How can education abroad offices collect and use data for decision-making? Successful use of data can be applied to program review, student assessment, and predicting long-term trends. In many cases, the data you need may already exist in your databases. Knowing how to mine that data so that it provides useful and instructive information is key. Eliminate redundancy and the risk of using “bad” or unreliable data during the collection process. Presenters will share examples and best practices for tracking and converting data into useful tools.
Learning Outcomes
After attending this e-Learning Seminar, participants will be able to:
- Review key questions in collecting useful data;
- Articulate how to collect data in a way that is sustainable and allows for longitudinal analysis;
- Examine how to best mine for data;
- Discover how to convert data into useful information;
- Learn best practices for productive discussions and partnerships on data with other offices.
This e-Learning Seminar will incorporate discussion on the practical matters of database options, reporting tool options, and helpful resources available to the nontechnical international education professional.
Presenters
Brook Blahnik
University of Minnesota
Brook Blahnik manages advising and business operations for the Learning Abroad Center at the University of Minnesota. His work entails coordinating the application, advising, and enrollment systems, as well as operational reporting and goal tracking for an institution sending more than 3,500 students abroad annually. Blahnik also serves as the content coordinator for strategic advancement for NAFSA’s Education Abroad Knowledge Community and sits on the board of directors for the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs. He holds undergraduate degrees in business and English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a master's degree in higher education administration from Boston College.
Amanda Zamzes
Elon University
Amanda Zamzes is the business and data manager at Elon University’s Global Education Center, where she manages all program budgets, insurance, and data reporting, as well as coordinating several short-term faculty-led programs. Zamzes began her career at Elon in 2009 as a Donor Relations team member in the university’s Office of Advancement. In this role, she worked on gratitude projects and ways to make complex financial data easy to understand for donors. Zamzes is a double alumna of Elon, earning her MBA and a BA in political science and public administration from the university.
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Build Your Competencies
NAFSA International Education Professional Competencies 2.0 outline the abilities, skills, and foundational knowledge necessary for successful international educators. Learn more about NAFSA Competencies 2.0.
This learning content targets the competency categories of Business Acumen and Data Collection and Analysis.