Analytics for Social Good

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Analytics focuses on transforming data into insights by applying advanced analytical methods, based on mathematics, statistics and artificial intelligence models and algorithms to improve the performance of an organization. On this course, key topics and issues in Analytics will be presented and discussed with a focus on their applications in social, healthcare, sustainable and humanitarian organizations. In the first part of the course, the analytic tools and methodologies will be introduced. In the second part, case studies from humanitarian, social, healthcare and environmental organizations (such as NGO humanitarian organizations, social care organizations, public services, hospitals or primary healthcare institutions) will be presented and discussed. Examples are: home healthcare logistics and scheduling; planning disaster response and preparedness for improved decision-making; locations of primary healthcare centers, or schools; planning humanitarian aid distribution; planning sustainable transportation; etc.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the course are the following:

1. Learn the foundational concepts and methods of Analytics.
2. Learn how to develop and apply analytic tools, approaches and techniques used in decision making in Humanitarian, Social, Health Care and Environmental organizations
3. Provide strategic and operational management examples and case studies of these organizations.
4. To expose students to issues in humanitarian and non-profit logistics through a series of guest speakers and case studies.