Free data course at UCD to train thousands for the digital economy 2 hours ago133 Views The SAS STEP programme, which will be delivered in partnership with UCD’s Professional Academy, aims to help professionals prepare for a job in the data industry. A new programme launching today (20 April) promises to give thousands of people the in-demand data skills required for jobs in Ireland’s digital economy. The Professional Academy at University College Dublin (UCD) is partnering with global analytics company SAS to provide the SAS STEP programme free of charge. The programme will target jobseekers affected by the pandemic, in particular. UCD and SAS said it will offer them routes into employment while adding a “new source of data-fluent recruits to bridge industry skills gaps”. It also plans to partner with other organisations to secure employment opportunities for the programme’s graduates.