DUBAI: Heriot-Watt University Dubai’s School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences has announced the launch of a brand-new programme – the BSc (Hons) in Data Sciences for the September 2021 intake.The four-year undergraduate programme is being introduced primarily in an effort to address the lack of skilled data science talent in the region and globally.
Commenting on the launch, Dr Hadj Batatia, Programme Director of Studies for BSc (Hons) Data Sciences, School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Dubai said, “Data Science today is far more closely integrated into our lives than we realise. Almost all aspects of our lives – what we watch on TV, what we buy online, how we plan our next holiday, how we invest our money, and much more are in close contact with data. This in turn has spawned several job opportunities – businesses are looking to harness the power of data to drive efficiency and dramatically boost customer experience and it can also bring about community benefits like real-time fraud detection, efficient traffic flow management, facial recognition for improved security and more. With the current global shortage of Data Science talent, our new BSc (Hons) Data Sciences programme aims to equip students of today with the skills of the future.”
The International Data Corporation (IDC), in a recent study,estimates that the collective sum of the world’s data will be 175 zettabytes (ZB or one trillion gigabytes) by 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 61 percent. The demand for data science skills is not limited only to the IT sector, as data’s importance grows across several other industries such as media and entertainment, financial services, shopping and retail, and professional services.Millions of businesses and government departments rely on Data Science to succeed and better serve their customers.According to the “Future of Jobs” report by the World Economic Forum,Data Analysts and Data Scientists are projected to be among the most in-demand roles in the period up to 2022.
The first three years of Heriot-Watt University’s BSc (Hons) programme in Data Sciences are designed to provide the necessary core skills and knowledge in mathematics, computer sciences, probability, statistics, machine learning and artificial intelligence. The fourth year offers the option to focus on advanced machine-learning, statistical algorithms and applications, data engineering, mathematical aspects of data structures or applications to artificial intelligence.Successful completion of this programme will allow the student to become a graduate data science engineer. Potential careers include that of Data Scientist, Machine Learning Specialist, Enterprise Architect, Data Engineer, Data Analyst, and Business Intelligence Developer.
Find out more information about the BSc (Hons)in Data Sciences programme at Heriot-Watt University Dubai by logging on tohw.ac.uk/dubai/
