Through offering a broad range of education and training programs, The Analytics Academy helps organizations to build data science capability at each stage of the data driven transformation. For every business role – from top management to hands-on analyst – and domain – from customer service to finance.

The Analytics Academy is a cooperation between University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Data Science and ORTEC. The cooperation offers organizations the best of both theory and practice, based on academic rigor and years long experience.

Our History

Back in 2015 the first signs of the data science and AI skills gap became apparent to specialists and decisionmakers worldwide. There was a wide range of possibilities to apply AI, data science and analytics, but organizations could not get their hands on the talent to help them get value from data and analytics.

Key stakeholders at both ORTEC and UvA knew this gap for companies could not be filled solely with academic graduates, there was something else needed: the current workforce needed upskilling and reskilling. Emerging from our close collaboration an idea sprung: this major challenge needed a specialized institute. We set up a joint Academy primarily focused on retraining the current workforce on data science, AI, analytics skills through training, coaching and community building.

Our philosophy

Different organizations have different training needs. That’s why we believe in a tailor made approach. Multidisciplinary is key because Business Analytics requires knowledge of Analytics, Business and Computer Science.

To learn data science you need a sound theoretical foundation, but also practical experience in working with the latest tools and techniques. The involvement of Amsterdam Business School guarantees academic rigor in teaching the theory, while ORTEC teaches pragmatic use of the theory in practice.

We believe in learning by doing. Seeing is believing but applying is mastering. That’s why we offer participants the opportunity to bring in their own Data Sciences projects and bring them from Proof-of-Concept to MVP or even production stage under the guidance of our coaches. 

For whom are the courses

Data driven companies rely on much more than ‘hard core data scientists’. It’s not just those who do the math and make the models that drive innovation; the true value is only unlocked if the operational part of the company is able to use these new tools and techniques.

With that in mind, The Analytics Academy provides appropriate courses for all layers and expertises in the company, from C-Level managers and hard-core data scientists to team managers and call center operators. By embracing analytics and data science throughout the company, it will become part of the culture. 

Who?
Victor Wierda
 
What do you do?
Business Development and Marketing: My goal is to always balance a clients need with their company structure and wallet. The Analytics Academy can be very flexible, and it’s a lot of fun to match the right program for the right company.
 
What is your data/analytics mission?
In previous jobs I’ve always been surprised how many people spend ages on data-related tasks, doing the same menial task over and over again, draining their energy and happiness. My biggest joy in helping people acquire new skills is to see their working life becoming not only more effective, but more fun as well.
Victor Victor Wierda

Marketing and Business Development Manager

Who?
Dorine Bosch
 
What do you do?
Coordination and Marketing activities for the Analytics Academy. My drive is to give the participants of our training sessions a pleasant and good experience. I’m doing this by listening to customer’s requirements in order to offer the right training schedule. Besides that, I like clear communication and am always available to answer questions.
 
What is your data/analytics mission?
There are so many processes that can be improved within an organization to eventually work faster and more efficient. It’s great to contribute to this with The Analytics Academy. Our customers can follow courses that help them to develop new skills and improve their business processes. In this way, our customers can start working more data-driven. It’s makes me smile!

 

dorine Dorine Bosch

Education Coordinator

Who?
Daan Wout
 
What do you do?
Within The Analytics Academy, I support the Business Development. Covid-19 has accelerated the digital transition with working-from-home extensively, and it may even change our ways-of-working permanently. I am looking into the effects this has on ourselves and our customers, to make sure that our programs remain sustainable and future-proof.
 
What is your data/analytics mission?
Data-driven businesses foster a future-proof and fact-based culture. We have seen that leveraging data can help companies improve business processes, logistics, and overall operation for all levels of the organization. My mission is to get people excited and aware of what a data-driven organization can mean for them, and also provide the hands-on skills and guidance to get this mindset into practice.

 

Daan2 Daan Wout

Analytics Consultant

Who?
Mireille Markink
 
What do you do?
I collaborate closely both with the customer and our trainers. My goal is to optimize the education program and learning experience for the participants. We continuously develop and improve our curriculum. What topics are most relevant for a particular group? How can we make our courses more effective and interactive? What are the newest developments in data science?
 
What is your data/analytics mission?
Help others to see the potential of data and analytics and how they can use it in their day to day work to make their work easier, more fun and make an even bigger impact. There’re few things better than someone enthusiastically telling you about the script they wrote or dashboard they made giving them insights in their work they never had before.

