Access, Skills, and Impact: GAIN's Partnership with DataCamp Donates
In this blog post, we highlight the collaboration between GAIN and DataCamp Donates, showcasing how this partnership has expanded access to data skills education and positively impacted our learners' academic and professional journeys.
Bridging the Data Skills Gap with DataCamp Donates and GAIN
DataCamp is an online platform designed to help students and professionals develop practical skills needed to work with data — offering over 400 interactive courses on topics such as Python, R, SQL, data visualization, and machine learning. With its browser-based coding environment, DataCamp allows learners to practice and apply coding skills without needing to install additional software, making it accessible and convenient for users at all skill levels.
However, while DataCamp offers extensive learning resources, financial constraints often prevent many students from accessing these tools. Recognizing this gap, DataCamp Donates was created to provide free access to DataCamp’s courses for learners who might otherwise be unable to afford them.
As part of this initiative, DataCamp has partnered with GAIN to support talented students across Africa. GAIN helps aspiring graduate students apply for top Master’s and PhD programs in economics and related fields. Through this partnership, participants gain access to technical and programming skills, strengthening their competitiveness in graduate applications, supporting their academic success, and improving their job prospects.
How GAIN and DataCamp Donates Empower Learners
Through DataCamp Donates, GAIN provides free access to DataCamp’s full library of over 440 courses, valued at over $399 USD per user. This initiative enables participants to develop skills in programming, data analysis, and machine learning while also earning official certifications that enhance their academic and professional profiles. It also provides them with hands-on experience to improve their research capabilities and helps them acquire in-demand data skills that boost their career prospects.
To ensure participants make the most of this opportunity, GAIN carefully selects and allocates DataCamp licenses to interested and qualified learners. Participants are onboarded into DataCamp Classroom, where they complete curriculum-based courses, assessments, and projects across various fields and skill levels. Additionally, GAIN monitors engagement, tracks progress, and assigns coursework to help participants stay on track and maximize their learning experience.
Success Stories: Making an Impact
The first year of our partnership was a remarkable success, with 100 learners actively upskilling through DataCamp Donates. Due to the program’s great impact, our partnership was renewed, reinforcing our shared commitment to equipping GAIN participants with essential data skills. One of our success stories is Cephas Musafiri, a GAIN alumni who used DataCamp to transform his career.
Participant Success Story: Cephas Musafiri
Cephas Musafiri faced a gap in employment but leveraged DataCamp’s resources to gain expertise in big data and machine learning. Reflecting on his experience, he shared:
“DataCamp’s modules helped me gain the skills I needed for big data, opening up more opportunities.”
With his newly acquired skills, Cephas secured a full-time position as a Research Assistant at the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), a significant step toward achieving his long-term career goals!
Join Us: Apply for DataCamp Donates Scholarship with GAIN
If you are a GAIN mentee or alumni looking to enhance your data skills, GAIN and DataCamp Donates can help you take the next step. For more details on the application process, please send an email to info@gain-network.net. Unfortunately, scholarships are not awarded to people outside of GAIN.
Learn more About DataCamp Donates
To learn more about this initiative, please visit the DataCamp Donates page here.