CUSTOMER STORY // UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
Data Builds a Bigger Picture for Students
Sheffield University Management School works with Qlik Academic Program to give business management students invaluable hands-on experience.
70
undergraduate students
Up to 70 undergraduates, as well as postgraduate and MBA students, now have access to Qlik.
Hands-on
learning
Instead of static, theoretical learning, students can use Qlik for themselves and build their own apps and dashboards.
Valuable
experience
The first-hand knowledge and experience gained can be applied to placements and postgraduate careers.
CHALLENGE
A need for hands-on experience
Dr. Terrence Perera has over 30 years of experience in teaching, research, and consultancy, and is passionate about sharing his considerable expertise in business analytics, which he considers to be an essential component of business management.
In 2020, Terrence identified a gap in his syllabus. There was a growing need to give non-technical business students industry-recognized skills that were increasingly in demand in the wider world. However, students were only being shown the basics of modern analytical software, and coverage was limited.
APPROACH
A specific approach for business students
Terrence had used other business intelligence tools, but the breakthrough came when a colleague mentioned the Qlik Academic Program. Terrence secured free, full-year licenses that enabled him to run four two-hour lab sessions with Qlik, putting students in front of a dataset based on a real-world scenario.
Students learned to transform raw data into interactive dashboards that gradually increased in complexity. A key result was a significant confidence gain in data storytelling. Terrence also introduced his students to the forecasting and prediction side of analytics and even machine learning. “People are obviously realizing the importance of AI, so it’s important to include,” he says.
RESULTS
Understanding the deeper picture
Through the Qlik Academic Program, students now have experience with a tool that they might not have previously been familiar with. For many, it’s a pivotal part of the Business Management program.
“Data is at the core of a business, and that’s something that a lot of people don’t understand at first,” says Jack Spencer, a final-year Business Management student at Sheffield. “Working with Qlik allowed me to really take that data-driven approach and understand the deeper picture.”
Working with Qlik has also given students invaluable experience that they can take into their careers.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
An important addition to university education
Students at the Sheffield University Management School were missing out on the chance to work directly with a modern analytics tool, a skill increasingly expected in today’s job market. With the Qlik Academic Program in place, students now gain practical, hands-on experience that goes far beyond classroom theory.
For students, Qlik is a powerful advantage; they can develop real analytics skills that can be applied during internships, placements, and early-career roles. For the university, it strengthens its commitment to preparing graduates who are confident, capable, and ready for a data-driven workplace.
I’m in a management school where many students don’t have a highly technical background. Qlik’s ease of use is perfect.
