<p>There really is only one way to determine whether a data science certification is worth it: will it help you get a job in data science?</p>
<p>We launched our Professional Data Scientist certification in June 2021, and we’re proud to have seen many of our certified learners getting data science jobs—in no small part thanks to our <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/careerservices">career services team</a>, whose assistance is made available to everyone who gets certified.</p>
<p>In an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/certified-learners-landing-dream-jobs">earlier blog post</a> we introduced you to the first two certified learners to get jobs, back when certification was only a few weeks old. For them, getting certified definitely proved worth it when they landed their dream jobs, in the Canadian Olympics Team and Johnson and Johnson. That winning streak has been kept up since then. We recently reached out to several learners who have successfully completed the assessments and have come out successful in the job search.</p>
<br><center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1635279011/certifiedlearnersbanner_wh6qcb.png" /></center><br>

<p>First up we have Gregorio, who recently got a job as a Process Control Specialist. Looking for a data science job can come with setbacks and competition over data science positions. However, getting certified was just the leg-up Gregorio needed:</p>
<p>“When DataCamp launched the certification program, there was a lot of demand for data science positions. Having a couple of interviews with the career services, a quick resume review, and a preparatory interview, I improved my social media profiles, resume, and portfolio. I think this allowed me to access my very first interviews for data-related positions. Although I was rejected for several opportunities, I got my first job offer in less than a month!”</p>
<p>Many data science job listings list a mathematical degree or background as their requirements, and getting certified can give you that extra boost you need to demonstrate your enthusiasm about making the transition to data science. Jens was a learner who made a career change from physics, and found our data science certification program invaluable:</p>
<p>“Having worked for a couple of years as a physicist I wanted to get into data science, but I didn&#39;t have any data science job experience. I did a lot of data science courses on DataCamp and completed their certification program. This gave me access to DataCamp career services, where they helped me improve my resume by highlighting skills that are relevant for industry employers. They also gave advice and consultations on strategies for applying for jobs, and how to approach the interviews themselves. I just got my first data science job, and I think that DataCamp career services really helped with this.”</p>
<p>Yinghui felt the same when she underwent a career change from landscape architecture into data science and started her new position as a Data Science Fellow at none other than DataCamp itself.</p>
<p>“I was having a hard time during my career change until I passed the data science certification from DataCamp and talked to my career coach Jen. She provided lots of advice on my resume and additional tools for mock interviews and organizing my job application. I feel more confident and excited in my new position!”</p>
<p>Whether or not a data science certificate is worth it primarily hinges upon the possibility of getting a job afterward. However, when deciding <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/how-can-i-get-certified">which certification is right for you</a>, you’ll also want to consider the certification process itself. Benoit, who now works as a Data Migration Analyst, had completed a lot of learning on DataCamp by the time he got certified and greatly enjoyed the challenge posed by the assessments and the support provided afterward:</p>
<p>“I saw Certification as an opportunity to showcase and improve my knowledge in data science. The certification allowed me to find and improve my skill gaps. The certification process is excellent and tests all the primary skills of a data scientist. The process takes time, but that is what makes it valuable. You have to put real work into it! Once certified, I had the pleasure to work with the career services department. From the resume to the job offer, Jen was always there to help.”</p>
<p>Good luck to each and every one of them in their new jobs!</p>
<p>To conclude, is getting a data science certification worth it? The short answer is yes. As is demonstrated by the stories of our certified learners, becoming a certified data scientist gives you:</p>
<ul>
<li>An advantage over other candidates</li>
<li>Proof of your data science skills, whether you’re transitioning from another profession or completely new to data science.</li>
<li>Answers to questions related to applying and interviewing for data science jobs.</li>
</ul>
<p>Ready to give your data science job hunt a boost? <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/certification">Get certified with DataCamp</a> today! And although summer is over, our <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/summerchallenge">Summer Certification Challenge</a> is still ongoing—sign up before October 31 to get a personalized careers package.</p>


https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/is-getting-a-data-science-certificate-worth-it

We reached out to several now-certified data scientists to ask for their opinions on getting certified, why they think it was worth it for them, and how it helped them take the next step in their data science career.

Is getting a data science certification worth it?

