driven business professional - but in a way that fits in with your busy day job.You want a dynamically delivered programme that will give you job-ready data tools and analytics skills.With small classes and expert online instruction, we’ll help you on your career journey with hands-on learning that will add to your skillset and advance your career goals.Are you ready to take on board the very latest insights into data visualisation, problem-solving and agile project delivery with graduated professional certification? Then this course is for you.

Course content

What you'll cover

Module 1

Data Preparation & Cleansing

Track: Data & Digital Fluency Skills

Covers how to cleanse and prepare large datasets in Excel using text functions, Power Query Editor and other cleansing tools, plus how AI can save time by handling many routine clean-up tasks.

Module 2

Working Efficiently in Excel

Track: Data & Digital Fluency Skills

Explores the Excel function library in depth, including LOOKUP and IF functions and array functions for dynamic sorting and filtering, and shows how Copilot can simplify writing complex formulas.

Module 3

Visualising Data Insights

Track: Data & Digital Fluency Skills

Focuses on pivot tables, slicers and timelines for summarising and interacting with large datasets, pivot charts, and conditional formatting techniques such as heatmaps and data bars to highlight patterns and trends.

Module 4

Storytelling with Data

Track: Data & Digital Fluency Skills

Covers the principles of good data visualisation, including choosing the right chart type and best-practice formatting, and how to engage an audience by telling a compelling story with data. Participants finish with a dataset challenge running from raw data to presented insights.

Module 5

Communicating with Impact

Track: Future Ready Cognitive and Data Skills

Develops practical communication skills such as structuring messages clearly, adapting style for different audiences, and listening and questioning effectively, using frameworks such as GROW and CAR to support structured conversations.

Module 6

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Track: Future Ready Cognitive and Data Skills

Explores critical thinking standards and common decision-making biases, giving participants structured approaches to analyse problems, evaluate arguments and reach balanced, evidence-based recommendations.

Delivery Partners

Led by

Analytics Institute

Microsoft

FAQs

What people ask us

FAQs on this course

General FAQs

Is the programme funded?

The programme is run by Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet in association with the Analytics Institute. The programme is part-funded allowing organisations and individuals to benefit from a reduced course cost.

Is the programme certified?

The programme is certified by the Analytics Insititute.

Do I have to start at Practitioner level or can I choose the level that best suits my experience?

You choose the course level that suits your needs. You do not need to start at Practitioner level. If you are having difficulty choosing the right course, please contact us, we are happy to help.

General FAQs

Who can join the Digital Skillnet Network?

Network membership is free for private sector and commercial semi-state companies based in the Republic of Ireland.

Once registered, eligible member companies can access Digital Skillnet part-funded programmes, helping reduce the cost of training and making upskilling more accessible across your organisation.

What are the aims of the Digital Skillnet Network?

The aim of the network is:

To support software and digital technology companies to remain at the cutting edge of skills and knowledge.
To enable companies to gain access to staff training and development programmes which are aligned to their current needs.
To work with educational bodies in strategic partnerships to develop new educational solutions to meet new software sector needs.
To provide funding support for staff training thereby lowering training costs for companies.
To extend up-skilling opportunities to more employees and companies across the sector.

How can a training provider join Digital Skillnet's roster?

As training requirements arise, the network invites suitable trainers to quote or tender for the delivery of each programme.

Contact us for further information

Where does Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet funding come from?

Technology Ireland DIGITAL Skillnet receives funding on an annual basis under the Training Networks Programme from Skillnet Ireland, the enterprise-led training agency. This allows the network to provide courses at a lower cost than commercial training courses – while still being delivered by the highest quality experts and trainers.

Over the last 3 years the Digital Skillnet has been awarded subsidies in excess of €2 million to support companies by significantly lowering the cost, and increasing the effectiveness of, organisational development strategies. The specific levels of subsidy for companies are allocated on a course-by-course basis.

What is Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet?

Established in 2010, Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet (“Digital Skillnet”) is the national training network for Ireland's Digital Technology sector. Our mission is to enable workforce development, performance and competitiveness for companies and their workforce through innovative upskilling solutions, backed by government funding. We support companies in all sectors to accelerate digital capacity, transformation and strategic innovation.

Member companies include a combination of indigenous organisations and multinational foreign direct investment (FDI) firms.

The Network Sponsor is Technology Ireland, a federation within Ibec, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (www.ibec.ie). Our upskilling initiatives are co-funded by the Government of Ireland, the European Union through the European Social Fund ESF+ and Network Companies.

How can Digital Skillnet help companies to fund their training needs?

Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet receives government funding. This allow us to provide support on course fees so that companies incur lower costs than commercial training courses.

Through the network, we also use our combined buying power to achieve the best training rates from providers.

Subsidised fees for network members are shown on our training schedule. These are the costs after funding support from the network.
Typical savings of 40-60% for companies through DIGITAL Skillnet

To access subsisidised course fees companies can join the network. Network membership is free and is open to all enterprises in the Republic of Ireland.

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