Leveraging analytics to train next generation of industry-ready talent

The University of South Australia, an educational institute based in Adelaide, South Australia has been coined as ‘Australia’s University of Enterprise’. This reflects the university’s focus on practical, outcomes-focused research and education that benefits both the economy and society. Central to this approach has been engagement with over 2,500 industry partnerships, with an emphasis on translating research into real-world outcomes.

One such partnership, has been the University of South Australia’s work with SAS. The University selected SAS as a strategic partner because of an alignment of core values and a mission to enhance employability, digital capabilities, and foster meaningful connections between students and industry. SAS’ wealth of experience and academic partnerships across the world, made this collaboration a seamless fit, designed to equip the next generation of data and AI talent, with the skills they need to future-proof their careers.

There are several key pillars of the collaboration including curriculum integration, whereby courses in the university’s STEM Unit embed SAS Studio, SAS Visual Analytics, SAS Enterprise Miner and SAS Viya into the syllabus and enable hands-on experience with the technology graduates will encounter in the workforce. Once students have completed their program, they become eligible for SAS Academic Specialisation accreditation and receive a digital certificate and badge as a micro-credential for their coursework and use of SAS. Finally, SAS’ Talent Connection and WIL (Work Integrated Learning) initiatives allow students to tackle real-world industry problems and put data and analytics to work. These elements combine to equip graduates not just with the knowledge gained in courses, but a portfolio of projects that leave them ideally positioned as they embark on the next steps in their data, analytics and AI journey.

For Dr Nick Fewster-Young, at the University of South Australia, the collaboration has been an ideal alignment.

“We are already seeing the impact with increased graduate placements, stronger employer recognition, and growing demand for SAS-oriented courses. “Some staff have mentioned the extensive resources SAS has online for learning and teaching through the modular teaching vignettes, videos and the ability to bring real-world data into assessments have been game changers,” said Fewster-Young. For Mark Spencer, a Master of Data Science graduate from the University of South Australia, the SAS Academic Specialisation has already contributed to securing new career opportunities.

“Studying the Master of Data Science at University of South Australia has significantly broadened my perspective and career pathways. The SAS Specialisation further honed my technical skills and taught me how to translate data into actionable insights. These experiences have been instrumental in preparing me for leadership roles in analytics.

“Mastering SAS wasn’t just about learning a tool, it was about gaining a competitive edge. It opened doors to opportunities, where I could use data to solve problems that truly matter,” said Spencer. For the University of South Australia, the collaboration with SAS sits within the organisation’s broader vision as the university merges with Adelaide University in 2026, becoming one of the country’s largest tertiary institutions. As part of that transformation, digital capability and data science education will play a pivotal role in ensuring the university is ideally placed to educate students from across the state, Australia and beyond.