Infusing Industry Interests into an Applied Data Science Program

Abstract

Interest on big data, data analytics, and data science has grown in every area of the global economy that increasingly lives in a word built on data. Universities across the globe are reacting by launching or expanding data-related programs from courses to certificates, academic tracks, and complete BS, MS, and PhD degrees. Data science can reveal insights and draw intelligent conclusions on behaviors, preferences, trends, and forecasts by mining the data captured through massive digital transactions. Industry is several steps ahead in realizing the importance of data science toward business competitiveness. However, despite the enthusiasm for this fast-approaching digital future, there is a gap between the business challenges and academic programs offering data science advances. The purpose of this session at the CIEC 2020 is to provide a forum for the exchange of information between higher education and industry partners. Particularly, we offer an opportunity for industry and academia to review the current landscape of classes and programs, identify industry priorities, and propose innovative activities that enable a sustainable ecosystem for a multidisciplinary education program.