This proposal is by Dr. Elina Erzikova and Dr. Lana Ivanitskaya
- A strategic communications scholar & an organizational psychologist who published digital media based studies;
- Skilled in new media, AI, visualizations, & guiding student research.
In 2025, Ivanitskaya and two CMU alumni completed a data sprint at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) in the Netherlands. They learned from UvA faculty, Belgian scholars, and a French group from Université Gustave Eiffel. The French taught them Google Collaborate programming, how to link Google sheets to Anthropic API and integrate AI prompts to code social media data.
UvA data sprint organizer, Professor Richard Rogers, has agreed to include CMU groups in upcoming multi-university data sprints.
What is a data sprint?
It's a 5-day workshop from data collection to analysis and interpretation. During the sprint participants from different universities work in groups to conceptualize, design and complete empirical research projects. They are guided by faculty and specialists. The sprint takes up a contemporary theme in the scholarly study of digital media, with keynote speeches on the opening day, followed by skills tutorials in the use of analytical software. Working in teams the rest of the week, the goal is to formulate research questions and answer them. Students study social media data for a combination of media critique and social research. Final reports for each group are due in four weeks after the end of the data sprint.
When might CMU students go to UvA?
UvA does two data sprints per year, in early January (around 5-9 January, before CMU starts) and in July (typically, a week prior to July 4th).
Who can join this study abroad course?
UvA is willing to accept a group of up to 16 CMU students recruited from multiple programs, such as DHA, MHA, MPH, MBA, MSA, etc. Student participation in an international data sprint can serve as a springboard to dissertation ideas, capstone projects, and research with CMU faculty.
The UvA data sprint is designed for graduate students. If we carefully screen undergraduate students, Prof. Rogers agreed to include a few upper-level undergraduate students from CMU (Honors, premed).
Benefits to CMU students:
- Earn 3 CMU study abroad credits and a UvA certificate of completion
- Study at one of the oldest universities on the planet: UvA was founded in 1632
- Complete a research project that applies digital methods (e.g., analyze consumer perspectives in social media)
- Digital literacy skills, incl. use of free software designed and maintained by European universities
- International research immersion: Collaborate with students and faculty from multiple European universities, attend international research presentations
- Experience the Dutch culture: health related museums, science libraries, and cultural events.
Final poster session is held at UvA conference facility (a second floor glass hall in this picture) Posters are refined by visual design students from Italy and printed by UvA, free of charge
Where will CMU students stay and study while in Amsterdam?
UvA sets aside hotel/hostel rooms at discounted prices. All accommodations have easy access to the airport and city center through public transport. Tap in and out of public transport with a contactless Mastercard/Visa card or Apple/Google Pay. UvA provides study rooms for all groups, as well as auditoriums for large lectures and method tutorials. It may be possible to tour a newly renovated UvA library, an architectural marvel complete with a historic surgical theater.
Timeline
Students are enrolled by mid-March for summer sprint or by mid-September for winter sprint. They attend at least one 2-hr long virtual meeting to go over travel logistics, planned projects, course expectations, and cultural experiences. Minimum travel is 6 nights: Arrive by Sunday, fly back on Saturday. An option to add extra days for cultural exploration and side trips. Final reports for each group are due in four weeks after the end of the data sprint.
Travel costs and course registration
- Airfare to Amsterdam, winter-summer cost range: $700-1,200, direct flights from major airports
- Hotel costs: $650 for 6 nights, assuming 2 students per room, 2 single beds, mid-March booking for June-July; better availability and lower costs in winter
- Public transport in Amsterdam: $50-70 per week. An option to combine unlimited public transport with free access to more than 70 museums, bicycle rental for 24 hours, and a canal cruise: I Amsterdam City Card, $77 for one day; $161 for 5 days.
- Basic meals, self-catered for all days of the data sprint week: $360
- CMU tuition: students register for 3 credit hours
- Data sprint registration: $915 fee paid to the UvA, includes an official transcript and certificate worth 6 ECTS (European credits) from the University of Amsterdam
Learning objectives
- Collect and organize publicly available online data (social media platforms, websites, etc.)
- Use digital methods software to analyze online data
- Make informed choices concerning the form of presentation of the analytical outputs, e.g., visualizations and slide show strategy
- Use a publishing software for the purposes of presenting work and writing a final report
- Make a substantive contribution to a contemporary discourse on new media
What projects will CMU students do?
UvA asked CMU faculty leaders to pitch 1-2 projects in advance for discussion with the data sprint organizers. Social media covers many topics of interest to CMU students from many programs. Below, we show relevant examples based on our past research. As shown below, we can also do projects that involve Large Language Models.
CMU faculty leaders' qualifications are a perfect fit for this course
.
Projects completed at UvA in January can be submitted to April SCREE at CMU, conferences, or for publication.
A pre-med student can get 3 presentations from one January study abroad: a UvA poster presentation, CHP research symposium, & SCREE
Future plans: A data sprint at CMU?
This study abroad course is a chance to test new ideas and learn from UvA and our Europeans partners. CMU might be inspired to offer its own data sprint, which builds on CMU resources — Adobe tools, digital scholarship by CMU faculty from multiple colleges, CMU's own bibliometric expertise and scholarship, and unique database subscriptions, such as the Web of Science database.
A face-to-face data sprint for currently enrolled students is one possible format. It can also be a hybrid event, an event for high school students, or a special offer to newly admitted (but still uncommitted) applicants.
.
Contact Lana Ivanitskaya, ivani1sv@cmich.edu
Credits:
Created with images by Mr image - "9. A podium at a science conference, with scientific posters and lab equipment in the background" • Michael Niessen - "canal and boats in Amsterdam on an autumn day" • Torval Mork - "Amsterdam University" • whyframeshot - "During an agile hackathon, a closeup of hands shows a team using data analytics for strategic insights.,This collaboration drives innovation and digital transformation." • onephoto - "Magazines publication Newspaper and journal books: background and catalog design; article magazine press; newspaper media book knowledge; document advertising datum textbook" • Feel good studio - "Adult students listen to speaker in auditorium. Rear view."