Best Practices in Coding when working with Administrative Data - Online

This course provides an introduction to coding when working with administrative data. The course will include an overview of best practices in coding, with hands-on sessions using synthetic data and different programming languages: R, Python and SQL. It will also discuss the use of AI in coding.

The course will be delivered in three interactive sessions, with breakout rooms in each session, as well as opportunities to engage with the instructors.

All Participants need to attend the first session on Tuesday 29 July (09:30-11:00), with options on the additional sessions. The price is the same, irrelevant of how many sessions you attend.

Tuesday 29 July 2025

·         09:30 – 10:30 Writing efficient code

·         10:30 – 11:00 Using data ethically and legally

Options:

·         Option 1: Tuesday 29th July / 11:15 – 14:45 (with 45 minute lunch break) Programming using SQL & Datacise

·         Option 2: Wednesday 30th July / 09:30 – 12:30 Programming using Python & ASHE-Census synthetic data

·         Option 3: Wednesday 30th July / 13:30 – 15:00 Use of AI in coding using ASHE-Census synthetic data

·         Option 4: Thursday 31st July / 09:30 – 12:30 Programming using R & ASHE-Census synthetic data

Registrants will be contacted following booking to confirm which sessions they wish to attend.

By the end of the course participants will:

• Be familiar with best practices in writing efficient, reproducible code
• Understand best practices in using data to ensure transparency, integrity and compliance
• Have practised programming using SQL & the Datacise platform
• Be familiar with coding standards using Python and practised programming using Python & ASHE-Census synthetic data
• Be familiar with how AI can be used throughout the code development lifecycle
• Be familiar with coding standards using R and practiced programming using R and ASHE-Census synthetic data

This course is open to anyone who uses, or will use administrative data. Some knowledge of data manipulation is required.

Participants will be sent instructions as to how they can access Datacise and synthetic ASHE-Census data. Please note that, in order to download the synthetic ASHE-Census data, you will need to register with the UK Data Service.