Discover opportunity in the age of Smart Technology

12 Jul 2018

“The big technology trend is to make systems intelligent and data is the raw material.” – Amod Malviya, CTO at Flipkart

Data Science and Analytics (DSA) technologies are no longer just disrupting business processes, they’re also making a major dent in the job market.

A research paper by IBM last year predicted that demand for DSA professionals in the US alone will grow by 364,000, hitting a grand total of 2,720,000 roles by 2020 – that’s a 15 percent increase from available listings recorded in 2015.

A data scientist’s career is one that Harvard Business Review has deemed the ‘sexiest job of the 21^st century’, with these highly-qualified professionals striving to identify, track and analyse the endless amounts of data produced every day.

Global recruitment consultants Robert Walters claim data scientists generally have a strong knowledge base in computer science, modelling, statistics, analytics and maths, often pairing this up with a tight business acumen.

“It’s this merging of esoteric intelligence and practical knowledge that makes the data scientist so valuable to a company,” the recruitment giant notes.

Business leaders across the globe are actively seeking graduates with the ability not just to navigate, but to understand the most intricate datasets.

With DSA jobs typically staying open for 45 days – five days longer than the typical market average – these sought-after roles can be notoriously tricky to fill.

“There is a shortage of candidates for all STEM roles,” says Kristin Rahn, Director of Product Management for DSA at global tech firm Pitney Bowes.

Source: Lewis University

“…You may have analysts with technical knowledge but who are lacking in the communication and consulting skills they need to add value in a commercial environment,” she adds.

While there’s a growing pool of employment opportunity in the data science field that impacts every global region and industry, business leaders are reluctant to invest in graduates who may not possess core ‘soft skills’.

The best way you can prepare for success is to expand your knowledge and expertise with a progressive education provider; one that sees beyond the number crunching misconception to view data professionals as digital influencers and pioneers.

“Data science and related analytics programmes need to help students understand that teamwork, communication and consulting skills are vital for their careers,” Rahn explains.

“Students should be given a chance to work on problems as close to ‘real world’ as possible, learn to interview a domain expert and present results.”

Business data lakes are growing faster than you can say ‘smart analytics’, and data science graduates who can make sense of these insightful information sets will continue drive economic growth. It’s a path that’s both valuable and rewarding.

As Rahn concludes: “I love seeing the delight when people understand the positive outcome from an analytics project. I call it the ‘magic wand’ moment.

“Analytics has helped them understand something, and given them the power to make a decision to help their business.”

Here are 4 US schools that provide everything you need to succeed in Data Science…

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS, LEWIS UNIVERSITY – ILLINOIS

Based in Romeoville, a suburb of the fruitful Chicago region, Lewis University students gain access to a rich lagoon of graduate prospects. Chicago – the third-biggest city in the US – is known for its provision of enviable job opportunities. Here, so many businesses are recruiting data scientists that the department has a near perfect employment rate.

Most students remain in the region long after they graduate – largely because they’re so sought-after and get snapped up so quick. The institution of Lewis itself also hosts two campus job fairs each semester to bring recruiting corporations in, making it incredibly easy for students to find their most suited job.

This is all great news for international students look for a great return on investment through CPT and OPT employment. Here at Lewis, you can roll out of your dorm and cruise straight into a lasting career.

Source: Lewis University

The Master of Data Science (MS Data Science) really sets itself apart from other programs of its kind. It’s accessible to students from a non-technical background, also promoting a curriculum based on real-world application. Students can opt to focus on either Computer or Data Science, with unique concentrations in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics.

The department also offers an Online Graduate Certificate in Data Science – an accelerated program that can be completed in just 12-months. This course fits neatly around existing work and life commitments, but still instils the technical and data analysis skills needed to thrive in your career.

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE, SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY (SFSU) – CALIFORNIA

SFSU enrols almost 30,000 students a year, providing a space where keen minds can soak up the world-famous Bay Area culture.

The Department of Computer Science at SFSU is a launchpad for aspiring software professionals. It’s a school that feeds talent to the digital economy, using state-of-the-art technology to improve today’s world.

Here, students work face-to-face with world-leading faculty, allowing both undergraduate and graduate applicants to delve into research. The Masters in Computer Science supports learners in careers within a range of global industries; from software to life sciences, to business and beyond.

“I co-founded Remotium during my graduate program in SFSU Computer Science department in Fall 2012. The company got awarded the most innovative company at RSA Conference February 2013 shortly after founding,” says Asim Zihnioglu, Software Architect and former student of the school.

“In July 2015, the company got acquired by Avast Software. The classes I took as part of the graduate program in SFSU CS helped me in understanding customer driven agile engineering workflow…their up-to-industry-standard technical classes made it possible for Remotium to achieve success on the engineering and product side in a short period of time.”

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, SUNY BUFFALO

With a legacy of academic excellence, the internationally recognized Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at SUNY Buffalo consistently produces top graduates. Degrees include BA and BS in computer science and computer engineering, and MS and PhD in computer science.

Source: SUNY Buffalo

SUNY Buffalo CSE is a lively, growing department with renowned senior faculty. Students work alongside these experienced mentors on a broad range of research topics including AI, Big Data, bioinformatics, cybersecurity, machine learning, Internet of Things, self-driving cars and 5G wireless networks. This, combined with low tuition, makes it easy to see why SUNY Buffalo CSE is a popular choice for students all over the globe.

The department offers both an MS and a PhD in Computer Science. Both are praised for their provision of experiential learning opportunities. Through research assistantships and internship positions, students leave already equipped with invaluable industry experience.

At SUNY Buffalo CSE, you’ll be connected to a global and prestigious alumni network who work at companies such as Bloomberg, Google and Microsoft. High-profile alumni include distinguished scientist Victor Bahl, academic leaders Max Nikias and Sung-Mo Kang, and successful entrepreneur Baidu CEO Robin Li.

SCHOOL OF COMPUTING SCIENCE, SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY (SFU) – BRITISH COLUMBIA

SFU is recognised as Canada’s most community-engaged, research-intensive university, with a thriving national presence from three urban campus settings.

The School of Computer Science follows SFE’s long-running history for outstanding education. From here, students graduate with advanced knowledge in fields like networks, multimedia, healthcare and telecommunications.

The school presents both an MSc and PhD in Computer Science studies. Those looking into the MSc are urged to consider the Professional Master of Science in Computer Science. All graduate students can participate in the graduate co-op program and in some cases, earn academic credits towards their degree.

“From networks and computer systems to graphics and biomedical image analysis, to artificial intelligence and algorithms and complexity theory, we offer a breadth of knowledge covering the major areas in computer science,” says Dr. Mohamed Hefeeda, Professor and Director of SFU’s School of Computing Science.

“Our faculty and students make fundamental contributions to knowledge across theoretical and applied areas of computer science…Because of the quality of our research and teaching programs, our school has consistently ranked in the top 5 in Canada and among the top 50-100 worldwide, according to various ranking organizations.”

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International