Global MBA partnership with SAS

Description of impact

This submission focusses on the GMBA impact demonstrated through the SAS partnership. Data literacy is identified as one of the essential future focussed skills (WEF, 2019; IBM; 2019). The skills associated with data literacy include the ability to analyse data using a range of statistical techniques, visualisations, and to generate strategic insights. Data analytics underpins this capability. SAS is a global analytics platform with a vision “to empower and inspire with the most trusted analytics”. This is demonstrated through actions including innovation, education, data for good, and diversity and inclusion. The partnership with SAS is aligned to their purpose as well as the strategic priority of the business school. SAS will be also be offering the GMBA to their global workforce. 
Outcomes: An MoU with SAS to collaborate across co-creating curriculum, thought leadership, and workforce development. The MoU was signed by the Executive Dean on 3 July 2019.
Who benefits?  GMBA students benefit from using the current market leading analytics platform. The literature identifies digital and analytical capabilities as part of the future-focused skills (WEF, 2019; IBM, 2019). Increased digital and analytical capability of leaders can help to produce higher productivity outcomes for the organisation (Knies et al, 2016; SAL, 2017). This strengthens the impact by extending it beyond the individual, to that of a wider organisational impact. Students can pursue SAS Certification at no cost and take the exam at a 50% discount. The partnership also features a pathway into the GMBA for SAS Visual Business Analyst Certification holders.