University of Konstanz generates new insight with Yellowfin Business Intelligence

The University of Konstanz has today announced a partnership with global Business Intelligence (BI) vendor, Yellowfin, which will deliver self-service data analysis to its department heads and Central Administration Board.

The German based university, situated in the city of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg, will utilize Yellowfin’s BI solution to uncover insights within its broad range of operational, financial, student, human resources, research and comparative rankings data.

Chief Information Officer at the University of Konstanz, Prof. Dr. Marc H. Scholl, said that Yellowfin’s intuitive BI solution would enable academic and business decision-makers throughout the university to access and independently analyze a single trustworthy source of data, to:

  • Compile the most efficient and effective government reports, rankings reports and research grant submissions possible
  • Improve the quality of teaching and student services whilst managing budgets in a fiscally sensitive climate
  • Aid interdisciplinary cooperation between departments and faculties
  • Underpin strategic planning and development

“Yellowfin combines a very sophisticated IT architecture with highly intuitive visualizations to break-down departmentalized information stores and make widespread independent data analysis a reality,” said Dr. Scholl. “With Yellowfin, it’s easy for large numbers of users, with a variety of technical skills, to quickly access data through a uniform interface, via the device of their choice, no matter their location.”

Senior Business Manager for the Executive Department of Strategy and Controlling at University of Konstanz, Michaela Potthast, said that Yellowfin would help the university to better utilize its data for strategic planning.

“Higher education is becoming increasingly competitive, furthering the need to actively recruit the best students, attract more funding and stretch budgets,” said Potthast. “Yellowfin is helping the University of Konstanz achieve an important competitive edge, enabling it to understand and meet demands more efficiently and effectively, and improve the quality and timeliness of data reported to the University Executive, University Council and committees, as well as funding and rankings bodies.”

Potthast said that Yellowfin would help the university to gain insights in its key performance indicators in teaching and research and to measure and improve its performance against the highest international standards – including rankings reports, such as for the German government’s Excellence Initiative and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Speaking about the newly formed partnership, Yellowfin CEO, Glen Rabie, said that attracting the University of Konstanz as a client demonstrated Yellowfin’s continued commitment to providing highly consumable analytics to education providers.

“Yellowfin has developed a reputation for BI excellence within the education industry – we understand the data related challenges, and offer a BI solution capable of addressing the multifaceted reporting requirements of individual education institutions. We look forward to assisting the University of Konstanz to improve its business and academic performance, and the experience of its students.”

About the German Universities Excellence Initiative

The German Universities Excellence Initiative, established by the German Federal and State Governments, aims to promote science and research at German universities and to enhance the international appeal of Germany’s best universities. Under the scheme, 11 “Universities of Excellence” are selected to receive additional funding and exposure based on the merit of their “institutional strategies” vision for creating cutting-edge research and student learning opportunities. The University of Konstanz was recognized for its “Modell Konstanz – Towards a Culture of Creativity” approach in 2007 and 2012. In 2007, The University of Konstanz was the youngest university to be recognized under the Excellence Initiative.

About the Times Higher Education World University Rankings

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are annual world university rankings as published by the British magazine Time Higher Education. Rankings are based on data supplied by Thomas Reuters.

The University of Konstanz has been consistently ranked among with world’s top 200 universities, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. In the Times Higher Education 100 Under 50 University Rankings report, the University of Konstanz has, as best German university, achieved an outstanding 14th position in the worldwide comparison.

About the University of Konstanz

The University of Konstanz was founded in 1966 as a reform university, with the main campus on the Gießberg opening in 1972. The university has over 11,000 students from almost 100 countries, with over 220 partnerships with many prestigious international universities, including Yale University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Zurich. The University of Konstanz is one of the 11 universities whose Institutional Strategies are being funded by the German Federal and State Governments to expand university top-level research.

About Yellowfin

Yellowfin is a global Business Intelligence (BI) software vendor passionate about making BI easy. Yellowfin is headquartered and developed in Melbourne, Australia, offering a highly intuitive 100 percent Web-based reporting and analytics solution. Founded in 2003 in response to the complexity and costs associated with implementing and using traditional BI tools, Yellowfin is a leader in mobile, collaborative and embeddable BI as well as Location Intelligence and data visualization. For more information, visit www.yellowfinbi.com

For further media information, interviews, images or product demonstration, please contact:

  • Julia Wandt, University of Konstanz, Director of Communications and Marketing, +49 7531 885340 or julia.wandt@uni-konstanz.de
  • Lachlan James, Communications Manager, Yellowfin on +61 3 8617 4954 or lachlan.james@yellowfin.bi

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