<h2 id="important-data-questions-to-answer">Important data questions to answer</h2>
<p>Doing a bit of research is key to framing your pitch since you’ll have to justify using DataCamp in your workplace with reasons that are aligned with your organization’s goals and learning culture.</p>
<p>Some questions to ask at this stage are:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>How is my organization/team currently using data?
What technologies do we currently use (Python, R, SQL, BI tools, Spreadsheets)? Related to this, are there any we are planning to or could adopt?</p>
</li>
<li><p>Does my organization have a data strategy or data transformation plan?
Most organizations understand the importance of being more data-driven, but many do not have the tools or skills in place to help them achieve this goal. If your organization has announced a data transformation strategy, where does talent transformation fit into the picture?</p>
</li>
<li><p>How does my organization currently approach upskilling?
Is there a learning and development budget? Is this decided via personal budget or through a centralized learning and development team? Have you used a training provider for data skills in the past? If so, what was the result, and why did that result come about?</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The answers to the questions above can help you prepare a case that’s in line with your company and team’s goals. For example: If your workplace already has a data-driven culture, frame your pitch in terms of learning on DataCamp being the next step in becoming more data-driven. If your organization doesn’t yet have a data transformation plan in place, upskilling on DataCamp can be an excellent opportunity to start building one.</p>
<p><em>According to <a target="_blank" href="https://c6abb8db-514c-4f5b-b5a1-fc710f1e464e.filesusr.com/ugd/e5361a_76709448ddc6490981f0cbea42d51508.pdf">NewVantage Partners</a>, 99% of organizations are investing in AI and data science, but only 29% have their training goals. The biggest reported obstacle to becoming data-driven is a lack of data skills and culture.</em></p>
<h2 id="structure-your-pitch">Structure your pitch</h2>
<p>Depending on your organization’s culture and size, the format this step can take can range from a quick pitch in the office to a structured proposal encapsulated in a document. Either way, keep it concise and to the point.</p>
<h3 id="1-here-are-a-few-ways-you-can-structure-your-pitch-">1. Here are a few ways you can structure your pitch.</h3>
<p>Explain why DataCamp would be useful for your team</p>
<p>It’s always important to articulate why purchasing a new tool or upskilling solution would be beneficial for a team or organization. Here are a few items you can cover to explain why you’re pitching DataCamp.</p>
<h4 id="draw-on-personal-experience">Draw on personal experience</h4>
<p>If you’ve ever used a personal DataCamp account and found it valuable, discuss what skills you’ve acquired throughout your learning journey and how they helped you improve in your current work. This will help connect potential learning outcomes to your organization’s objectives.</p>
<h4 id="discuss-the-benefits-of-data-upskilling">Discuss the benefits of data upskilling</h4>
<p>You can find a lot of information on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/resources">DataCamp Resource Center</a>, explaining the importance of gaining data skills across all types of teams. However, it’s important to discuss the importance of data upskilling depending on the tooling stack you use and where you sit in the organization. Here are a few valuable resources you can share:</p>
<h4 id="data-science-tool-based-resources-">Data science tool-based resources:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/why-your-organization-should-upskill-on-sql">3 reasons why all teams should learn SQL</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/three-reasons-why-all-teams-should-learn-r">3 reasons why all teams should learn R</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/why-your-company-needs-python-for-business-analytics">Why Your Company Needs Python for Business Analytics</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/why-your-organization-should-upskill-on-tableau">How Tableau Helps Your Organization Achieve Greater Data Insights</a></li>
</ul>
<h4 id="data-science-team-based-resources-">Data science team-based resources:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/how-financial-analysts-can-start-leveraging-data-skills">How financial analysts can leverage data skills</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/resources/whitepapers/becoming-a-data-driven-marketer-1">Becoming a data-driven marketer</a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/four-ways-your-team-can-start-leveraging-data-science">Four Ways Your Team Can Start Leveraging Data Science</a></li>
</ul>
<h4 id="connect-data-upskilling-to-your-organization-s-strategy">Connect data upskilling to your organization’s strategy</h4>
<p>Your organization likely has plans to become more data-driven and to transform into a data organization. Most often than not, talent transformation and enabling members with data skills are vital components.</p>
<p>DataCamp offers courses in most major data tools and concepts and can help teams and organizations progress in the data literacy spectrum. Take a look at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/resources/?type=data-sheets">datasheets</a> section for quick resources you can share with your team and explore DataCamp’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/resources/?type=case-studies">case studies</a> to see success stories of organizations across all industries transforming their data skills.</p>
<br><center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1635200035/DataCamp-Data-Literacy_ivhdrq.jpg" /></center>

