Q-Step event explores the power of data skills

14 Nov 2025

The Data4All event, led by the Social Statistics Department, brought together students, staff, alumni and employers to focus on the development of data skills for the workplace.

On Wednesday, 29 October, the Social Statistics Department in SoSS hosted the Data4All event, bringing together students, alumni, academics and industry professionals to explore the power of data skills in education, research and employment.

The morning session, led by Dr Tajana Kecojevic, saw a full room of students from the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University eager to learn about reproducible research skills and how to create an e-portfolio. Due to the success of the session, repeat workshops are being organised to meet the student demand to learn more about showcasing their skills for the future.

The afternoon session shone a spotlight on the 380 students who have been Q-Step Data Fellows since the programme launched in 2013. Set up and funded by the UK government, Q-Step is designed to address the shortage of quantitative data skills taught across university humanities courses, particularly in the social sciences.

The Manchester Q-Step Centre is one of 15 centres across the country, and each year places second-year undergraduate students in organisations ranging from local charities in Manchester to government departments in London. The data fellows are paid the living wage to complete an eight-week data-driven, research-led work placement, designed to focus mainly on quantitative skills. Since the programme started, at least 70% of students placed each year have been female, with 25% having come from underrepresented backgrounds or disadvantaged groups.

At the Data4All event, students who were placed in data fellowships this summer came to present their work through posters and presentations. The former Q-Step Programme national lead, Dr Simon Gallagher, spoke about the impact the programme has made on the UK higher education sector and the benefits to students, employers and universities in developing data skills through humanities and social science degrees.

Two of our Q-Step lecturers reflected on the importance of experiential learning to the development of the curriculum and past data fellows shared with us their career trajectories, highlighting how Q-Step helped them get there. Employers who hosted students were full of praise for their talent, creativity and the passion they have for applying their classroom learning in the workplace. A workshop led by Unit-M led to ideas for the future sustainability of the programme and reflected the demand for data skills in the workplace.

It was an especially emotional afternoon for Professor Jackie Carter, who is leaving the Data Fellows programme this year after pioneering it in 2013. Having placed over 380 students in around 70 organisations over the years, Jackie is still in touch with many alumni.

She reflected on the success of the programme: “In 2013 I had an idea. That was to open doors to data careers to students studying social science and humanities degrees through paid work placements. The Data Fellows programme was born. It has grown into an award-winning initiative, and in 2025 my baby is about to become a teenager.

“Having been at the start of some of our graduates' careers has been one of the highlights of my own career at the University. But what I am most proud of is that it is a programme that supports social mobility and inclusion. As I pass the baton on to my successor, I hope they will honour the legacy. It’s been an honour and a privilege to create a lasting impact.”

Professor Fiona Devine, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, has championed the scheme since the start, helping to initiate it at the University. Fiona said: “Like Jackie, I am deeply humbled and very proud that the Q-step initiative has been so successful. Quantitative skills are very important for all social scientists and I am delighted that we have facilitated the acquisition of these highly sought after skills.

“The work placement opportunities have been excellent, and I am so grateful to all those partners who helped us. We have a wonderful Q-Step alumni community pursuing great careers in a wide range of sectors of the economy.

“A huge thanks to Jackie for her outstanding leadership. Her passion and commitment have driven this success.”