7 summer courses to improve your knowledge about data

The training offer does not stop in summer. Those who want to take advantage of their holidays to continue acquiring knowledge have a large number and variety of courses that cover all imaginable topics, from languages or technology tools, to theater or workshops related to social aspects. And among these issues, we could find data.

Each year, summer courses related to open data, data science or analytics grow, which demonstrates citizens interest to be trained in these subjects; something that is not surprising considering the high demand of professional with these capabilities. This year we see that courses leaves general topics to focus on more specific aspects: the importance of geographic data, the use of specific analysis and programming tools, the impact of data in specific sectors, or the advantages of data journalism to fight against false news.

In datos.gob.es we have selected some examples to illustrate this trend:

• The Summer School of the Complutense has launched the 6th edition of its course on Big & Open Data. Analysis and programming with R and Python. To attend this course, no prior knowledge is necessary. The syllabus begins with basic aspects related to Big Data, open data and open government, in order to deepen in key aspects of the development of this type of projects: the collection and integration of massive data, NoSQL databases, Paradigm MapReduce, Big Data architecture or data analysis with R or Python, among other issues. The course takes place from July 8 to 26.
• For its part, the Public University of Navarre organizes, together with the City Council of Pamplona and the Government of Navarra, a course on Geographic Information Systems and Open Data, from June 19 to 21. The course is divided into two clearly differentiated parts: a first part aimed at general public interested in open data policies and their implications; and a second part more practical aimed at professionals with basic knowledge of programming skills, interested in Geographic Information Systems tools.
• The Polytechnic University of Valencia has launched a new edition of the Summer School of Transparency and Data Management Chair. During three days, from June 19 to 21, a series of workshops will be focused on fake news. Through examples and case studies, students can learn to detect false information in different contexts: social networks, news or visualizations. In addition, the influence of these contents among public opinion will be discussed.
• The International University of Andalusia offers, from 10 to 12 July, a Journalism on research, data and reporting workshop, organized together with El Confidencial and Unicaja Banco. The course will discuss transparency, combative journalism, and also post-truth and fake news. It is aimed at students of journalism and communication, but any citizen interested in the subject can also participate.
• The University of Malaga organizes a course entitled Data protection and transparency: conflicts and balance. The course will take place from July 17 to 19, and will analyze the regulation on data protection contained in the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union and the Law of transparency, access to public information and good governance. The objective is to address the conflicts between data protection and the right of access to information, to offer some guidelines that help achieve a balance between both rights.
• The Autonomous University of Madrid has launched the Big Data course in the agri-food sector. Fundamentals and applications, from July 22 to 24. The course aims to show a complete view of the competitive advantages that Big Data brings to the sector, as well as to teach students to exploit and extract value from data obtained through remote sensor or IoT devices.
• Finally, the University of Barcelona offers, from July 1 to 5, the course Lights and shadows of the massive data, where the role of data in the health sector is analyzed. Among other questions, the course will try to respond to the following statements: What are massive data and how do they originate? How do they affect society and innovation? Is privacy a problem to work with massive data in the health sector? What is Deep Learning?

In addition to these courses, in datos.gob.es you can also find a series of training materials that will help you acquire more knowledge about open data.