<h3 id="2-explain-the-value-of-datacamp-for-business">2. Explain the value of DataCamp for Business</h3>
<p>After highlighting why DataCamp for Business would be beneficial for your organization, it’s great to provide an overview of some of the features <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/groups/business">DataCamp for Business offers</a>.</p>
<p><em>According to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.accenture.com/_acnmedia/PDF-115/Accenture-Human-Impact-Data-Literacy-Latest.pdf">Accenture and Qlik</a>, employees who identify as data-literate are 50% more likely to feel trusted and empowered to make better decisions.</em></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/groups/business">DataCamp for Business</a> provides teams and organizations with a single platform to assess, learn, apply, and experiment with data. Our online platform allows learners to gain the data skills they need at their own pace anytime, anywhere—from conceptual non-coding essentials to data science and machine learning. There&#39;s no software installation or download required. Learners watch short video tutorials and complete hands-on coding exercises in a risk-free environment that allows them to start working with their preferred tool and topic right in the browser. This modern learning approach is why we achieve average course completion rates of 60%, significantly higher than traditional online course providers.</p>
<p><center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1635200035/Data_literacy_at_DataCamp_izrdjc.jpg" /></center>
<em>DataCamp&#39;s proven learning methodology provides a cyclical process for learning and retention.</em></p>
<h4 id="here-are-some-key-features-to-highlight-">Here are some key features to highlight:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/interactive-learning">An interactive learning experience</a> that enables anyone to assess their data skills through timed assessments, acquire new skills through interactive courses that provide custom feedback, and retain and apply their knowledge with guided and unguided projects. All in the browser—with no installations required.</li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses">A best-in-class content library for data skills</a>. DataCamp offers more than 350+ courses, 10+ assessments, and 90+ projects—delivered by leading data scientists in industry and academia.</li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/tracks/skill">Pre-tailored learning paths</a> designed to give you all the necessary skills in data science, data analysis, and more. Managers can also assign custom learning tracks and assignments, making it easy to create a curriculum tailored to your organization’s business and technology challenges.</li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/groups/business/custom-learning-solutions">For managers, simple team management</a>—you can centrally manage all aspects of your account from your Enterprise dashboard, with no installation required.</li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/groups/business/reporting">Easily visualize your organization’s data skill development</a> through DataCamp’s learning leaderboard, which enables you to track everyone’s learning progress, report on the impact of your learning program, and see how you are progressing toward your goals.</li>
</ul>
<p><div class="wistia_responsive_padding" style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><div class="wistia_responsive_wrapper" style="height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;"><iframe src="https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/m052ohmwqx?videoFoam=true" title="Close your team’s data skills gap Video" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" class="wistia_embed" name="wistia_embed" allowfullscreen msallowfullscreen width="100%" height="100%"></iframe></div></div></p>
<script src="https://fast.wistia.net/assets/external/E-v1.js" async></script>
<p><em>Right-click <a target="_blank" href="https://datacamp-1.wistia.com/medias/m052ohmwqx">to copy the link to this video</a> and share it with your manager.</em></p>
<p>If you need more proof, you can copy and paste the following sentence directly into your pitch: DataCamp is trusted by more than 2,000 organizations and by more than 80% of the Fortune 1,000. Companies that learn with DataCamp, including Google, Uber, Allianz, HSBC, and Novartis, enjoy 6x higher completion rates than the industry average.</p>
<h3 id="3-discuss-pricing">3. Discuss pricing</h3>
<p>Of course, your boss will need to know how much DataCamp will cost—here’s how you can discuss these points:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.datacamp.com/groups/subscribe/account">DataCamp’s Professional plan</a> is our annual membership for businesses. Starting at $300 per seat (2 seats minimum), you can upskill your team or organization for less than the price of a cup of coffee per person per day.</li>
<li>We also offer more advanced features in our <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/business/demo">Enterprise plan</a>. If you would like to find out more about this, you can schedule a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/business/demo">free demo</a> with us.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you feel a more thorough proposal is needed, you should still cover these points but now you can go into a little more detail around the benefits and return on investment of data upskilling. Here are some resources you can use:</p>
<p>Discuss additional flexibility and convenience of DataCamp for Business, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Compatibility with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/groups/business/integration">Learning Management Providers</a>, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/degreed-data-science-training">Degreed</a> and our integration into <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/groups/business/integration">single sign-on services</a>.</li>
<li>Our professional data science <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/certification-for-business">certification for businesses</a>.</li>
<li>The provision of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/groups/business/customer-success">customer success manager</a>, who will consult with you on your organization’s objectives and recommend learning content to fast-track your team’s success.</li>
<li>Employees at companies with high internal mobility typically stay for twice as long as companies without, so achieving this through data upskilling can be a great way to retain employees and reduce recruitment costs (<em><a target="_blank" href="https://learning.linkedin.com/resources/workplace-learning-report">LinkedIn 2021 Workplace Learning Report</a></em>)</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Did you manage to convince your boss? Get your team started with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/groups/business">DataCamp for Business</a> today!</em></p>


https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/how-to-convince-your-manager-to-buy-datacamp-for-business

If you believe learning on DataCamp would be a good thing for your team or workplace, you’ll first need to convince your manager. Here’s how you can bring the world’s number one data science learning platform to your team.

