Introduction

The Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency, AQU Catalunya, is the main instrument for the promotion and assurance of quality in the Catalan higher education system. AQU Catalunya is entrusted with the assessment, accreditation and certification of quality in the universities and higher education institutions in Catalonia.

Challenge

Governments and socio-economic partners in Catalunya are unanimous on the need to develop and better use information on labour market and skills dynamics to improve the performance of education and training, the availability of qualifications and skills for employment, and lifelong societal and personal development of people. In this context, AQU has been reinforcing its systems, capacities and methods to identify, analyse and anticipate demand and skills needs in a context of changing economic structures, new types of work, and rapid digital transformation of occupations and tasks.

Solution

While conventional Labour Market Information (LMI), based on regular statistics, specific-purpose surveys and qualitative methods, has gained in Catalunya country, there is much room to further innovate data sources, improve analytical capacities and modernise the formats and instruments to visualise and disseminate insights for users (policy-makers, socio-economic partners, education and training players). Big Data analytics offer new possibilities to improve LMI and deliver real-time and fine-grained skills analysis and insights for users. Big Data is all around us.

Achieved Results

WollyBI by Burning Glass Technologies is the proposed product that enables AQU to analyze real-time Labor Market in Catalunya region extracting valuable insights regarding Labour Market trends, most demanding sectors and trending occupations and skills.

It’s adoption will enable AQU monitoring LM and supporting universities and governments in the definition of most proper initiatives aimed to ensure a successful career path for students and professionals within the region.