Category Archives: Data

Sowing the seeds of digital data collection

Posted on by
Reply

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

As you’d expect, here in Welsh Government we gather a wide range of data, and one of our longest running surveys is the Welsh Agricultural Survey which has been running since 1867! This is a large survey and every year farmers provide us with lots of information about their land, livestock and the people who work on their Welsh farms.

Things have moved on a lot since 1867 and this year we were able test out whether we could take a more digital approach for collecting this information. Up until this year, farmers would complete paper forms and send them to us to process and bring together the data so that we could analyse it. Whilst this approach is well established, it’s not the most efficient method and also not necessarily the easiest way for farmers to provide us with their information.

Continue reading →

Digital Strategy for Wales: Mission 2 – Digital Economy

Posted on by

Post by Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

This is the third in a series of blogs outlining the ambitions and plans for our Digital Strategy for Wales. Please see the introductory blog for further background and Mission 1 on digital services for what we have published so far.  

Mission 2 – Drive economic growth, productivity and resilience by embracing and exploiting digital innovation.

As I’ve already said in my first blog, digital is not just about technology – it’s about people. The future of our economy is no different.

As we emerge from the pandemic and exit the EU, digital innovation will continue as a disruptive force in our lives. But this disruption has benefits. It will release people from mundane tasks so they can be more creative and productive. It will support higher skilled jobs of the future. It will open new markets for trade. It will help drive a well-being economy for the people and businesses of Wales.  

Continue reading →

Guest Blog: Unlocking the power of health data for Wales

Posted on by

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

In this guest blog find out about the aims of the National Data Resource (NDR) and how you can register to hear more through their webinar series.

Health and social care providers in Wales have faced unprecedented capacity challenges throughout the pandemic response. The media has referred to a data driven response, to modelling and forecasting.  Clinicians have spoken about the need to have the right data at the right time and in the right format to make informed decisions. In Wales we are taking a leap forward to address these challenges with the National Data Resource (NDR).

Continue reading →

Digital Strategy for Wales: Mission 1 – Digital Services

Posted on by

Post by Glyn Jones, Chief Digital Officer, Welsh Government

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

This is the second in a series of blogs outlining the ambitions and plans for our Digital Strategy for Wales. Please see the introductory blog for further background.   

Mission 1 – Digital Services: Deliver and modernise services to a common set of standards so that they are simple, secure and convenient

As the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport said in his introductory blog earlier this week, digital is more about people and a mind-set than about technology. It is about modernising services within organisations and delivering services across organisational boundaries, based around user needs.

Continue reading →

Digital Strategy for Wales – setting the context

Posted on by

Post by Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

It’s not just about computers. Let’s just be clear about that at the start.

The term ‘digital’ covers a lot, but in essence it’s about using technology to make things better – to make firms more productive or to create new products and markets. And to develop services that meet the needs of customers.

Continue reading →

Reflections from a new digital leader

Posted on by
Reply

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

This week it’s Digital Leaders Week which felt like a good time to write my first blog as Chief Digital Officer in Welsh Government since I started in July (not quite the famous “100 first days” that politicians refer to but not far away). It’s been a whirlwind few months learning what is going on across the organisation and outside, and at the same time trying to take forward some key pieces of work which we think are important in terms of responding to the pandemic and getting ourselves ready for the future. As with many other work places we have of course primarily been working from home since March. This of course has huge benefits which have been well described over the past few months, but it does present a very different experience in starting a new job and not being able to have face to face contact with my new teams!

Continue reading →

Unlocking the value of our information with data science

Posted on by
Reply

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

What is data science? I don’t think there is an agreed answer to exactly what it is – but using it we can provide knowledge and insights into almost any information. Many public sector organisations have been developing their data science capability and back in April the data science unit in the Welsh Government was established. This blog gives an introduction to the unit.

Continue reading →

Guest Blog: Using Geospatial data to underpin research and policy decision making in Wales

Posted on by
Reply

Darllenwch y dudualen hon yn Gymraeg

Dr Richard Fry is a Senior Lecturer in Geography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at Swansea University Medical School. Here he explains the role that geospatial data and geographical mapping are playing in producing research to inform policy in Wales.

swansea_singelton_campusWales is a geographically and socially diverse country meaning that where we live and work plays a huge part in our health and wellbeing. With the impact on health and wellbeing at the forefront of all policy decisions in Wales, it is clear that as a nation we need to understand more about how, and why our geography affects us in Wales.

Continue reading →