How to Convince Your Manager to buy DataCamp for Business

<p>You’ve probably been learning data science, from how to develop models to how to communicate insights to non-technical stakeholders, for more than just the fun of it (although, props to you if you have). Many of you will have been learning with the goal of landing a data science job at the end—the high-paying, intellectually engaging work you’ve always dreamt of. To get there, first, you need to prove to employers that you know your stuff—but how do you do that? The answer lies in getting a data science certification.</p>
<p>A data science certification is a stamp of approval that sends the following message to any would-be employers: this individual has had their data science skills tested out by a trusted party, who have confirmed they meet a set of required standards.</p>
<h2 id="how-does-datacamp-s-data-science-certification-work-">How does DataCamp&#39;s Data Science Certification Work?</h2>
<p>To illustrate the process of becoming a certified data scientist, here is how DataCamp’s data science certification works:</p>
<p><center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1634927992/certbanner_be64lv.svg" /></p>
<h3 id="1-timed-assessments-">1. Timed assessments:</h3>
<p>We begin by quizzing your knowledge on a range of data science topics. Our assessments adapt to your skill level based on your previous answers. At the end, if you meet a certain threshold, you’ll move onto the next stage.</p>
<h3 id="2-a-coding-challenge-">2. A coding challenge:</h3>
<p>In this long-form exercise you’ll be given three things: a scenario with a specific question, a relevant dataset, and latitude to answer it however you see fit. The third thing is the crux of this assessment: testing out your abilities to achieve a specific objective using data science, as you will need to during your data science career. In order to progress to the next step you’ll need to have achieved a correct result. Don’t worry—although this stage is done independently, you’ll know when this has been achieved. Furthermore, this step has no time limit and takes place in our IDE, so no installation is required.</p>
<h3 id="3-a-case-study-">3. A case study:</h3>
<p>This last stage is split into two parts: a technical presentation and a non-technical presentation. During this stage, you’ll need to book a case study slot with one of our data scientists. 24 hours prior to the case study, we’ll send you a data set to analyze and during the case study session you’ll be expected to present your findings. The ability to communicate data insights are key to becoming a successful data scientist. Please note: We expect the work to be conducted by you, if there is evidence that someone else has conducted the work, this will result in an automatic fail.</p>
<p>You can find out more details about these steps through <a target="_blank" href="https://assets.datacamp.com/email/other/ds-certification-whitepaper.pdf">DataCamp’s Certification white paper</a>.</p>
<p>Through the design of these tests, employers are assured that a learner certified in data science through DataCamp possesses the skills that will make them a valuable addition to the team: knowledgeable in data science, and capable of working under pressure, communicating their findings to technical and non-technical colleagues, and taking the initiative.</p>
<h2 id="what-are-the-prerequisites-for-enrolling-in-this-data-science-certification-program-">What are the prerequisites for enrolling in this data science certification program?</h2>
<p>There are no mandatory requirements, however to ensure you are well prepared we recommend you complete the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Python Data Scientist Career Track</li>
<p>Or</p>
<li>R Data Scientist Career Track</li>
<p>AND</p>
<li>SQL Fundamentals</li>
</ul>
<p>Ready to get certified in one of the world’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-in-demand-jobs-according-to-linkedin-report-2021-1">most in-demand jobs according to LinkedIn</a>?</p>
<p>You can sign up for getting your certification through DataCamp by clicking <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/certification">here</a>.</p>

<h2 id="additional-resources-to-learn-more-about-data-science-certifications">Additional resources to learn more about data science certifications</h2>
<p>If you would like to know more about getting certified in data science, we’ve also produced a number of other articles you may find useful!</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://assets.datacamp.com/email/other/ds-certification-whitepaper.pdf">DataCamp’s Certification white paper</a>, for more information on the process of getting certified.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/datacamps-professional-data-scientist-certification-program">DataCamp’s Professional Data Scientist Certification Program</a>, for an overview of why we launched Certification.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/how-can-i-get-certified">How can I get certified in data science?</a>, for a complete guide to all the options that exist for getting certified in data science.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/certified-learners-landing-dream-jobs">How DataCamp’s Certification is helping learners land their dream jobs</a> for a case study on two professionals who were able to secure employment after getting certified through DataCamp.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/top-5-data-science-certifications">Top 5 Online Data Science Certifications</a> for our five favorite online data science certifications.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/what-to-do-after-getting-certified-as-a-data-scientist">What to do after becoming a certified data scientist through DataCamp</a>, for a guide to what to do after being certified.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/tableau-student-to-certification">Tableau: From Student to Certification</a> and <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/Tableau-desktop-specialist-certification">Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification: Learn How to Use Tableau and Ace the Exam</a> for information on getting certified in the BI tool.</p>


https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/what-is-data-science-certification

Here is an overview of what a data science certification is, as well as a guide to certification-related resources available here on DataCamp.

What is a data science certification?

<center><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/resources/tools/take-datacamps-data-maturity-assessment"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1634662968/Take_DataCamp_s_Data_Maturity_Assessment_j7wywo.png" /></a></center><br>

