An African hub, dedicated to foundational learning data, measurement, research, and capacity building
Foundational Learning Data for Impact: Mastering Data Interpretation and Communication
4 to 8 November
University of Cape Town
The first one-week residential course will be held at the University of Cape Town from 4 to 8 November 2024. This five-day course aims to enhance your skills in effectively communicating research findings. You will learn how to critically review foundational learning data, accurately interpret results, and present them in ways that resonate various education stakeholders. The course offers hands-on experience with education data and practical guidance on creating written outputs tailored to your organizational needs.
who is the course for
This course is ideal for policy and data analysts from NGOs, officials from African statistics offices and education ministries, as well as postgraduate students and researchers from African institutions. The course will benefit those who wish to:
- Improve their data interpretation skills and communication techniques.
- Present education research results in concise and accessible formats for consultation, program implementation, and advocacy.
what you will learn
1. Interpreting results
Gain proficiency in understanding your data’s meaning, including mastering standard errors, confidence intervals, and percentiles.
2. Making comparisons
Understand when and how to compare data across socioeconomic groups, gender, or study waves to ensure meaningful analysis.
3. Data visualization
Create graphs that not only reflect your data accurately but also communicate findings and insights in a clear, compelling and informative manner.
4. Communicating with policymakers and other non-technical audiences
Develop the skills to communicate evidence through effective policy writing.
course structure
The course will feature a combination of lectures, hands-on data analysis, small group sessions, and individual and group projects. During these sessions, you will critically evaluate examples of effective and ineffective data visualization and evidence communication, while identifying common pitfalls and misconceptions. Guest lecturers will provide insights on topics such as how policymakers engage with evidence, using evidence to inform advocacy, and writing for the media.
Throughout the week, you will develop your own policy brief. Participants are encouraged to bring and work with their own data, where relevant.
The hub will offer follow-up support via two one-hour online sessions with facilitators in the months following the course.
A key goal of the course is to build and strengthen a community of professionals working with foundational learning data in Africa. To foster networking, a few social events will be held throughout the week.
course facilitators
Professor Cally Ardington is the director of DataFirst at the University of Cape Town. She is a Professor in the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) in the School of Economics. She has extensive experience in the design, management and micro-econometric analysis of social surveys and quantitative (experimental and quasi-experimental design) impact evaluations. Her current research focuses on emergent and early literacy and numeracy, social-emotional skills and executive functioning amongst kindergarten and primary school children.
Dr Linda Zuze is a Zambian economist with over 15 years of experience in policy research at both the local and international levels. She holds both a PhD and a Master's degree from the University of Cape Town. She has worked and published extensively on topics that address inequalities in education, labor markets, and access to financial services. Her current focus is on strengthening African early-grade reading assessments, analyzing gender dynamics in education, and promoting the inclusion of children with disabilities.
Dr John Musantu is a distinguished economist consultant, lecturer, researcher, and author. He holds a PhD in Economics and a Master of Science degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Leeds Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Economics and a minor in Demography from the University of Zambia. He has extensive experience in development work, social and economic research, lecturing, and monitoring and evaluation. His career includes significant roles in training institutions, financial institutions, think tanks, research organizations, public advisory, and development agencies.
Dr Emma Whitelaw is a postdoctoral researcher at SALDRU. In 2023, she graduated from the University of Cape Town with her PhD in Economics, which investigated topics related to inequalities in post-school education in South Africa, especially regarding student funding, access, and success. Emma continues this work, contributing to studies falling under the Siyaphambili Initiative, a hub for post-schooling information and research in South Africa. Her current work extends to inequality dynamics, with special interest in the nexus of education, labour markets, and other social outcomes in South Africa and Ghana.
guest lecturers
Dr Nompumelelo Nyathi Mohohlwane is a Deputy Director in the Research Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate of the Department of Basic Education in South Africa. She has a PhD in Education Policy Studies and is part of the research team for the government-led Early Grade Reading Study randomized control trials. Her recent research has focused on issues around language in education. She is a non-resident fellow with the Centre for Global Development and an Associate with the University of Stellenbosch.
Sipumelele Lucwaba is a Fellow at the Binding Constraints Lab with a wealth of experience in the education sector having worked for Tshikululu Social Investments, the National Education Collaboration Trust and Funda Wande.. She is the Secretariat of the Reading Panel, South Africa’s most prominent annual event focused on early grade reading. The panel draws mass media attention and around 150 delegates including business leaders, NGOs, philanthropies and media representatives. She is also the Secretariat of the Right to Read campaign that focuses on strategic litigation to enforce minimum norms and standards. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Law at the University of Pretoria focusing on the Right to Read and Write.
prerequisites
The course is designed for participants with a reasonable level of data literacy and research experience. Basic skills in data summarization will be assumed. The course will be conducted in English.
how to apply
To apply for the course, please complete the application form and a member of our team will get in touch with you.
We encourage you to complete the form as soon as possible. The deadline is 4th October 2024. Spaces are limited, and you will be notified if your application is successful.
The hub will cover flights, visas, accommodation, meals, and local transportation for selected participants.
For inquiries or further assistance, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
