Unpacking student data: Insights and innovation at UCT’s Data Festival

Recently, the Library Learning Lounge in the Snape Building buzzed with energy as educators and data enthusiasts came together for the Student Data Festival. Hosted at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) upper campus, the day-long event showcased the vital role of data in shaping decisions, improving teaching, and driving student success across the university.

The festival opened with welcoming remarks by the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching’s (CILT) deputy director, Stephen Marquard, and the Institutional Planning Department’s (IPD) deputy director, Dr Riashna Sithaldeen, setting the stage for an inspiring day of collaboration and discovery. The first session, “Data Stories”, featured thought-provoking presentations from key faculties. Dr Kende Kefale (IPD), Dr Kerrin Begg (Faculty of Health Sciences), and Pierre le Roux (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment) shared real-world examples of how data drives informed decision-making at UCT.

A lively round of “speed data-ing” followed, where participants rapidly connected with data partners to explore shared challenges and opportunities – an innovative and energising networking format that set the tone for the rest of the day.

Exploring tools, platforms, and ethics

The morning’s “Data Platforms, Tools & Methodologies” session highlighted practical skills. Topics ranged from Power BI to SALDRU’s tools and library resources, with contributions from experts like Dr Kefale and senior project coordinator and learning designer at CILT, Mary-Ann Fife. This hands-on session demonstrated just how accessible and powerful data platforms can be for UCT’s community.

In the afternoon, the focus turned to data ethics, as Dr Robert McLaughlin tackled timely questions around human responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence – a discussion that sparked deep reflection and debate among attendees. One participant highlighted that they “thoroughly enjoyed the setup of everything”, while another expressed how valuable it was to see practical applications of data through “dynamic speakers and a free environment”. Suggestions for future events included more interactive hands-on sessions and more time allocated for student presentations.

Student voices and data repositories

The student panel, facilitated by Dr Riashna Sithaldeen, brought a refreshing perspective as students shared their experiences and insights. Panelists included Susana Maganga (master’s student in data science), Lebo Nchachi (master’s student in programme evaluation), Oyedele Gbenro (master’s student in data science), and Joshua Azaki (PhD student). The dialogue underscored the importance of data literacy for both current studies and future careers, with each student offering unique reflections on how data skills empower research, problem-solving, and real-world impact. One attendee praised the “diverse views on how data is used” and how the event showcased “the versatility of the content presented”.

Later, representatives from DataFirst and ZivaHub showcased UCT’s powerful data repositories, illustrating how these resources support research, teaching, and data transparency.

The festival culminated with a vibrant “Data Party & Mocktails” session – an engaging showcase of creative data visualisations and surprising insights. Attendees sipped mocktails, explored posters, and networked, rounding off a day that combined learning with celebration.