<p>Becoming a data-driven organization is a long and arduous process that requires continuous investment and efforts across different dimensions. In early 2021 we released a white paper titled <a target="_blank" href="https://resources.new.datacamp.com/resources/static/ad3091e99aad70f919a383bfc68bb5f3/Your_Organization-s_Guide_to_Data_Maturity__2_.pdf">“Your organization’s guide to data maturity”</a> outlining the different stages of the data maturity spectrum, and actionable steps organizations can take to progress from one data maturity stage to another.</p>
<p>The path to data literacy consists of a four-stage spectrum that starts with Data Reactive, Data Scaling, Data Progressive, and finally, Data Literate. In order to advance from one stage to the next, there are five key levers that require continuous monitoring and investment. These five levers are what we call the IPTOP framework:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Infrastructure:</strong> A scalable data infrastructure that ensures data is collected, discoverable, reliable, understood, compliant, and actionable throughout the organization.</li>
<li><strong>People:</strong> Forging a data-driven culture where all employees understand the value of data and have the skills to work with data regardless of role (that does not mean everyone needs to code!).</li>
<li><strong>Tools:</strong> The tools, software, and systems data practitioners use, and how to drive further data democratization with frameworks that reduce entry barriers to working with data.  </li>
<li><strong>Organizations:</strong> How data talent is organized, developed, and fostered, and adoption of organizational models that promote scalable data science throughout the organization.</li>
<li><strong>Processes:</strong> The processes data experts and teams adopt to make their work more predictable and collaborative, and to ensure alignment with business objectives.</li>
</ul>
<p>Our white paper struck a chord with readers, and after receiving feedback from both readers and organizations, we learned that a common challenge is understanding where one’s team or organization fits on the data maturity spectrum. This is why we’re launching our data maturity assessment.</p>
<h2 id="what-is-the-data-maturity-assessment-">What is the data maturity assessment?</h2>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/resources/tools/take-datacamps-data-maturity-assessment">The Data Maturity Assessment</a> is a quick and simple to use survey,  consisting of a series of questions that focus on the IPTOP framework. Given the importance of data culture, data skills, and governed data access, we have deliberately adjusted the scoring criteria to make sure we prioritize the importance of infrastructure and people.</p>
<h2 id="how-you-can-make-use-of-the-data-maturity-assessment">How you can make use of the data maturity assessment</h2>
<p>It really depends on your objectives and overview of data maturity within your organization. We know that having a bird’s eye view of data maturity can be challenging for large organizations, so we adapted the assessment to provide insights on a team, department, and organizational level. We also know that 29 questions cannot capture the full dimensions of organizational data maturity, so we hope you’ll use the results as a conversation starter for the strategies and initiatives to prioritize when driving data literacy.</p>
<h2 id="take-the-data-maturity-assessment-now">Take the data maturity assessment now</h2>
<p>Anyone can take this assessment (free, of course), but with that said,  we do encourage participation among senior leaders, executives, and managers who have a comprehensive view of different dimensions of data maturity. Take the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/resources/tools/take-datacamps-data-maturity-assessment">assessment now</a> and learn where you rank on the data maturity spectrum.</p>
<br><center><a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacamp.com/resources/tools/take-datacamps-data-maturity-assessment"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1634662968/Take_DataCamp_s_Data_Maturity_Assessment_j7wywo.png" /></a></center>


https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/how-data-mature-are-you

How Data-mature are you? Take our new data maturity assessment, and find out! 

<h2 id="why-did-we-launch-data-science-competitions-">Why did we launch data science competitions?</h2>
<p>We started DataCamp to help everyone build their data skills, through learning by doing. We’re constantly innovating, making it easier for learners to go from learning to applying their skills to solve real-world challenges. For example, we’ve created over 80 different projects, we’ve launched our in-browser tool Workspace, and we’ve designed two of our certification’s assessments to be based upon how well learners can apply what they know.</p>
<p>We are now pleased to announce the launch of <a href="https://app.datacamp.com/learn/competitions">data science competitions</a>, in which you’ll perform an analysis based on a dataset and problem statement. This data analysis will be performed and presented in a Workspace notebook, and it will then be assessed through an upvote system and a panel of experienced data scientists. There are huge prizes to be won and these will be a regular occurrence, starting today!</p>
<br><center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1634599264/competitionsprizes_gd4a8t.png" /></center><br>

<h2 id="what-is-the-first-datacamp-data-science-competition-">What is the first DataCamp data science competition?</h2>
<p>Our first data science competition, &quot;<a href="https://app.datacamp.com/learn/competitions/russian-alcohol-promotions">Designing a promo strategy for a drinks company</a>&quot;, is now live, so if you’re curious go check it out.</p>
<br><center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1634599265/Screenshot_2021-10-18_at_15.09.45_dplfq6.png" /></center><br>

<p>In this challenge, you’re asked to create promotion recommendations for a drinks company based on previous promotions and historical alcohol consumption data in various regions of Russia.</p>
<h2 id="what-entering-datacamp-competitions-can-do-for-your-career-">What entering DataCamp competitions can do for your career?</h2>
<center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1634599270/wes-hicks-4-EeTnaC1S4-unsplash_fendqd.jpg" /></center><br>

