At Slippery Rock University, business professor Sunita Mondal is transforming economics education by integrating real-world labor market data and programming into her curriculum. Her research on employment trends in Pennsylvania since the pandemic, combined with the use of Python in classroom instruction, equips students with practical tools for today’s job market. n n“Understanding employment patterns helps students make informed career decisions,” Mondal explained. “It ensures our graduates remain competitive.” n nHer analysis of the Pennsylvania job market shows contraction in retail, hospitality, and manufacturing, while education, healthcare, finance, and technology sectors demonstrate resilience and growth. In parallel, her work with Python enables students to analyze real economic datasets—such as those from the Federal Reserve Bank—and create visual representations to interpret labor market dynamics. n nThese initiatives are united by a common goal: better preparing students for regional employment opportunities. Awareness of shifting industries helps guide career choices, while proficiency in coding provides a valuable edge. In today’s economy, employers across sectors increasingly seek candidates skilled in data analysis. n n“Many employers now expect data literacy,” Mondal said. “They want individuals who can interpret and work with data effectively.” n nThe Haverlack College of Business’s Emerging Leaders Advisory Board—composed of alumni in finance, business, and economics—confirmed that data analysis is a critical skill in their daily work and significantly strengthens graduate readiness. Recognizing this demand, Mondal pursued research that demonstrated the benefits of early exposure to Python and awareness of labor market evolution. n nAlthough formal integration of her findings into the curriculum is still developing, her research already influences classroom teaching. n n“As a faculty member engaged in research, those insights naturally flow into lectures,” she noted. n nHer approach emphasizes the real-world relevance of academic concepts, helping students see the connection between classroom learning and economic realities. n n“When students understand the purpose behind what they’re learning, they become more engaged,” Mondal said. “Seeing how class material applies to actual economic conditions increases motivation.” n— news from Slippery Rock University
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informed research to economics education – SRU News
A Slippery Rock University business faculty member is bringing the real world into the classroom in a big way. Sunita Mondal, a professor of business, has conducted research into Pennsylvania labor market changes since the COVID-19 pandemic, while also implementing the programming language Python in economics classrooms. Her approach has revealed new, dynamic approaches to economics education that better prepare students for the current job market. n n“Being aware of employment trends helps students to be informed when looking for work,” Mondal said. “It helps our graduates to stay informed.” n nMondal’s research into the Pennsylvania labor market revealed a decline in sectors such as retail, hospitality and manufacturing, and growth and resilience in education, health care, finance and technology. Her parallel research into Python for economic classroom yielded new activities to implement in her classroom where students use real economic data from sources like the Federal Reserve Bank. The students also use coding to create visualizations that they can analyze in order to clearly read the labor market. n nMondal’s research topics are unified by the potential they have to better prepare students for the Pennsylvania job market. Being aware of sectors that are growing and declining prepares students to make educated decisions about where they apply, but that’s only half the battle. By using Python as students, they will enter the employment market with competency in the language, a marketable skill in a job market seeking tech savvy applicants. n n“Employers in many sectors have these expectations now,” Mondal said. “They look for people who are skilled in analyzing data.” n nThe Haverlack College of Business’s Emerging Leaders Advisory Board — consisting of SRU alumni working in business, economics, and finance — emphasized that data analysis is a skill they use regularly on the job and one that strongly strengthens students’ job-market preparation. Mondal began the necessary research to address this need, which revealed the utility of early experience with Python and the development of literacy and awareness of employment market shifts. n nWhile the official classroom implementation of Mondal’s research is in its infancy, her findings still make their way into the classroom every day. n n“As a faculty member, any time you are involved in research, it automatically comes into the classroom,” Mondal explained. n nFor her, this has meant focusing on the practical applications of the skills and concepts that her students are learning about in class. n n“When you understand why you’re doing something or learning something, you feel more motivated,” she said. “Students feel that way when they see connections between what’s going on in the classroom and what’s really going on in the economy.”