Digital Economics and Business

The bachelor program in Digital Economics and Business is a three-year first level course (inter-class L-33: Economics and L-18: Business) held entirely in English that combines knowledge of the core principles of economics and business with expertise in computer science, data integration and analytics, which are necessary to help organizations improve business decisions. The aim of the course is to train three professional roles – a data-driven economic and financial analyst, a data-driven business analyst, and a data analyst for economics and business – able to produce relevant information from the analysis of business, economic, and financial data, in order to guide and support the decision-making process. The peculiarity of these profiles is the data-driven approach, according to which relevant information is delivered as results of data management and processing. This is an innovative program within the Italian public university landscape, where bachelor programs in economics and business held in English are traditional ones and not combined with data science.

Admission is conditional on knowledge of the English language at the B2-level and to a suitable secondary school background. The program is focused on core courses of business, economics, and finance alongside fundamentals of computer science, statistics, and econometrics. Part of the second and third year are designed to allow the student to specialize in economics and finance or business, while elective courses, including an internship, can be used to further specialize his/her computer science skills. In the three years of the course, students can join the Erasmus and Campus World programs, choosing between many of the University foreign partners. The bachelor degree in Digital Economics and Business allows students to directly access the job market or to enroll in a master (second level) program.

Data-driven economic and financial analyst

Function in a work context:

These professional figures perform economic and financial analyses and consulting based on a data-driven approach that provides relevant information as a result of data selection and processing, concerning real and financial markets. Data-driven economic and financial analysts work within consulting firms, public administrations, public and private research institutions, and international organizations. The ability to analyze datadriven problems for economic and financial markets provides support for the business world in the production of information when defining strategies for entry and penetration in local and global markets, positioning in the sector of reference, and investment strategies. Within public administrations, this person supports the definition and evaluation of policy interventions.

Skills associated with the function:

a) Computer science: knowledge of computer science basics, ability toquery databases, ability to use information systems.
b) Statistics and econometrics: basic knowledge of statistical tools to interpret the empirical results of forecasting econometric models and to describe causal relationships.
c) Economics and business: knowledge of the basic principles of macroeconomics and the economic theory of businesses and markets, as well as industrial and international economics to analyze and forecast the supply and demand for goods and services. Knowledge of the basic principles of financial economics and financial intermediaries to define and assess investment and financing strategies; basic knowledge of the principles of business economics and the main business functions.
d) Law: knowledge of basic legal principles in order to understand the main regulatory developments in real and financial markets. Knowledge of national and international principles and regulations on data processing in order to implement adequate governance policies and implement actions aimed at guaranteeing the storage and security of the data.

Employment opportunities:

A qualification is issued as part of the programme that can be used directly on the job market. In particular, the data-driven economic and financial analyst can find demployment with consulting firms, large companies and the banking and insurance sector, public administrations, public and private research institutions, and international organizations. The skills of this professional figure also match those of a research officer in national and international research institutions. After the bachelor’s degree, students have the opportunity to continue their educational path with the master’s degree at this or another university.

Data-driven business analyst

Function in a work context:

The data-driven business analyst uses a data-driven approach and IT skills related to information systems to produce and select information relating to the company business, competitive and marketing strategies, and the main tools for financial statement analysis, corporate finance, and planning and control systems. By adequately connecting with the various company lines (procurement, production, sales, marketing) and staff functions (management control), the data-driven business analyst is tasked with identifying and applying the appropriate technologies for analysing information about the company business to support managerial decision-making processes, with the ultimate goal of improving the performance and competitiveness of the organization on the market.

Skills associated with the function:

a) Computer science: knowledge of computer science basics, ability to query databases, ability to use information systems.
b) Statistics and econometrics: basic knowledge of statistical tools to interpret the empirical results of forecasting econometric models and to describe causal relationships.
c) Economics and business: basic knowledge of economic principles. Basic knowledge of companies, their main functions and processes, both in the physical and digital realms. Basic knowledge of company information systems; knowledge about a company’s business and competitive and marketing strategies, both in the physical and digital realms; knowledge of the main tools for balance sheet analysis, corporate finance, and planning and control systems.
d) Law: knowledge of basic legal principles in order to understand the main regulatory developments in real and financial markets. Knowledge of national and international principles and regulations on data processing in order to implement adequate governance policies and implement actions aimed at guaranteeing the storage and security of the data.

Employment opportunities:

Il corso di studi rilascia un titolo direttamente spendibile nel mercato del lavoro. In particolare, il data-driven business analyst può trovare impiego in aziende, specialmente di grandi dimensioni e del settore bancario e assicurativo, in società di consulenza o presso la pubblica amministrazione. Dopo la laurea triennale gli studenti hanno la possibilità di continuare il loro percorso formativo con la Laurea Magistrale presso questo o altro Ateneo.

Data analyst for economics and business

Function in a work context:

Data analysts are able to examine datasets through quantitative analysis in order to process information useful for orienting decision-making in the
various company functions and/or decision-makers in the public sector, working directly within the companies or as an external consultant. The data analyst’s functions are divided into phases in the process of acquiring, processing, and communicating information. Specifically, the data analyst must understand the origin of the data and identify possible anomalies, be responsible for data acquisition, comply with national and international legislation for actions aimed at guaranteeing its quality, and implement governance and data security. In the processing phase, quantitative methods based on statistical, econometric, and machine learning tools are used to perform exploratory and confirmatory analysis, as well as estimate and validate forecasting models. Finally, this figure is tasked with communicating the information effectively obtained in order to exploit its potential in decision-making processes.

Competenze associate alla funzione:

a) Computer science: knowledge of the principles underlying programming, algorithms, and data structures, ability to query databases, ability to use company information systems.
b) Statistics and econometrics: basic knowledge of statistical tools for preliminary data analysis and processing, unsupervised machine learning techniques for exploratory and confirmatory analysis, econometric methods for estimating and validating forecasting models.
c) Economics and business: basic knowledge of economic principles, and the company and its main processes, both in the physical and digital realms.
d) Law: knowledge of national and international regulations on data processing in order to implement adequate governance policies and
actions to guarantee the storage and security of the data.

Employment opportunities:

A qualification is issued as part of the programme that can be used directly on the job market. In particular, the data analyst can find employment within companies or public administrations, or outside them as part of a consulting company. The skills of this professional figure also match those of a junior research assistant in national and international research institutions. After the bachelor’s degree, students have the opportunity to continue their educational path with the master’s degree at this or another university.