<p>DataCamp Competitions are designed to help users gain real-world data science experience—similar to what a data analyst would typically encounter in the workplace. All learners stand to strengthen their data science experience and coding skills by participating, as well as the opportunity to build a strong portfolio whose contents will be given an upvote score as part of the judging process. Furthermore, non-participants will have the opportunity to learn from submitted publications by seeing how others have found creative solutions to complex data problems.</p>
<h2 id="what-competitions-entail">What competitions entail</h2>
<p>Every week a new challenge is launched based upon a real-world dataset and problem statement drawn up by our team. Once a competition is launched, learners have two weeks to complete their analysis and publish it using Workspace, our online data science notebook.</p>
<p>Once you’ve submitted your analysis you can share your publication with your friends and on your social media to get upvotes on it. This will also enable them to upvote it early, before voting to the wider public begins.</p>
<p>After the submission deadline, the judging process begins. This step is two-fold:</p>
<ul>
<li>DataCamp learners and other data science enthusiasts give publications upvotes, and the most popular will be reviewed by the judges.</li>
<li>The judges will spend the following week evaluating these publications and selecting their own top five out of these.</li>
</ul>
<p>In the case of “Designing a promo strategy for a drinks company&quot;:</p>
<ul>
<li>Submissions will close on October 31, 2021 at 11:59 PM PT and voting will start on November 1. On this date all workspace notebook publications will be opened to the wider public for upvoting, and you’ll be able to upvote your favorite publications to boost their chances of winning.</li>
<li>Voting will end on November 7.</li>
<li>Judges will determine 5 winners, then announce them by November 12.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="what-skill-level-datacamp-competitions-are-intended-for-">What skill level DataCamp competitions are intended for?</h2>
<p>DataCamp competitions are open-ended challenges intended to test your analytical, storytelling, and visualization skills. As a recommendation, we would say complete the skill track relevant to the tool you’ll be using in your analysis. DataCamp competitions are similar in certain respects to Kaggle, although they will have more of a focus on real-world analytics so are more accessible to a wider audience.</p>
<h2 id="what-else-is-coming-up-">What else is coming up?</h2>
<p>If you haven’t already, be sure to follow DataCamp on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, where every week we will announce the launch and topic of new competitions!</p>
<br><center><a href="https://app.datacamp.com/learn/competitions"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1634599264/Group_1127_koksuy.png" /></a></center><br>

<p>Curious? You can learn more about our <a href="https://support.datacamp.com/hc/en-us/articles/4410791195031">data science competitions here</a>, and if you’d like some inspiration you can check out the winning publications of our Workspace competition.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://tinyurl.com/5cfv44k7">First place—Loan Data by Kok Kwang Ng</a></li>
<li><a href="https://tinyurl.com/4sz37tww">Second place—Loan Data by Nikolaos Christoforidis</a></li>
<li><a href="https://tinyurl.com/sazjdemc">Third place—Optimizing Gower Weights in Feature Engineering by Patrick Coulombe</a></li>
<li><a href="https://tinyurl.com/xcfx3aks">Fourth place—Internet News and Consumer Engagement by Renaat de Rudere</a></li>
<li><a href="https://tinyurl.com/cm6nxsbx">Fifth place—Internet News and Consumer Engagement</a></li>
</ul>


https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/introducing-data-science-competitions

DataCamp’s data science competitions are now live! You’ll be able to put your data science skills into practice for the chance to win prizes, get new additions to your portfolio, and learn new approaches to a single problem from other people who solved it.

DataCamp’s data science competitions are now live! You’ll be able to put your data science skills into practice for the chance to win prizes, get new additions to your portfolio, and more!

Introducing DataCamp Competitions!

https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/scaling-ai-adoption-in-financial-services

In this episode of DataFramed, we speak with Shameek Kundu,  Chief Strategy Officer & Head of Financial Services at TruEra Inc about Scaling AI Adoption throughout financial services.

Scaling AI Adoption in Financial Services

<h2 id="what-will-i-learn-">What will I learn?</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/building-dashboards-with-dash-and-plotly">Building Dashboards with Dash and Plotly</a> will introduce you to the go-to tools for creating visualizations within Python. Dash, an open-source framework, is one of the most popular tools available within Plotly, and enables you to create interactive visualizations. It’s a simple tool to use, with many of its lines of code pre-written.</p>
<p>The first chapter (which, as always on DataCamp, is free for registered users) provides you with a concise overview of this course’s content, introducing you to HTML and CSS, and building multi-graph dashboards based on data from an e-commerce organization.</p>
<p>Subsequent chapters will dive deeper: you’ll learn more about using HTML and CSS to create individual charts and add interactivity to your dashboards in the form of filters and tooltips. You’ll learn how to create filters that are applied at the individual visualization and the dashboard level.</p>
<h2 id="why-should-i-take-this-course-">Why should I take this course?</h2>
<p>Visualizing data is the best way to communicate the insights within your dataset, and as you use Python to extrapolate more complex data you will want to display your findings in a way that people can understand and act upon. There are various different chart types, and dashboards allow you to combine them to get an overall picture of what the data is telling you.</p>
<p>Additionally, this course’s instructor Alex Scriven is a Senior Data Scientist for the New South Wales government. With a history of lecturing at universities, creating Masters-level courses, and applying data science to commercial settings, he makes for the ideal teacher—plus, if you love Australian accents, you’re in luck!</p>
<h2 id="are-there-any-prerequisites-">Are there any prerequisites?</h2>
<p>Before taking this course, you should have an <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/intermediate-python">intermediate-level</a> understanding of Python, and you should also take our course on <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/introduction-to-data-visualization-with-plotly-in-python">data visualization in Plotly</a>. If you did the latter a while back, don’t worry: before dashing straight to Dash, the first chapter will provide a recap of Plotly.</p>
<h2 id="what-s-in-this-course-">What’s in this course?</h2>
<h4 id="chapter-1">Chapter 1</h4>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hw7XXzvZtuE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<p>Take Plotly to the next level with Dash. After briefly revising Plotly, you&#39;ll dive straight into building your first Dash app. You&#39;ll then get your first taste of HTML and how Dash harnesses this vital web development language to structure larger Dash apps. Finally, you&#39;ll put all this together in your first multi-graph dashboard for a global e-commerce organization.</p>
<h4 id="chapter-2">Chapter 2</h4>
<center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1634045079/sales_dashboard2_hmptlc.png" /></center>

