{"id":45647,"date":"2026-01-15T15:13:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T21:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/?p=45647"},"modified":"2026-01-27T15:42:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T21:42:28","slug":"und-launches-data-skills-pathway-to-prepare-students-for-ai-age-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/2026\/01\/und-launches-data-skills-pathway-to-prepare-students-for-ai-age-careers\/","title":{"rendered":"UND launches Data Skills Pathway to prepare students for AI-age careers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hands-on program connects students to paid research, internships and in-demand jobs, in North Dakota and nationwide<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Conrad
Conrad Slad (left) and Bryce Rickbeil (right) set up rooftop meteorological sensors on a tripod at Clifford Hall and process the resulting data streams, using live displays to visualize observations and quality-check measurements. Photo by Marwa Majdi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Editor\u2019s note:\u00a0<\/strong>In the\u00a0UND LEADS Strategic Plan<\/a><\/strong>, the\u00a0Discovery<\/a><\/strong> core value calls on the University to \u201cstrengthen service units that support creativity, research and innovation in all stages, from program development to promotion and beyond.\u201d This story, which was originally published in UND Today on Jan. 15, reports on a UND program that’s meant to help undergraduates succeed not only at research, but also at most other element of their college careers.<\/em><\/p>\n

####<\/p>\n

The University of North Dakota is expanding workforce-ready training through a new Data Skills Pathway program aimed at helping undergraduates build practical skills for data-driven careers.<\/p>\n

The short-term, structured program teaches students how to turn real-world data into real-world decisions. Based in UND\u2019s Department of Atmospheric Sciences,<\/strong><\/a> the pathway is open to students from across the university. It focuses on data analysis, visualization, programming and communication, with the goal of connecting participants to paid research experiences and internships aligned with high-demand careers.<\/p>\n

The Data Skills Pathway began Jan. 1 after receiving a nearly $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education through its Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education\u2013Special Projects (FIPSE\u2013SP) program.<\/strong><\/a> The project is designed to test a training model that can be sustained and expanded.<\/p>\n

The program is led by David Delene,<\/strong><\/a> Atmospheric Sciences research professor, and Marwa Majdi,<\/strong><\/a> Atmospheric Sciences research assistant professor. The team also includes Mounir Chrit,<\/strong><\/a> Atmospheric Sciences research assistant professor; Daile Zhang,<\/strong><\/a> Atmospheric Sciences assistant professor; and Shawn Wagner,<\/strong><\/a> Atmospheric Sciences research scientist, who will help evaluate and strengthen the program while mentoring students.<\/p>\n

UND\u2019s Experiential Learning Center<\/strong><\/a> will help recruit and advise students from across campus, including those who are Pell-eligible and first-generation. The program is designed to fit students\u2019 degree plans while supporting long-term career goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cData is everywhere now, but many students never get the chance to practice the full process that employers expect,\u201d Delene said. \u201cThe Data Skills Pathway gives students a clear, supportive and structured environment to build real-world skills using real data to address very important problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

A key part of the pathway is learning through setbacks. Students are given challenges where they are likely to struggle, and the team will study how that experience supports learning and skill development.<\/p>\n

What the pathway includes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Students often graduate having worked only with small, carefully prepared datasets in step-by-step assignments. In the workplace or in graduate school, they may be expected to manage large datasets and perform analysis that has never been done before.<\/p>\n

UND\u2019s pathway is built around a simple idea: students learn best when they understand the full data process, from where information comes from to how it supports decisions. Instead of \u201cperfect\u201d datasets, students work with data that includes gaps, errors and uncertainty \u2014 the kind of data they are likely to see on the job.<\/p>\n

The pathway includes a step-by-step sequence that features:<\/p>\n