News
29.08.2024

Data journalism: Ukrainian universities implement open data course to train a new generation of specialists

On 28 August 2024, the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv presented a new modular course on Data Journalism. This course will be available to journalism, business management, and finance faculty students, aiming to prepare a new generation of specialists capable of working with open data.

Working with open data is critical in a world where information is becoming the basis for decision-making at all levels, from the media to public policy. The modular course “Data Journalism” is designed to teach students how to analyse and use data to create high-quality materials that meet the needs of Ukrainian society.

This year, the modular course “Data Journalism” is being implemented in four Ukrainian higher education institutions:

  • Ivan Franko National University of Lviv;
  • National University “Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic”;
  • Ukrainian Catholic University;
  • Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University.

The eight modules of the “Data Journalism” course will be dedicated to: 

  • concepts, practices, and legal frameworks of open data;
  • searching for and utilizing various data sources;
  • basics of working with machine-readable information;
  • tools for automating data processing;
  • key concepts of data journalism;
  • skills of working with public registers using ARI;
  • practical cases of using open data in journalism;
  • tools and methods of data visualisation.

This educational initiative will not only elevate the professional level of future experts but also contribute to the development of the open data sector in Ukraine. 

The course was developed with the assistance of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine with the support of the Digital Transformation Activity funded by USAID and UK Dev. The implementing partner is the BRDO.