<p>In this exercise, you’ll use your data skills to respond to a series of requests from management, including placing charts side-by-side and making the organization’s logos more prominent.
Take control of the elements in your Dash apps with HTML and CSS. Learn what each of these is and how they are at the core of modern web development, then incorporate their powerful abilities in your Dash apps to change your objects’ size, color, and placement.</p>
<h4 id="chapter-3">Chapter 3</h4>
<center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1634045079/reusablecomponent_kdvwxk.png" /></center>

<p>Creating reusable components is one way to ensure that your code can be neatly packaged as much as possible, and in this exercise you’ll learn how to apply this to the organization’s logo.</p>
<p>Turn your Dash apps into user-driven experiences by mastering interactive components. Learn how to include dropdowns, date pickers, and event-free text fields to modify elements on your Dash apps and build truly self-service dashboards your users can explore.</p>
<h4 id="chapter-4">Chapter 4</h4>
<center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1634045080/endchapterdash2_nuja6a.png" /></center>

<p>In this exercise, you’ll add more interactivity to your dashboards by allowing the viewer greater control over its tabular elements.</p>
<p>Unleash the full power of Dash app interactivity by triggering changes to one graph when a user clicks on or hovers over, another graph. Additionally, you&#39;ll learn the basics of Dash&#39;s Data Table module for creating tables that can be easily filtered, sorted, and paginated; as well as trigger changes in other graphs as well.</p>
<p>Are you ready to bring your Python data to life through visualizations in Dash? Click <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/building-dashboards-with-dash-and-plotly">here</a> to take this course!</p>


https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/building-dashboards-with-dash-and-plotly

You’ve learned how to use Python to collect data—now it’s time to learn how to present it! With our new course in Dash, you’ll learn the ins and outs of building dashboards with Python’s most popular visualization tool!

New Course: Building Dashboards with Dash and Plotly

<center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1633628944/florencenightingale_mnid7a.png" /></center><br>

<p>Data visualization is often associated with business meetings and shiny boardrooms, but its origins were very different. While pinpointing a sole inventor or source of data visualization is difficult, one of its pioneers was a woman who is widely renowned in the UK as the founder of modern nursing: Florence Nightingale.</p>
<p>The idea that a hospital should be clean and hygienic might seem like a given from a 21st-century perspective. However, in the Victorian era, before reforms were implemented thanks to the work of various doctors and nurses, such as Nightingale herself, the opposite was the case. In October 1854 Nightingale was sent to Istanbul as a military nurse. Ending up in the military hospital here was its own kind of death sentence: beds had filthy sheets, often unchanged and unwashed between different occupants, and soldiers who arrived in full hospitals would have to share the equally filthy floors with the resident rats. As a result, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920984/">these hospitals claimed 10 times more lives than the battlefields</a>. All this was considered normal at the time: many influential politicians and officers, including England’s Chief Medical Officer, believed that deaths caused by contagious diseases were unavoidable and that there existed no link between poor hygiene and these deaths.</p>
<p>Nightingale was convinced that improving the quality of care would reduce these deaths and famously set to work on tending to the soldiers, becoming known as “The Lady with the Lamp.” Her caring nature continues to go down in history, but one less well-known aspect of this story is the improved bookkeeping Nightingale instituted. Nightingale had had a passion for statistics since she was a child, and when she found that the hospital had been losing track of its soldiers’ deaths, she tasked specific individuals with record-keeping. This would prove invaluable upon her return to England.</p>
<p>Nightingale sought to push for widespread reforms to healthcare, feeling that her accomplishments in Turkey had not done enough. As is the norm in stories of change, she would have to face skeptics—such as the Chief Medical Officer—and she knew this herself.</p>
<p>Data she collected during the war and charts she produced afterward were her weapons. She understood that the intended audience of civil servants and the public would have an easier time making sense of visualizations as opposed to tables of data:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Printed tables and all-in double columns, I do not think anyone will read. None but scientific men ever look in the Appendix of a Report. And this is for the vulgar* public.”</p>
<p>*In Nightingale’s era, the word vulgar would have been understood to mean ordinary.</p>
</blockquote>
<br><center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1633628942/2560px-Nightingale-mortality_hjien8.jpg" /></center><br>

