SAS® BI Bootcamp – Hungary

Students hailing from universities all over Hungary are now acquiring knowlege about the newest SAS^® decision making solutions through SAS BI Bootcamp. Developed by the Hungarian Academic Program, SAS BI Bootcamp consists of several programs designed to teach students basic SAS applications. The initial program includes afternoon demonstrations about specific topics that explain the basic idea of business solutions, followed by technical practice. SAS Summer Camp offers training on narrow topics, discussed and backed up with technical SAS practice over several days. 

For the first time last fall, the entire business area of SAS Business Intelligence was offered in an extended training session for a small group of students; only the first eight applicants were accepted. This specialized training was a longer program, with classes held over six consecutive Fridays. The training was considered especially important due to the leading role of SAS Business Intelligence in the Hungarian market. 

The SAS BI session began with a high-level overview, followed by a review of the basics using the Base SAS module during two classes. Different segments of business intelligence, including the creation of OLAP cubes and the usage of Data Integration Studio, were explained in great detail. During the last two Fridays, students used SAS reporting tools, such as Web Report Studio and the SAS^® Add-In for Microsoft Office. Project experiences colored the lectures and provided best-practices. The course ended with an exam.

The eight participants of the session were college seniors, and some were interns with SAS clients. Most majored in business intelligence systems and came from universites all over the country, including Széchenyi István University (known for its technology education); Corvinus University of Budapest (strong in business administration education); Budapest University of Technology and Economics (also a top technological school); Budapest Polytechnic; and the University of Pécs.

As the demand for SAS intelligence increases internationally, European universities are beginning to understand the value of offering SAS courses. The Institute of Business Methods at the University of Pécs involves SAS in courses such as Artificial Intelligence, Mathematical Statistics for Business Systems and others.

From the SAS Bootcamp experience, students gain practical knowledge of SAS and insight into the opportunities in the BI world that lie ahead.