 

Mireille 2 Mireille Markink

Operational and education manager

Who?
Robert Monné
 
What do you do?
I’m responsible for the team, our strategic direction and TAA’s proposition. We continuously develop and sharpen our curriculum and proposition in close collaboration with our customers. As practice lead Organizational Development, I help customers with their transition towards an AI and Analytics driven organization. One of the vital building block is the development of people at our clients.
 
What is your data/analytics mission?
Already quite some time ago I got touched by the ‘magic powers’ and added value of AI, Analytics and Data Science for companies, individuals, and society. I believe these techniques can make the world a lot better (reducing waste, increasing efficiency, improving employee/customer satisfaction). I see there are also a lot of challenges to overcome, one of which is the data science skills gap. So, it’s awesome to see the impact we make at our clients (how much people start a new role, or how much data science projects are delivered by applying the skills we taught). I love it to help other people and organizations to start creating these benefits. As I see AI, Analytics and Data Science as a vital element for the progress of humanity, it makes me happy that we as TAA have a modest contribution to that.

 

impact Linkedin Robert v4 crop Robert Monné

Practice Lead Organizational Development and TAA manager

Who?
Wilco Draijer
 
What do you do?
Teaching and improving the courses. If you don’t update a Data Science course for three years, it will be outdated. Therefore, I build knowledge and look for opportunities to incorporate it into the courses. Let’s keep improving!
 
What is your data/analytics mission?
I want people to solve the right problem. You can be the best Python programmer, but if you spend your time on a meaningless issue, you’re not adding value. So, let’s train a mindset for finding the root problem and applying solid solutions. You can practice skills on your own, but a mindset should be taught.

 

Wilco2 Wilco Draijer

Analytics Consultant

Who?
Marc Salomon
 
What do you do?
I’m Dean of the Amsterdam Business School, Program Director of the MBA Big Data & Business Analytics and Board member of Amsterdam Data Science
 
What is your data/analytics mission?
My passion is to build a “Future Proof” Business School – combining traditional Business Studies with Tech, AI & Entrepreneurship. Ultimate goal = High quality Research and Teaching “Relevant” to Business & Society

 

marc-salomon Marc Salomon

Dean of the Amsterdam Business School

Who?
Prof. Dr. Ir. Dick den Hertog
 
What do you do?
Den Hertog’s research interests cover various fields in prescriptive analytics, in particular linear and nonlinear optimization. In recent years his main focus has been on robust optimization and optimization with Machine Learning. He is also active in applying the theory in real-life applications. For many years he has been involved in research for optimal flood protection, which was awarded by the INFORMS Franz Edelman Award in 2013. He is associate editor of Operations Research and INFORMS Journal on Optimization.
 
What is your data/analytics mission?
Our society is facing many challenges. Den Hertog believes that Analytics can be of much value to improve our world. Currently, he is doing research to develop better optimization models and techniques for cancer treatment, and he is involved in research to optimize the infrastructure for development countries, together with the World Bank. To make these societal contributions of Analytics more visible, and to stimulate research in this area, he has started a new initiative: “Analytics for a Better World” (analyticsbw.org) together with Dimitris Bertsimas (MIT).

 

Hertog, Dick den Dick den Hertog

Full professor Operations Research at Amsterdam Business School

The Analytics Academy is a cooperation between Amsterdam Business School of the University of Amsterdam, ORTEC and Amsterdam Data Science.

Digital Shapers helps to get organisations moving and trigger the digital mindset and culture. They do this by helping with a step-by-step plan for a new vision, a digital strategy, implementing digital programs or systems and by employee activation through training sessions, workshops and interactive lectures.

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) has a rich history dating back to 1632, when its forerunner, the Golden Age school Athenaeum Illustre, was established. Today, with some 30,000 students, 5,000 staff, more than 100 nationalities and a budget of more than 600 million euros, it is one of the largest comprehensive universities in Europe.

Amsterdam Business School is the business school of the University of Amsterdam. All degree programs are officially accredited by the Dutch government and by EQUIS, an international quality stamp. The school has a strong focus on Big Data & Business Analytics and offers the first MBA in Big Data & Business Analytics in Europe.

ORTEC is one of the market leaders in Data Science and Business Analytics solutions. The company, with 750 econometricians, mathematicians and computer scientists, is preferred supplier of many Fortune 500 companies across the globe.