<p>Her most famous visualization was one she produced early on: a <a href="https://campus.datacamp.com/courses/intermediate-data-visualization-with-ggplot2/coordinates?ex=15">rose chart</a> of deaths in the British Army in Crimea and their causes. It demonstrated, through the color scheme and patterns, that a reduction in hospital deaths would lead to thousands of lives saved. The collection and process of visualizing the underlying data was also a revelation to Nightingale: soldiers’ deaths had fallen sharply after the government sent out a sanitation committee in March 1855, which had cleaned up the hospital’s drinking water and ventilation. In her subsequent publications, she would place heavy importance on improving hygiene.</p>
<br><center><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dyd911kmh/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:best/v1633628940/florencenightingalemortalitychart2_aixnwg.jpg" /></center><br>

<p>Already an iconic figure during the war, Nightingale’s work proved hugely popular among readers, from ordinary citizens to Queen Victoria herself. <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/surprising-history-infographic-180959563/">This was one of the first instances in which data visualization was used to persuade policymakers of the need for social reforms</a>. As a result of these efforts, hygiene within the army’s hospitals improved dramatically. By the end of the 19th century, their average mortality rates had fallen to <a href="https://www.astmh.org/ASTMH/media/Documents/Thomas-Mackie-Presidential-Address.pdf">half of those in civilian hospitals, where beforehand it had been consistently higher</a>. Nightingale would go on to use her influence and passion for data to drive healthcare reforms across the world and in a variety of settings, from maternity wards in India to doctors’ tents in the American Civil War.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>This was one of the earliest instances in which data visualization was used to persuade policymakers of the need for societal reforms.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Nightingale was a data scientist in a time before <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/intro-to-python-for-data-science">Python</a>, <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/free-introduction-to-r">R</a>, <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/introduction-to-sql">SQL</a>, <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/introduction-to-tableau">Tableau</a>, <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/introduction-to-power-bi">Power BI</a>, or even computers themselves existed. In this day and age, it can take mere minutes to collect enormous amounts of data and construct charts from it. What hasn’t changed, however, is the underlying concept of using visualizations to drive data literacy: healthcare organizations to this day continue to be visualization-driven, using <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/designing-and-analyzing-clinical-trials-in-r">R</a> and <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/biomedical-image-analysis-in-python">Python</a> extensively to improve patient care and create a healthier society.</p>
<p>Just like the days of Nightingale releasing her datasets to the public in a way they could easily understand, visualizations continue to be a valuable tool in democratizing data.</p>
<p>If you would like to improve your visualization skills to communicate data insights, we offer:</p>
<ul>
<li>Courses on visualization packages including: <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/introduction-to-data-visualization-with-matplotlib">Matplotlib</a>, <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/introduction-to-data-visualization-with-seaborn">Seaborn</a>, <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/introduction-to-data-visualization-with-plotly-in-python">Plotly</a>, <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/introduction-to-data-visualization-with-ggplot2">ggplot2</a>, and <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/data-visualization-with-lattice-in-r">lattice</a>.</li>
<li>Courses in visualization tools such as <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/data-visualization-in-spreadsheets">Spreadsheets</a>, <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/introduction-to-tableau">Tableau</a>, and <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/courses/introduction-to-power-bi">Power BI</a>.</li>
<li>Real-world healthcare projects, including <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/projects/166">lifespan expectancy in R</a> and the <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/projects/870">spread of COVID-19 in R</a>.</li>
<li>A <a href="https://www.datacamp.com/projects/132">project</a> that involves using Python to emulate the work of another famous data-driven Victorian doctor: Dr John Snow.  </li>
</ul>
<h4>Sources:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sciencenews.org/article/florence-nightingale-birthday-power-visualizing-science">https://www.sciencenews.org/article/florence-nightingale-birthday-power-visualizing-science</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medium.com/nightingale/florence-nightingale-is-a-design-hero-8bf6e5f2147">https://medium.com/nightingale/florence-nightingale-is-a-design-hero-8bf6e5f2147</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sciencenews.org/article/florence-nightingale-passionate-statistician">https://www.sciencenews.org/article/florence-nightingale-passionate-statistician</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920984/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920984/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.astmh.org/ASTMH/media/Documents/Thomas-Mackie-Presidential-Address.pdf">https://www.astmh.org/ASTMH/media/Documents/Thomas-Mackie-Presidential-Address.pdf</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/surprising-history-infographic-180959563/">https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/surprising-history-infographic-180959563/</a></li>
</ul>


https://www.datacamp.com/community/blog/florence-nightingale-pioneer-of-data-visualization

Did you know that data visualization has origins in military healthcare reforms? In this blog post, we discuss how the famous nurse Florence Nightingale used charts to demonstrate her life-saving work to her target audience.

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