The educational track of "Economic data analysis in Microsoft Excel and VBA programming language" is a response to demand by employers for specialised economic analysts.

Microsoft Excel is the most widely used program for data exploration and presentation. The problem is the low efficiency of its real-world application, which is due to two main things:

• insufficient knowledge of MS Excel (lack of familiarity with tools that facilitate work, or a lack of understanding how they work) and insufficient
• theoretical knowledge for fully informed use of advanced tools and performance of advanced economic analyses.

The "Economic data analysis in Microsoft Excel and VBA language programming" track helps students develop the ability to work with data: from saving and  organising a database, through visualisation and statistical and econometric analysis, to reporting and presentation. They
acquire the fundamental theoretical knowledge needed to conduct broadly understood economic data analysis. However, the programme track and the proposed method of teaching have been constructed in terms of transferring practical knowledge.

Participants will learn about the methods of data analysis used by economists, a programming language that supports and automates quantitative research, and a wide range of practical applications of the program in enterprises from various industries, which will strengthen their position on the labour market and provide a software skillset (in Excel and VBA), which is demanded by employers.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

• Duration: 2 subjects, 60 hours each, a total of 120 hours
• Candidates: students of FES UW, people working with MS Excel and with basic knowledge of economic data analysis. No VBA programming language knowledge is required. Classes are conducted at an advanced level and prepare participants to start working in jobs where broadly understood work with data is required.
• Requirements: classes are conducted at the advanced / expert level and require analytical skills of the participants. Completing this track is time consuming and requires a lot of individual work by participants, including the preparation of business applications as part of six projects for course credit.
• Subjects:
  • WK for EP and FiR, WW for the others, winter semester: "Excel applications in business using VBA, part1" (part 1 of the track)
  • WK for IiE, WW for the others, winter semester: “The use of VBA language tools in economic data analysis" (part 1 of the track)
  • WK for EP and FiR, WW for the others, spring semester: "Excel applications in business using VBA, part2" (part 2 of the track - common to all)
• Certificates: those who obtain a grade of at least 5 (very good) in both parts of the track will receive a certificate certifying the completion of the educational track of "Economic data analysis in Microsoft Excel and the VBA programming language".
• Coordinator: Przemysław Kusztelak, Ph.D.

GRADUATE PROFILE

By combining theoretical and practical knowledge, graduates of this track will become experts in the field of economic data analysis in MS Excel, with the use of the VBA programming language.

Knowledge

A graduate of this track will have advanced knowledge about working with data in MS Excel and the VBA programming language, in particular:

• effective methods of working in MS Excel and advanced tools for work with data sets;
• advanced-level VBA programming language and efficient methods for working with data;
• the necessary theoretical and practical know-how in the broadly understood subject of data analysis (including statistical and econometric methods, financial modelling, and corporate finance);
• the ability to create professional business applications in MS Excel using the VBA programming language.

Skills

A graduate of this track will have the ability to work with MS Excel data and the VBA language programming software, in particular:

• to function independently in MS Excel, using advanced tools to work with data;
• to program in VBA at the advanced level and using advanced methods for working with data;
• to automate work with data using the VBA programming language;
• to control other programs from the level of MS Excel and VBA code, such as internet browsers,
• folders, text files, databases, text editors, email programs, and presentation-making programs;
• to expand individual knowledge of MS Excel and the VBA programming language
• based on theoretical literature;
• to select data analysis methods (including statistical, econometric, financial modelling and
• business finance) which are most suitable to the specificity of the issue under analysis;
• to carry out in-depth analyses of empirical data using specialised MS Excel IT tools and the VBA programming language;
• to create automatically generated reports on the conducted data analyses;
• to create (design, program and implement) professional applications for business in the Microsoft Office environment.

Competencies

A graduate of the track will have the following social competencies:

• the ability to combine and communicate theoretical knowledge with ease, which is highly valued on the labour market, with a comprehensive approach to data - from obtaining, processing, analysing it with the use of statistical inference methods, econometrics, finance, visualization, to reporting and presentation;
• the ability to provide substantive assessment and verification of the correctness of the methods used in business applications for the Microsoft Office environment, developed by other entities;
• the ability to implement creative and resourceful thinking, which is enriched by specialised knowledge in economics, finance and quantitative methods, making strategic decision-making processes easier for institutions and enterprises;
• the ability to apply theoretical knowledge and use practical skills in MS Excel and the VBA programming language for professional work performed in many industries and in various positions;
• qualifications to work as a highly skilled analyst in various industries (including finance, banking, accounting, auditing, and insurance);
• skills for independent work and teamwork in institutions, applying methods of analysis and processing databases.