S1E6: 6: Power of Data in Education

Episode Details:

• Date: 2025-08-15
• Duration: ~25 minutes
• Speakers: Pranusha Manchala (Host), Craig Jordan (Principal SA at AWS)

Episode Summary:

This episode of the AWS Education Podcast focuses on the importance of data strategy in higher education. Craig Jordan, a Principal SA in the AWS education team, discusses how institutions can unlock the power of data to improve various aspects of their operations, from admissions to student success and beyond.

Key Discussion Points:

• The growing importance of data strategy in education
• Current approaches to data analytics and reporting in higher education
• Emerging trends pushing institutions to rethink their data strategies
• Challenges faced by educational institutions in implementing data strategies
• Practical steps for institutions to improve their data capabilities

Featured Technologies:

• Data warehousing
• Cloud-based analytics tools
• AI and Machine Learning
• Generative AI

Key Takeaways:

1. Data strategy is becoming critical for educational institutions to address various challenges and improve decision-making.
2. Traditional data warehousing approaches may not be sufficient for modern data needs in education.
3. Institutions should focus on breaking down data silos and combining data from different systems to create value.
4. Collaboration between IT teams and other departments is crucial for successful data strategies.
5. EdTech providers should consider co-creation with institutions to develop more effective data solutions.

Resources mentioned:

• AWS SkillBuilder

Tags: #HigherEducation #DataStrategy #AWS #EdTech #Analytics #AIinEducation #DataDrivenDecisions