Bridging the AI Skills Gap: A Collaborative Approach to Education
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the workplace, displacing existing skill sets and creating a demand for new competencies. This necessitates a concerted effort to bridge the skills gap, both for current employees through reskilling initiatives and for future generations through innovative educational programs. Recognizing the critical need for cognitive skills like creative thinking, analytical thinking, and technology literacy, organizations and educational institutions must collaborate to equip individuals with the tools to navigate an AI-driven world. The SAP University Alliances program, a 25-year partnership between SAP and over 2,800 educational institutions, exemplifies this collaborative approach, focusing on developing SAP skills in tomorrow’s workforce. This program provides a platform for knowledge sharing, curriculum development, and access to cutting-edge technologies, ensuring that students graduate with the skills employers seek.
HEC Montréal: Pioneering Gamified Learning for the AI Era
HEC Montréal, a leading international business school, has been a key partner in the SAP University Alliances program, demonstrating a commitment to innovative learning methodologies. Two decades ago, HEC Montréal developed ERPsim, a highly successful educational tool that immerses students in real-world business scenarios using SAP software. Building upon this success, HEC Montréal has partnered with SAP to create Business Builders, a next-generation gamified learning platform designed to cultivate essential skills for the AI age. Business Builders leverages the power of SAP Analytics Cloud to enhance students’ analytical, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving abilities within a dynamic and engaging game environment. This approach addresses the challenge educators face in teaching data analytics in the era of generative AI, providing a compelling alternative to traditional methods that may be circumvented by tools like ChatGPT.
Business Builders: A Deep Dive into Data-Driven Decision Making
Business Builders offers students a unique opportunity to hone their data analysis skills through interactive scenarios and realistic datasets. The game provides a choice of three distinct scenarios, each focusing on a pressing contemporary issue: environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations, supply chain resilience, and international expansion. Students assume various roles within these scenarios, such as marketing or product researcher, financial analyst, or supply chain analyst, and progress through multiple stages of increasing complexity. Each stage presents ten business questions requiring different levels of data analysis proficiency, catering to both novice and advanced learners. By utilizing SAP Analytics Cloud, students visualize data, identify appropriate graphical representations, and make informed decisions based on their analysis.
Real-World Challenges, Synthetic Data, and Authentic Learning
The use of synthetic datasets in Business Builders enhances the authenticity of the learning experience without the complexities of real-world data, which can sometimes hinder the pedagogical process. This approach allows students to grapple with realistic business problems in a controlled environment, fostering a deeper understanding of data analysis techniques. A popular scenario within Business Builders focuses on supply chain resilience, specifically addressing the challenge of a Panama Canal shutdown due to climate change. Students must devise strategies to reroute shipments and prioritize products, mirroring the real-world complexities of global supply chain management. This practical application of data analysis skills prepares students for the challenges they will encounter in their future careers.
Empowering Educators and Students with Innovative Resources
Business Builders not only provides a dynamic learning environment for students but also equips educators with the resources to effectively guide the learning process. Tailor-made training materials are available for instructors, offering guidance on navigating the game scenarios, optimizing the learning experience, and deepening students’ understanding of data analysis techniques. This support ensures that educators can effectively integrate Business Builders into their curriculum, maximizing the benefits for students. The free availability of Business Builders to lecturers and students globally further democratizes access to cutting-edge data analytics education, promoting widespread adoption and fostering a data-literate workforce.
A Collaborative Future for AI Education
The rapid adoption of Business Builders by educational institutions worldwide demonstrates the growing recognition of the need for innovative approaches to data analytics education. With over 300 institutions registered and thousands of students anticipated to participate by the end of 2024, Business Builders is poised to make a significant impact on the development of future data professionals. The gamified approach and the integration of SAP Analytics Cloud provide a compelling platform for students to acquire essential skills in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The collaborative efforts of SAP, HEC Montréal, and other educational institutions are paving the way for a future where individuals are equipped with the necessary competencies to thrive in the age of AI.
