Buckinghamshire New University taps Multiverse to supercharge staff data skills
Buckinghamshire New University, based in High Wycombe, England, has launched a Data Academy to train 35 staff members in data management. The initiative aims to improve staff efficiency, maintain student satisfaction, and support student growth.
The university is positioning the program as part of a wider effort to develop a data-driven culture, particularly in areas like admissions and academic registry.
Data training to address skills gaps
Training will be delivered by Multiverse, a company specializing in apprenticeship-based learning. Staff will take part in two programs, each focused on different levels of data expertise:
Level 3: Data & Insights for Business Decisions - Covers data quality, automation, and change management.
Level 4: Data Fellowship - Provides training in programming, data modeling, integration, and predictive analytics.
Multiverse, which has trained over 20,000 professionals in AI, data, and digital skills, is taking the lead on closing skills gaps in sectors struggling with inefficient data management.
Data challenges in higher education
A report from Multiverse suggests the education sector loses more time to unproductive data tasks than any other industry. At BNU, manual processes and data silos have been a recurring issue, limiting staff capacity for more strategic work. The hope is that by improving data skills, the university can cut inefficiencies and standardize processes across departments.
Jon Lees, academic registrar at Buckinghamshire New University, said the academy reflects the university’s commitment to developing its staff:
“At BNU, we are committed to investing in our staff talent. Our collaboration with Multiverse will help deliver on this, as we build our staff’s expertise and professional practice, and continuously improve our organizational effectiveness. As we launch our first cohort, we look forward to seeing positive change take place, led by data skills for the modern workplace.”
Multiverse works with more than 1,500 organizations to address workforce skill gaps in AI, data, and technology. The company’s apprenticeship-based model is designed to integrate professional learning with workplace needs.
Gary Eimerman, chief learning officer at Multiverse, said the initiative is part of a broader push for improved data practices in education:
“Buckinghamshire New University has a rich heritage in transforming student lives and has recognized how more effective data management has the potential to contribute to this. By investing in the development of its staff, Buckinghamshire will be able to accelerate progress in meeting its strategic objectives.”
