Protocol for programing a degree-to-careers dashboard in R using Posit and Shiny

Area of Science:

• Data Science
• Higher Education Analytics
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Effective decision-making in higher education requires robust data linkage.
• Bridging the gap between academic programs and post-graduation outcomes is crucial.
• Existing tools may lack the specific functionality for program-to-career pathway analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a reproducible protocol for developing a degree-to-careers dashboard.
• To demonstrate the use of R, Posit, and Shiny for creating interactive data visualizations.
• To provide a resource for higher education leaders and policymakers to inform strategic planning.

Main Methods:

• Protocol development using R programming language.
• Software installation and data acquisition procedures.
• Data wrangling, joining, and dashboard programming using Posit and Shiny.
• Publishing the interactive web application with a filtered data table.

Main Results:

• A functional degree-to-careers dashboard was successfully programmed and published.
• The dashboard effectively links academic programs with associated career paths and income data.
• The protocol provides a clear, step-by-step guide for replication.

Conclusions:

• The developed dashboard serves as a valuable tool for higher education stakeholders.
• The protocol facilitates the creation of data-driven insights for informed decision-making.
• This approach enhances the utility of academic and career data for institutional planning.