Full course description
Data Management Fundamentals is our beginner’s guide to data success for learners of all levels.
The key to the effective use of data is managing it well. Learn how to care for and use your data effectively with our Data Management Fundamentals course.
This course provides an easy-to-understand introduction to the essential ideas in data management. It includes up-to-date examples and case studies to help you relate these ideas to what others are doing in this area. Concepts covered directly relate to how modern, data-focused businesses operate today.
This course has been developed by The Data Lab, in partnership with
Bayes Centre, University of Edinburgh, effini/ and DDI Skills Gateway
Who is this course for?
With data management skills highly in high demand, the course provides an excellent introduction to data management for learners of all levels. This course is for people who collect, store, manage and analyse data as part of their job but whose primary job function may be outside the field of data. For example:
- Managers, technicians, clerical support workers
- People working in a data-related role but who are unfamiliar with data management
What will you learn?
- By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Describe ways in which data can be cared for, and how organisations benefit from caring for their data
- Identify the features of high-quality data and suggest ways in which the quality of a dataset could be improved
- Know how to protect your personal data and understand how organisations can keep their data safe
- Describe how data can be misused and the ethical risks with using data – Explain what data bias is, its causes and how it can be mitigated against
Course structure
The Data Lab online courses are not technical and can be done at your own pace. They are guaranteed to have an impact on the way that your business uses data and AI. These courses have been created specifically for those working in businesses or organisations – which differ from the traditional personal upskilling journey of other courses in this realm.
Start date
Enrolment is open now for spring cohort intake (6 May – 17 June 2024)
Price
£349
Completion requirements
Earn your badge by completing all modules and reflecting on the course workbook
Module 1: Introduction
- An introduction to data management
- Caring for different types of datasets, reference data, main data, transactional data and metadata
- How to create a data dictionary
- The data lifecycle
- Data governance, security, and quality
- Data architecture, modelling and design
- Data storage, operations, integration and interoperability
Module 2: Data Quality
- Understanding high and low quality data
- The impacts and dimensions of high and low quality data
- Improving the quality of data
Module 3: Data Security
- Keeping your personal data secure
- The impacts and dimensions of high and low quality data
- Password managers and extraprotection
- Device security, firewalls, WIFI and protecting your information online
- Keeping organisational data secure
- Understanding data breaches and how the law can protect your data
- GDPR roles and right of access
- Encryption and other methods of data protection
Module 4: Data Ethics
- Understanding data ethics
- Understanding data misue
- Malicious data misuse for personal, political or commerical gain
- What to do if you misuse, or see data misuse
- Understanding data, sampling and algorithmic bias
- Causes of bias and how to mitigate bias
Module 5: Wrap Up
- Final thoughts and review of key concepts
- Further resources and next steps
Term enrolment dates 2024/2025
Summer 2024
Enrolment open 8th July – 12th August for summer cohort (5th August – 30th September)
Autumn 2024
Enrolment open 7th October – 11th November for autumn cohort (4th November 2024 – 13th January 2025)
Winter 2025
Enrolment open 8th December 2024 – 10th February 2025 for winter cohort (3rd February 2025 – 31st March 2025)
Funding
If you are unemployed, at risk of redundancy, or returning to work after an absence, we may be able to offer a funded place on the course through Data Skills for work. Please contact us for more information at skills@thedatalab.com
Why study with The Data Lab?
The Data Lab is hosted by the University of Edinburgh and funded through the Scottish Funding Council. We are a respected and trusted provider of professional development, business support and innovation within Scotland, the UK and beyond.
Our courses provide actionable material to make an immediate impact. You’ll get precise instructions, step-by-step guidance, relatable case studies, and valuable material for your work – all without the jargon. Plus, they’re entirely non-technical – meaning anyone can benefit, regardless of previous data knowledge.
All courses from The Data Lab benefit from a digital badge on completion that is compatible with LinkedIn and is an asset to your CV or portfolio. These official credits are emailed directly to you and are easy to integrate.
Beyond your learning, you’ll have access to The Data Lab Community – an online community of over 5000 data and AI professionals and business leaders worldwide. Discover more about our online courses
Please click here to access our privacy policy on how we use and store your data, and click here to access our terms of service for Canvas.