AUTHOR=Faytong-Haro Marco , Quijano-Ruiz Alonso , Sanchez-Pazmiño Daniel , Alvarez-Muñoz Patricio , Diaz-Montenegro Jose , Delgado-Rendon María José , Gallegos-Caamaño Stephanie , Angulo-Prado Andrea , Murrieta-Vásquez Manuel , Robles-Velasco Karla , Cherrez-Ojeda Ivan , Sánchez-Riofrío Angélica-María , Izurieta Guevara Mónica , Reytor-González Claudia , Simancas-Racines Daniel 

TITLE=Assessing the impact of a business intelligence program on the employability and well-being of low-income women: a quasi-experimental study protocol

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Global Women's Health

VOLUME=Volume 6 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/global-womens-health/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1617845

DOI=10.3389/fgwh.2025.1617845

ISSN=2673-5059

ABSTRACT=Women are underrepresented globally in the field of data analytics, particularly in underdeveloped countries. We present a protocol to assess the impact of the New Dimensions program, a data analytics and business intelligence course sequence that aims to address this gender gap by providing free business intelligence training to disadvantaged women in Ecuador. The program offers both technical (Business Intelligence) and soft skills training, including Excel, Power BI, SQL, GitHub, R, Tableau, statistics, Python, and workshops on empowerment, employability, and public speech. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study is to assess the impact of this training program on employability and other well-being outcomes of the participants. A total of 80 individuals will be part in the study, of which 70 will be selected to participate in the program, 50 will receive both hard and soft skills training, and 20 only soft skills training. Ten individuals will form part of the control group with no intervention. The study design involves a nonrandomized control group composed of rejected applicants. Data will be collected through an online application form and a computer-based exam. The outcome measures are participants' labor market outcomes, income, food security, and economic stratification, among others. This protocol will prospectively evaluate the program's potential effectiveness; findings will inform future, larger randomized studies focused on employability and well-being in underrepresented groups.