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Originally from Italy, Alessandro Zanette has been living and working in Switzerland since 2017. Over the years here, he become increasingly curious about the world of data. Encounters with several data scientists at his previous job and seeing how data-driven decision-making was sparking innovation kindled his interest further.
When the allure of the field became too compelling to ignore, he signed up for the Applied Data Science and Machine Learning programme at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). “The programme appealed to me because it balances theory and practice while offering self-paced learning, which fits my style,” he says.
EPFL, founded in 1853, is one of the world’s most innovative institutes of technology, and the leading technical university in Switzerland. Known for its diverse student body, representing over 130 nationalities, it ranks among the top three most international universities globally. EPFL offers cutting-edge programmes that equip students to become the next generation of engineers, scientists, and architects, ready to shape the future.
At EPFL Extension School, Zanette learned a structured approach to machine learning, building both coding skills and a mindset for tackling new challenges. Source: EPFL Extension School
Over at EPFL’s Extension School, the focus is clear: translating cutting-edge knowledge into skills that respond to the evolving needs of professionals, the economy, and society. To do that, the school offers online programmes that help individuals expand their knowledge without stepping away from their careers. This approach allows professionals to stay updated with the latest developments, leverage new technologies, and maintain their leadership in their fields.
Pair that with access to EPFL’s teaching and resources, and professionals will be well-prepared to tackle future challenges, innovate within their industries, and drive positive change.
Among the programmes offered include Introduction to Digital Skills, Elements of Data Science, Foundations of Data Science, Thinking and Creating with Code, Applied Data Science: Machine Learning, and Applied Data Science: Communication & Visualisation. Each course is designed to provide hands-on, practical skills that you can immediately apply in your professional roles.
For example, the Applied Data Science: Machine Learning programme includes four certified courses and a customisable capstone project. It covers the entire data science pipeline, from data acquisition to predictive analysis, and provides practical experience in Python programming. You’ll gain proficiency in using tools like NumPy, Pandas, and Scikit-learn for data analysis and machine learning tasks.
Zanette found the programme engaging. “I was really excited to learn how neural networks work, and I was thrilled with that class,” he says. “I also enjoyed the Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) section, which gave great insights into asking the right questions when tackling a machine learning problem.”
EPFL Extension School, offers expert faculty, a flexible platform, and a curriculum tailored to today’s workforce, equipping learners with cutting-edge skills and knowledge. Source: EPFL Extension School
For his capstone project, Zanette focused on building and evaluating different speech emotion recognition models. “It was a personal challenge,” he says. “I had some experience with sound but wasn’t sure how to approach this question.”
His main goal was to explore the possibilities and limitations of machines using this technology. Obtaining good data proved to be the toughest part. One of the five datasets he initially chose turned out unsuitable for the project. After conducting deeper research and visualising each dataset, he realised it needed to be removed to ensure the accuracy and reliability of his results.
When such challenges arose, Zanette could turn to peers and professors. “Even if I tried to rely on what I had learned independently, the guidance from the instructors proved invaluable,” he says. “Their expertise provided practical help when I needed it most. It’s always great to ask the experts.”
Another impactful offering from the Extension School is the Foundations of Data Science programme. Tailored for professionals who already work with data but lack practical coding skills, the course covers essential topics like data types, acquisition, storage, cleaning, analysis, visualisation, machine learning, and the societal impact of data. The programme provides practical experience in R programming, teaching learners how to automate data workflows and create integrated reports using R Markdown.
“We try our best to expose our learners to real problems,” says Daniel Antonio Flores Agreda, Data Science Course Developer and Instructor who obtained his PhD in Statistics in 2017. “The examples in the course relate to real, open datasets available on the internet. For more advanced practice, we have sprinkled the programme with mini projects that are self-assessed, with formatted datasets provided in CSV or Excel sheets.”
Towards the end of the programme, final projects get students accessing unstructured data through methods like web scraping, APIs, or databases. “Since we live in a world of data, these projects train our learners into the many ways we can think of accessing and then processing the data, a skill that they can apply to their daily work,” Flores says.
“We teach learners from every field, from banking to academia, and from the public sector to international organisations,” Flores says. During these interactions, learners often share how they plan to apply their new skills, with some using the knowledge gained to produce reports and articles.
“By teaching these skills in a progressive, applications-based manner, we are training the next generation of professionals to carry analysis from raw data to a clear, reproducible report,” Flores says.
Learn more about the programmes at EPFL Extension School.
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