A new course provides a strong grounding in the principles of data science and a platform to develop critical skills.
Indian School of Business & Finance (ISBF), New Delhi, a featured training institute of London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in India is launching its graduate diploma programme in data science with academic direction from LSE.

Dr. James Abdey, assistant professorial lecturer, department of statistics, LSE, was in Mumbai recently to officially launch the course. Excerpts from an interview.

Who does the course cater to?

Our graduate diploma in data science is designed for graduates wishing to broaden their skill-set enabling, them to become competent and confident data modellers and interpreters, with the aim of assisting management in their data-driven decision-making.

What topics are covered?

Students will pursue four courses — information systems management, machine learning, elements of econometrics, and business analytics, applied modelling and prediction. This combination of courses exposes students to an excellent mix of statistics, math and computing — essential disciplines for aspiring data scientists.

What skills will students pick up during the course?

Our programme blends theory and practice, with a particular emphasis on the applicability of quantitative techniques to real-world problems. Students will develop their modelling and IT skills (through exposure to software including R, Tableau and Stata), as well as their communication skills as the ability to interpret and explain analytical results forms part of the assessment in some of the courses.

What are the career opportunities after the course?

Data scientists are in demand in a wide range of sectors, such as finance, retail and transportation. Indeed, there is a greater push for evidence-based policymaking in the public sector as governments also look to harness the power of data.

What are the criteria for applying?

For access to this graduate diploma, you will need one of the following:

An acceptable bachelor’s degree, either in a quantitative subject or where you have passed at least two courses in satisfactory mathematical subjects.

An acceptable master’s degree (or any other appropriately accredited Level 7 award) of at least one year full-time duration, either in a quantitative subject or with at least one course in a satisfactory mathematical subject.

An acceptable Level 5 or Level 6 award (for instance, HND or Graduate Certificate) of at least one-year full-time duration, either in a quantitative subject or with at least two courses in satisfactory mathematical subjects. You also need at least two years’ relevant work experience.

What makes the course relevant in current times?

A significant skills deficit exists today with demand for quantitative expertise far outstripping supply. Our graduate diploma in data science provides the opportunity for students to pursue a programme which equips them with the skills employers demand, making them highly competitive in the labour market.

For more details, visit https://www.isbf.edu.in

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