For three years, a team of organisers has worked out the concept for the new Bachelor's programme in Business Analytics. It is above all characterised by its combination of interdisciplinary subjects. The first 45 students started their studies in the 2022/23 winter semester.
In the course of digital transformation, radical changes occur in many companies. A highly-acclaimed study by Carl Frey and Michael Osborn caused a worldwide sensation in 2013. In their analysis, the scientists concluded that within the next ten to 20 years, almost half of all jobs in the US are jeopardised by digital transformation. The Heidelberg University and the ZEW Mannheim (Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research) calculated a value of twelve percent for Germany.
At first, this sounds alarming. However, the digital transformation will demand new skills in other areas of the economy. As a result, the demand for experts who analyse and interpret the ever-increasing amounts of data will rise as well. Across industries, there is high demand for persons with specialist knowledge in the fields of data analytics who can answer complex questions. Since October, the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt has been training the experts of tomorrow in its Business Analytics programme in order to tackle the shortage of skilled labour in this field.
The curriculum is characterised by its interdisciplinary nature. Three main pillars are omnipresent over the course of the programme, which is designed to take seven semesters. Business administration represents the first pillar. “The programme in Business Analytics still trains students to become business administrators”, Rükgauer reiterates. The students will undergo the complete programme of Business Administration, although in a slightly reduced form. Far more distinct than in other business administration programmes, the STEM pillar stands out – STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – adding several modules of maths, statistics, and computer sciences to the programme. Modules like Business Intelligence or Statistics for Data Science are completely new additions to the Faculty’s programme. However, no prospective student requires years of programming experience, Professor Dr.-Ing. Rükgauer emphasises. Important is only the affinity and interest in other fields.
The Bachelor’s programme is complemented by an interdisciplinary pillar, standing out most strikingly with fundamentals of data protection, English lessons and project management. “We do not train mere computer scientists. We provide students with competences to work analytically in the business administration environment"; Professor Dr. Marcus Klemm summarises the programme. Klemm himself is part of the core team. From his point of view, a “gap in the field of digital transformation and analytics” in the Faculty’s programme has now been closed.
The new programme relies on networking
In 2019, the Bavarian government launched the multi-billion High-Tech Agenda with the goal of initiating a technology offensive at Bavarian higher education institutions. In the course of this, the AI competence centre CAIRO (Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics) was founded at THWS. “The Bachelor’s programme in Business Analytics is our contribution to teaching in this field”, Programme Director Professor Dr.-Ing. Andreas Rükgauer of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration explains. Since late 2020, the initiative for creating the Bachelor’s programme had gained momentum. Professor Dr.-Ing. Rükgauer's five-person core team developed the fundamental concept while also focussing on internal networking with other faculties. Especially with the Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences and Humanities, new co-operations have been formed.
Also the composition of the course contents is innovative. “From the beginning, we closely co-operated with industrial partners and asked them for their most-desired competences”, Professor Dr.-Ing. Rükgauer explains. The curriculum was developed based on internal considerations and feedback from the industrial partners. The team also employs an advisory board to semesterly evaluate the success of the programme and to make suggestions for improvement, if applicable.
The Bachelor’s programme is built on three pillars
The curriculum is characterised by its interdisciplinary nature. Three main pillars are omnipresent over the course of the programme, which is designed to take seven semesters. Business administration represents the first pillar. “The programme in Business Analytics still trains students to become business administrators”, Rükgauer reiterates. The students will undergo the complete programme of Business Administration, although in a slightly reduced form. Far more distinct than in other business administration programmes, the STEM pillar stands out – STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – adding several modules of maths, statistics, and computer sciences to the programme.
Modules like Business Intelligence or Statistics for Data Science are completely new additions to the Faculty’s programme. However, no prospective student requires years of programming experience, Professor Dr.-Ing. Rükgauer emphasises. Important is only the affinity and interest in other fields.
The Bachelor’s programme is complemented by an interdisciplinary pillar, standing out most strikingly with fundamentals of data protection, English lessons and project management. “We do not train mere computer scientists. We provide students with competences to work analytically in the business administration environment"; Professor Dr. Marcus Klemm summarises the programme. Klemm himself is part of the core team. From his point of view, a “gap in the field of digital transformation and analytics” in the Faculty’s programme has now been closed.
An increase in demand
A Bachelor’s degree in Business Analytics opens a wide field of careers for graduates. Besides the option of switching to a Master’s programme with focus on business administration, it is also possible to choose a more technical Master’s programme to continue studies. However, it is important to check the requirements carefully in advance, says Professor Dr.-Ing. Rükgauer. Direct entry into professional life is the alternative path. What is clear to Rükgauer: “Graduates with knowledge this broad are sought-after. We expect that our students will find a position on the labour market in no time.”
According to a study by the Bain & Company Inc. strategy consultancy, the demand for data experts is increasing rapidly. For example, the number of skilled labour in analytics worldwide has doubled to more than one million between 2018 and 2020. Especially global tech groups, as well as the financial and consulting industry have started early with acquiring young experts. Professor Dr. Klemm also predicts that “the requirement profiles of businesses are also going to adjust”. With the Bachelor's programme in Business Analytics, THWS wants to give an adequate response to the new requirements of data-based decision-making and digital business models.
The concept receives approval
Andreas Hümmer, alumnus, provides a specific career example. After his Bachelor’s graduation in Business Administration at THWS he completed his Master’s in Big Data and Business Analytics. “Actually, the reason for getting a glimpse of applied data analysis was a study focus during my Bachelor’s programme”, Hümmer explains. Today he holds a position as consultant at IBM in the field of AI & Data Services, working on projects to build new data pipelines. One of his most important tasks is to develop use cases for his clients. Would he have opted for a Bachelor's programme in Business Analytics? “Yes, absolutely! The earlier you address this subject, the better”, the data expert is convinced.
“Ultimately, one must not surrender to an illusion, only very few industries are not affected by digital transformation. Through the programme, our students will be able to work in a wide range of industries”, Professor Dr. Rükgauer explains. In three-and-a-half years, it will become evident how the first cohort will have experienced the Business Analytics programme and how the job market situation will have changed by then.
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Click here to listen to the podcast "FWiWi: On the new Business Analytics degree programme" (podcast in German/English transcript available)
What is Business Analytics?
The term Business Analytics describes the systematic and continuous evaluation of business data. In the course of it, past activities are analysed to receive important findings. Additionally, the creation of forecasts regarding future developments is in focus. Business Analytics is applied when the company management is making decisions based on quantitative and data-based methods. Thus, it helps businesses to gain a direct advantage from digital transformation.
Click here to listen to the podcast "FWiWi: On the new Business Analytics degree programme"