1. Background

The skills gap in graduates’ employability arose owing to the different perceptions towards the importance of both soft and technical skills among the stakeholders, particularly between employers and graduates (Matsuoka & Mihail, 2016). Particularly, in today’s data driven world, graduates are expected to demonstrate strong analytical and technical skills to remain competitive in the labor market. However, several studies showed that a significant number of graduates lack proficiency in essential analytical and technical tools like Microsoft Excel, despite the increasing demand for these skills in a data-driven job market andmany industries now rely heavily on data analysis, making skills with tools like Excel crucial for effective decision-making and problem-solving (Wilma, 2024).

This skills gap limits their ability to manage large datasets, perform advanced analysis, and generate meaningful reports; skills increasingly demanded in both academic and professional settings. Employers often highlight that graduates may be theoretically knowledgeable but are underprepared to apply practical data management techniques required in real world scenarios. (Han, 2024). The skills gap is a major impetus to graduate unemployment. 

Moreover, institutions in the development and humanitarian sectors are increasingly seeking graduates who are proficient not only in data analysis but also in digital data collection tools such as Kobo Toolbox which is widely used by international NGOs, governments, and research organizations for its efficiency in designing questionnaires, collecting field data (online and offline), and integrating data with other software tools.

To address the gap, The Result, through its Center for Training and Events with support from its partner, organizes a 10-day intensive capacity-building program on Advanced Excel, SPSS, and KoBo Toolbox. The program targets a specific group with the aim of contributing to job creation and improving workplace efficiency. The program will contribute to the first pillar of Vision 2025 

2. Objectives of the training

By participating in this training, participants will:

• Gain hands on experience in Advanced Excel and its application in real world example 
• Learn to design and deploy digital questionnaires using KoBo Toolbox, a leading tool for mobile data collection
• Acquire practical skills in SPSS for statistical analysis, interpretation, and reporting
• Strengthen your academic research capabilities and thesis work
• Boost your employability by aligning your skills with market demands
• Position yourself as a valuable contributor to organizations that rely on timely, accurate, and actionable data for impact

3. Expected output

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Use Advanced Excel functions to complete the task easily
• Perform statistical analysis using SPSS, including descriptive and inferential statistics
• Design, deploy, and manage digital surveys using KoBo Toolbox
• Improve the quality of academic research and data driven decision making
• Increase their competitiveness in the job market for roles in M&E, research, and data analysis
• Increase the chances of being included in The Result's database, being considered for related assignments, and being recommended to its partners.

4. Content

4.1. Advanced Excel has the following content:

Chapter 1. Advanced Formulas and Functions

• Logical functions (IF, IFS, AND, OR, NOT)
• Date and time functions (TODAY, NOW, DATE, DATEDIF, EOMONTH, WEEKDAY, NETWORKDAYS)
• Nested functions 
• Lookup and reference functions (VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH, OFFSET, CHOOSE)
• Array and Dynamic Functions (FILTER, SORT, SORTBY, UNIQUE, SEQUENCE, RANDARRAY, 
• Text functions (CONCATENATE, LEFT, RIGHT, MID, LEN,FIND,SEARCH,REPLACE)
• Statistical functions (COUNT,COUNTA, COUNTBLANK, COUNTIF, AVERAGE, AVERAGEIF,MEDIAN, MODE, STDEV, VAR, AVERAGEIFS, COUNTIFS, SUMIFS)
• Advanced conditional formatting techniques

Chapter 2. Data Analysis Techniques

• PivotTables and Pivot Charts
• Data validation and data filtering
• Advanced sorting and filtering techniques

4.2. SPSS has the following content:

Chapter 1: Introduction to SPSS

• Overview of SPSS interface and features
• Importing data from Excel into SPSS
• Data coding, labeling, and transformation

Chapter 2: Descriptive Analysis with SPSS

• Frequencies, percentages, and cross tabulations
• Measures of central tendency and variability
• Graphs and charts in SPSS

Chapter 3: Inferential Analysis with SPSS

• Hypothesis testing (t-tests, Chi-square, ANOVA)
• Correlation and regression analysis
• Reporting and interpretation of results

Chapter 4: Presenting Results

• Generating tables and charts for reports
• Writing research findings and policy briefs
• Best practices in academic and professional reporting

4.3. KoBo Toolbox has the following content:

Chapter 1: Introduction to Data collection and Management

• Importance of MER in project management
• Overview of digital data collection tools

Chapter 2: Introduction to Kobo Toolbox

• Overview of Kobo Toolbox 
• Use Cases and Applications
• Key Features and Benefits

Chapter 3: Setting Up Kobo Toolbox

• Creating an Account on Kobo Toolbox
• Navigating the Kobo Toolbox Dashboard
• Creating a New Project
• Understanding Project Settings

Chapter 4: Designing the Questionnaire (Form Builder)

• Introduction to the Form Builder
• Adding and Configuring Questions

• Text (Short Answer) Questions
• Select One (Multiple Choice) Questions
• Select Multiple Questions
• Numeric Questions (Integer/Decimal)
• Date Questions
• Geopoint (Location) Questions

• Defining Choices for Select Questions
• Organizing Questions into Groups and Sections
• Adding Instructions and Help Text

Chapter 5: Adding Logic and Validation

• Making Questions Required
• Skip Logic and Conditional Branching

• Using Skip Logic to Show/Hide Questions
• Example of Skip Logic

• Validation Rules and Constraints

• Numeric Range Constraint
• Text Length Constraints

• Piping and Dynamic Questioning
• Using Default Values for Questions

Chapter 6: Previewing the Form

• Testing the Form Using the Preview Feature
• Mobile Preview and Testing
• Troubleshooting Common Issues During Preview

Chapter 7: Deploying the Form

• Understanding Form Deployment
• Deploying the Form for Data Collection
• Public vs. Private Forms
• Updating and Re-deploying Forms

Chapter 8: Monitoring Data Collection

• Viewing Data in Real-Time
• Editing or Removing Data
• Monitoring Data Quality
• Managing Multiple Data Entries
• Troubleshooting Data Collection Issues

5. Participants

The training targets:

• Fresh graduates for Bachelors and Masters (Unemployed are highly recommended) 
• Final year Bachelors and Master’s students 
• Students who have begun their academic research project and intend to collect data and perform analysis using SPSS and STATA.
• Entry-level fresh graduates who need to develop skills in Advanced Excel, SPSS, and STATA to improve their workplace performance and efficiency.
• Entry level entrepreneurs who want skills in using Advanced in financial management 
• People with disability 

NB: To fully support the participants and enhance their careers, the firm will organize an additional STATA session in the future.

6. Date and Venue

This session will be held in a hybrid format (both in-person at the firm’s office and virtually) to accommodate those who cannot attend in person. It will take place from 13th – 31st October, 2025; between 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm. The in-person classes will be held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while virtual classes will take place on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, all between 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm. 

7. Participation fee and payment processes

This training session is free of charge because it has a partner; however, interested participants are required to pay a registration fee of 20,000 Rwf via MTN MoMo Pay (182*8*1588357), registered to THE RESULT CONSULT CO LTD. This fee will cover the preparation of training materials and print out of certificates. We will accept a total of 50 applicants for the in-person session and 50 for the virtual session, based on timely payment of the registration fee. To register, please use the attached link https://forms.gle/oj5ppYpuKWMzZQ9t7. For more information, please contact us at 0781004638 (Training and Events Coordinator) or visit our website at www.theresult.rw.

8. Certificate

At the end of the training, we provide a certificate of completion

Deadline for application is due 12th October, 2025 

Done at Kigali 25th September, 2025