LONDON, 2015-12-4 — /EPR Retail News/ — University of Edinburgh Business School has announced a new partnership with Europe’s leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company, Dixons Carphone.
The educational tie-up will champion and develop the role of data science and analytics in business education. As business becomes ever more digital and data-driven, there is a growing and vital need to develop graduate knowledge and skills in data science and analytics.
The collaboration will help fund a major drive to develop teaching and research in data science within the Business School with close to £500,000 invested in various initiatives.
This partnership was launched at an event at the School this week (2 December) with big data leaders from Google, Experian and Optima speaking about developments and challenges in managing customer data and analytics for competitive advantage in business.
It will give students and scholars the latest insights to help them master the big data skills needed to analyse consumer behaviour, retail and marketing trends. It will also see the creation of a new full-time academic role, devoted to championing big data and give the School access to cutting-edge software and data for teaching and research.
In addition, a number of generous Dixons Carphone scholarships will be offered to promising applicants to the School’s MSc and MBA programmes.
Professor Ian Clarke, Dean of University of Edinburgh Business School, said:
“We are very excited to announce our new partnership with Dixons Carphone. Big data is now ubiquitous, so it’s essential we equip the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs with the skills to manage and analyse it, for the benefit of organisations and their customers.
“By linking-up with one of Europe’s leading consumer brands we will ensure our students have access to the latest applied insights and software, and can gain hands-on experience in this rapidly developing field, to further strengthen their employment prospects on graduation.”
The retail giant also hopes to create opportunities for Business School graduates who take part in the initiative.
Stuart Ramage, E-Commerce Director, Dixons Carphone, said:
“We are really pleased to announce this collaboration and we welcome the innovative approach Edinburgh’s leading academics are taking in giving students real-world applied data-analytics experience during their studies.
“Our highly successful e-commerce operation has been built around the effective utilisation of consumer analytics. With this new partnership we therefore want to play our part in building a new generation of data-savvy, business graduates who will help drive our company and the industry forward.”
John Davis, Industry Head, Google UK spoke at the launch. He commented on the partnership:
“Actionable, data-driven insights are key to driving business performance, so we need to upskill the future workforce who can tap into these opportunities. This new partnership between business educators and analytics practitioners is a very welcome step in the right direction.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact:
For University of Edinburgh Business School
Derek Main – Derek.Main@ed.ac.uk / 0131 651 5310 / 07702 312 523
For Dixons Carphone
Paula Westcott – Paula.Westcott@mcsaatchi.com / 0203 617 8463/ 07717133475
About Dixons Carphone:
Dixons Carphone plc is Europe’s leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company, employing over 40,000 people in 9 countries.
Focused on helping customers navigate the connected world, Dixons Carphone offers a comprehensive range of electrical and mobile products, connectivity and expert after-sales services from the Geek Squad and KNOWHOW.
Combining Dixons Retail’s successful and sustainable multi-channel approach to electrical retailing, with Carphone Warehouse, one of Europe’s largest independent telecommunications retailers, Dixons Carphone plc began trading as a merged entity on 7 August 2014.
For more information about Dixons Carphone, please visit
http://www.dixonscarphone.com/
SOURCE: Dixons Carphone plc.